The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a history of the Northwest-history of Illinois-history of the county, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc., etc., Part 19

Author: Johnson & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Johnson & Company
Number of Pages: 932

USA > Illinois > Peoria County > The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a history of the Northwest-history of Illinois-history of the county, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc., etc. > Part 19

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vouzed at Fort Madison, crossed the Mississippi river to the present site of Pontoosuc, traveled up through Illinois, and fought the only two battles of the war in what is now the State of Wisconsin, after which the survivors returned to the Iowa side of the Mis- sissippi, many of them to what is now Lee county, where Black Hawk, after his release from captivity in 1833, became well known to the settlers to the time of his death, in October, 1838. Not one of the battles of the Black Hawk war was fought on Illinois soil. The Stillman's Run affair was not a battle ; it was only a "big scare," brought upon Major Stillman's command by recklessness. These facts are clearly established and completely refute the generally received opinion that the history of this war belongs to Illinois. Its history is about equally divided between Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

GENERAL GAINES - BACK TO IOWA.

Whatever the truth or falsity of the complaints made against the Indians after their return in the Spring of 1831, General Gaines of the United States army was sent to Fort Armstrong in the Fall of that year, with instructions to remove them back beyond the Mississippi. While the troops under command of General Gaines were at the fort, Nathaniel Smith, now living at St. Francisville, Clark county, Missouri, who was an interpreter and spy for General Gaines, was sent to see and talk with Black Hawk at the Indian village, and to persuade him to go and see General Gaines with a view to an ami- cable and peaceful solution of the difficulty. Black Hawk complied with the request, and was told by General Gaines that he was not a peace officer, and that he had his or- ders from the authorities at Washington to drive them across the river, and that he had no discretion ; that he did not want any trouble or to be forced to the employment of harsh measures in carrying out the instructions with which he was charged ; that he had understood he had agreed to live peacefully, etc., and finally that if he and his people did not leave in ten days he would move against their village with all the force at his command. Black Hawk listened with the stolid nature peculiar to Indian character, and, although feeling, as he expressed himself to Colonel Patterson, that he was asked to abandon the homes that were rightfully theirs, he saw that it would be useless to offer a resistance that would only end in the slaughter of many of his men, women and children, that better than incur such fatality, it was the part of wisdom to yield to the demand of the white chief. At the expiration of the ten days named by General Gaines, he moved against the village to see if the Indians had gone, and prepared, if they had not, to exe- cute his purpose of firing upon the Indians, and burning their village. But Black Hawk had kept his promise. The Indians were gone, and re-crossed to the Iowa side of the Mississippi.

BLACK HAWK'S MOVEMENTS IN IOWA -SECOND RETURN TO ILLINOIS.

For an account of Black Hawk's movements after the return of his people to Iowa in the Fall of 1831, until they re-crossed to Illinois in the Spring of 1832, we are indebted to Mr. Isaac R. Campbell, now living at St. Francisville, Clark county, Missouri; but then living in a double log - house, one of the first built on the site of Keokuk. About the year 1821, Mr. Campbell settled in Northeast Missouri (then a Territory), at the mouth of the Wyacouda river. In 1825 he removed to Quash - qua -me's village (Nauvoo), and commenced to make a farm, and there formed the acquaintance of Black Hawk, who paid him eight dollars for building a stone wall around the grave of one of his daughters, who was buried near Mr. Campbell's house. In 1830 Mr. Campbell moved to the west side of the Mississippi and settled at Ah - wi - pe - tuk, meaning commence- ment of the falls or cascade, now known as Nashville. In March, 1821, he removed to Puck - e - she - tuk, or foot of the falls, at the site of Keokuk, where he remained for a number of years. He was well acquainted, not only with Black Hawk, but with all the head men of the Sacs and Foxes, before and after the war of 1832. He has been a man

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of wonderful physique and intellect, and although he is now eighty-one years of age, his memory is clear and distinct, and his statements entitled to the fullest credit. Mr. Campbell says :

". After the Sacs and Foxes returned to lowa in the Fall of 1831, they established themselves on the north bank of the Iowa river. about two and a half miles above its mouth, at the site of a small village that now bears the name of the old chief. and almost directly opposite the town of New Boston, in Mercer county, this State. They did not remain there long, however, until they went to the hunting grounds on Salt Creek, Mis- souri. The Winter's hunt was not successful, and the people suffered a great deal with hunger. This circumstance, added to what Black Hawk still harbored as a wrongful dis- possession of their lands. determined him to re-cross the Mississippi, a determination from which I tried to dissuade him, but without avail.

" When they returned from their Salt Creek hunt in the Spring of 1832, they stopped at what the Indians always called Puck - e - she - tuk, now Keokuk, where they had a war-dance, and then went on up the Mississippi. They camped a night or two in the timber along Devil creek, about six miles west from Fort Madison. Their women and children. cooking utensils, etc., were transported in canoes, while the men followed along the west bank of the Mississippi with their horses and ponies. Their real starting point was from Fort Madison, and on the 6th day of April they crossed the Mississippi from a point opposite the present village or landing of Pontoosuc. It has been said by some writers that they crossed their ponies and horses by swimming them, but the state- ment is at fault. They were crossed on what were known as ' floats.' These floats were made by lashing three canoes of equal height together, and covering them with poles, which in turn were covered with leaves to a thickness sufficient to make a platform strong enough to carry as many ponies as could be made to stand upon them.

" While the Indians were in front of my house on their return from Salt creek, I learned that they were going to cross back into Illinois, and fearing it would lead to trouble, I tried to persuade Black Hawk, with whom I had been on the most friendly terms for a good many years, not to do so, but my words of counsel were not heeded. He assured me that they were not going to Illinois to tight, but to care for the graves of their fathers - for the Indians have a decoration day as well as the whites have had since the war. I knew nothing of their movements after they crossed the river, except what I heard and read. After the war, and Black Hawk's release from captivity in 1833, and his return to Iowa, he often told me before his death, that he was sorry that he had not taken my advice and remained away from Illinois in 1832, as it was the most disastrous movement he ever made. He said that his sun seemed to set in darkness, and his strength to depart.

"As a token of his friendship for me, he gave me his favorite hunting gun, which is now in the possession of my son, Captain James W. Campbell at Fort Madison."

BLACK HAWK'S PURPOSE.

We have Mr. Campbell's statement, as above, that Black Hawk assured him they were not going on the war path. The statements of other parties of credibility will be presented as showing light on the bearing and seeming intentions of Black Hawk, after which the reader will be left to draw his own conclusions as to whether the war against the Saes and Foxes in 1832 was justifiable or not.

BEARING OF HIS BRAVES.

After they crossed into Illinois at Pontoosue, Black Hawk and his band, including women and children, turned in the direction of Rock river. The Galenian, of 1832, Dr. A. Phileo, editor, under date of May 2d, said: "Black Hawk, whose people were reduced to the verge of starvation in Iowa, had been invited to linois by the Prophet,

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and taken possession of a tract of land about forty miles up Rock river, but that he did not remain there long, until he commenced his march up Rock river." Capt. William B. Green, now of Chicago, who served in Stephenson's company of mounted rangers, says that " Black Hawk and his band crossed the river with no hostile intent, but to accept an invitation from Pit - ta - wak, a friendly chief, to come over and spend the Sum- mer with his people on the head waters of the Illinois," and the movements of Black Hawk up Rock river before pursuit by the military, seems to confirm this statement.

Others who agree with Green, that Black Hawk did not come to fight and had no idea of fighting, say that he had retired to the west side of the Mississippi the previous year under treaty, receiving a large quantity of corn and other provisions, but in the Spring his provisions were gone, his followers were starving, and he came back expecting to negotiate another treaty and to get a new supply of provisions.

The veteran, John Dixon, at one time Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court of Peoria County, but then living at Dixon's ferry, now the city of Dixon, was authority for the statement that the Indians stopped at his house as they were going up Rock river, and that Ne -o -pope, Black Hawk's head man, assured him they intended to commit no depredations, and that they would not fight unless attacked. Mr. Dixon also said that Ne -o - pope had the young braves well in hand and under perfect control, and that they were orderly, and gave no signs of hostile intentions.

Whatever Black Hawk's purposes may have been, his crossing the Mississippi river was considered an invasion, and the war followed. However, it is the unanimous testi- mony of survivors of that period, now living on the line of Black Hawk's march and on the old battle-fields, whom the writer has sought out for information, that, except the violation of treaty stipulations and an arrogance of manner natural to an Indian who wanted to make a new trade with the "Great Father," the Sacs under Black Hawk committed no serious acts of hostility, and intended none until the alternative of war or extermination was presented to them. It is certain, too, that the people of Galena and the mining districts generally, apprehended no serious trouble and made no preparations for war until Captain Stephenson carried them the news of Stillman's rout on the 15th of May.

Although Black Hawk's movement in crossing back to the Rock River country was construed into a hostile demonstration, it is a well known fact that no Indian warriors ever went on the war-path encumbered with their women and children. More than this, it does not appear, from the sixth day of April until Stillman's soldiers disregarded his flag of truce on the 12th of May, that a single settler was murdered, or suffered any ma- terial injury at the hands of Black Hawk or his band. In truth, Hon. H. S. Townsend, of Warren, Jo Daviess county, states that in one instance, at least, where they took corn from a settler, they paid him for it. Capt. W. B. Green writes: "I never heard of Black Hawk's band, while passing up Rock river, commiting any depredation whatever, not even petty theft."

COLONEL DAVENPORT.

Some writers have sought to implicate Colonel George Davenport as scheming to secure the return of the Indians in 1832. One of these writers has said :

" It is well known that in nearly all the treaties ever made with the Indians, the Indian traders dictated the terms for their allies and customers, and, of course, received a large share of the annuities, etc., in payment for debts due to him. Each tribe had certain traders who supplied them. George Davenport had a trading post at Fort Arm- strong. His customers were largely the Sacs and Foxes, and he was held in high esteem by them ; in fact his word was their law. It is said that Black Hawk's band became indebted to him for a large amount which they were unable to pay. They had not had good luck hunting during the Winter and he was likely to lose heavily. If Black Hawk,

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therefore, could be induced to come on this side of the river again and the people could be alarmed so that a military force could be sent in pursuit of him, another treaty could be made. he might assist in negotiating terms and get his pay out of the payments the government would make, and all would be well. Mr. Amos Farrar, who was Daven- port's partner for some years, and who died in Galena during the war, is said to have declared, while on his death-bed, that the . Indians were not to be blamed, that if they had been let alone there would have been no trouble-that the band were owing Mr. Davenport and he wanted to get his pay and would, if another treaty had been made.'

·· In a letter to Gen. Atkinson, dated April 13, 1832, Davenport says: . I have been informed that the British band of Sac Indians are determined to make war on the frontier settlements. From every information that I have received. I am of the opinion that the intention of the British band of Sac Indians is to commit depredations on the inhabitants of the frontier."

" Just such a letter as he or any other trader would have written to cause a pursuit, and consequent treaty. Black Hawk evidently understood the game. He was leisurely pursuing his way up Roek river, waiting for the first appearance of the military to dis- play the white flag and negotiate as he had done the previous year."

The intimation here conveyed that Davenport played a conspicuous part in prevail- ing upon Black Hawk to cross back to Illinois, and that his letter to General Atkinson was only a cunning device of a wily creditor to secure a bad debt. is not sustained by subsequent events. On the contrary, it would seem that he was fully advised of Indian intentions when he wrote that letter. The British band did invade Illinois and kill Agent Saver. About the same time, some Winnebagoes also killed one of three or four men who were engaged at work in a field or meadow near Oquawka. The other men, among whom was Nathan Smith, already mentioned as living at St. Francisville, Mo., took to flight and managed to escape, although they were closely pursued for some distance. Notwithstanding this affair was the work of members of the British band, it increased the excitement against Black Hawk's band, and hastened the conflict with them.

SECOND CAMPAIGN.

GOVERNOR REYNOLDS - CALL. FOR TROOPS.

Whether Black Hawk returned with peaceable intentions or determined to wage a war upon the whites, overcome them and thus reelaim nud repossess their old homes, or for the purpose of seenring a new trade with the " Great Father," it matters not - the result was the same. The Indians had scarcely crossed the Mississippi and started on their march up through Illinois, before a report of the invasion was carried to Governor Reynolds, who, knowing the belligerent character of the lilians and of the settlers, and that the least indiscretion by either party would precipitate the entire Northwest in a bloody war, determined to call out a large forer of volunteers as the best means of avert- ing such a calamity. On the 16th of April he issued a call to that end and at the samo time addressed the following letter to the people :

FELLOW CITIZEN -Your country require, your services. The Indians hive ay umed a hostile attitude and invade 1 the State in violation of the treaty oflast Summer. The British hand of Sacs and other hostile Indians are in possession of the country on Rack river to the great terror of the frontier inhabitants, and I consider the settlers in imminent dan'er Un ler the e circumstances I have not hesitate) what course I should pursue. No citizen ought to remain mactive when his country is inva led and the helpless part of the community is in danger. 1 have called out a oron ; deta hinent of mil tia to rendezvous at Beard town on the 22d instant Provisions for the men and food for the horses will be farmishe I in abundance. I hope my countrymen will realize my expectation and offer their services as heretofore with promptitude and cheerfulness in defense of their country."

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There was a prompt response to Governor Reynolds' call for volunteers and to this appeal, and in a few days eighteen hundred men reported for duty at the Beardstown camp. In the meantime, General Atkinson, then in command of the regular forces near the scene of threatened hostilities, made a requisition for additional troops, stating that the frontier was in danger, and that the forces under his command were insufficient for its defense. Daily accounts of the movements of the Indians were conveyed by carrier to Governor Reynolds. Judge Young, Colonel Strode and Benjamin Mills wrote letters to him appealing for protection for the frontier, stating that the Pottawatomies and Winnebagoes had joined Black Hawk and that the inhabitants were in imminent danger. On the receipt of these letters two hundred men under command of Major Stillman were ordered to guard the frontier near the Mississippi; and two hundred more under command of Major Bailey were ordered to the protection of the country between the Mississippi and the Illinois rivers. The aspect of affairs was deemed to be so threaten- ing that the call for troops was extended to every part of the State for the purpose of raising a reserve force of five thousand men to be ready in case of emergency.

On the 22d of April, the eighteen hundred men at Beardstown were mustered in four regiments, an odd and spy battalion. Colonel De Witt was chosen to be commander of the first regiment ; Colonel Fry. of the second ; Colonel Thomas, of the third ; Colonel Thompson, of the fourth ; and Major James of the odd battalion. Governor Reynolds, who accompanied the army in person, placed Gen. Whiteside in command of the brigade and Colonel James D. Henry in command of the spy battalion. . Enoch C. March and Samuel C. Christy, merchants, were appointed to procure supplies ; William Thomas was appointed brigade quarter-master ; James Turney, paymaster ; James B. Stapp and Joseph M. Chadwick, staff-officers; Vital Jarrot, adjutant-general, and Cyrus Edwards, ordnance officer.

Colonel March, of the supply department, was dispatched to St. Louis for supplies, and on the 27th of April, the army broke camp a few miles north of Rushville, and, with only a few days' rations, took up its line of march for Oquawka, where it was intended to meet Col. Christy and a supply boat. In consequence of high waters and muddy roads the march was slow, but not so slow but that the army reached Oquawka in ad- vance of the expected and needed supplies. On the evening of the day of their arrival at Oquawka they were joined by Captain Warren and two companies from Warren county. On the fifth day the boat had not arrived, the provisions were exhausted, the men began to murmur, and Governor Reynolds dispatched three men to General Atkin- son, at Fort Armstrong, Rock Island, fifty miles distant, asking for relief. Although the streams were swollen from recent rains, the messenger for succor accomplished the trip in one day, and the next day a boat-load of provisions came to their relief, and on the day following the William Wallace arrived from St. Louis with the supplies provided by Colonel March. After rations were issued and the hunger of the men appeased, the baggage wagons were loaded, and the army prepared to move towards Dixon's ferry, where, according to latest rumors, the Indians were posted. When the command was ready to move, a letter came from Gen. Atkinson with the intelligence that Black Hawk and his people had turned down Rock river, and requesting Governor Reynolds to march immediately to Fort Armstrong. Instead of going to Fort Armstrong, however, the army ' was marched to the mouth of Rock river, where it was consolidated with the United States regulars and the command assumed by General Atkinson.

The rumor that Black Hawk and his Indians had turned to descend Rock river in the direction of re-crossing the Mississippi, proved to be incorrect, and the commanding general steamed up the river with an armament of cannon and four hundred regulars, while the Illinois troops rode up through the swamps and low lands skirting Rock river. Fre- quently signs of Indians were found, and where they had immolated dogs to appease the Great Spirit. In these instances of superstition, common among the Indians, the body

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of the dog was relieved of its intestines, after which it was fastened to a tree over a small fire with the head pointing in the direction the Indians had gone.

On the 10th day of May the spies captured an Indian near Prophetstown, White- side county, from whom it was learned that Black Hawk and his people were on Roek river, above Dixon's Ferry. On receipt of this information, the land forces moved up to Prophetstown, where it was further reported to them that the Indians had dispersed, and it was determined to abandon the pursuit and await the arrival of General Atkinson with the steamboat and provisions. It was believed that Black Hawk and his band had it in mind to locate on the lands of the Pottawatomies, and, as a means of preventing such a set- tlement, a commission of five men was sent to confer with the chiefs of that nation upon the subject. Because of cloudy weather and want of acquaintance with the face of the country, the party became lost, and the conference was not held. Governor Reynolds and his army of about two thousand men, returned to Dixon greatly exhausted, having been without food or rest for two days, and there awaited the arrival of General Atkin- son and the provision boat.

STILLMAN'S ROUT.

Majors Stillman and Bailey, previously mentioned as being sent out in advance of Governor Reynolds' forces to protect the frontier settlements, were at Dixon when the army arrived there, and having accomplished but little service. they asked to be sent out on a scouting expedition and to report the situation of the enemy, as it had been rumored that a part of Black Hawk's force was encamped on Old Man's creek, about twelve miles above Dixon. In answer to this request Governor Reynolds issued the following order :

MAJOR STILLMAN :- You will cause the troops under your immediate command, and the battalion under Major Bailey, to proceed without delay to the head of Old Man's creek, where it is supposed there are some hostile Indians, and coerce them into submission.

This order was issued on Friday, the 11th day of May, and on Saturday morning, the 12th, Major Stillman set out on his expedition with about three hundred mounted men, all of whom, including men and officers, were hopeful of being able to give a good account of themselves, and many of them were boastful of what their conduet would be in an encounter with the red foe. They reached Old Man's creek, but found no enemy. Beyond this point they had no authority to proceed, but eager for a bout with the Indians, and ignorant of their lodgment, they pushed on seventeen miles farther to Syca- more creek, about twelve miles above what was then known as Sinnissippi, a shallow crossing of Rock river, at the present site of Oregon City, in Ogle county, which they crossed and prepared to go into camp. At this time the main body of Black Hawk's braves were lodged across the high point of land between Sycamore creek and Rock river, where, it has been said, the chief and head-men were making arrangements to sue for terms. How true the statement may be is not for the writer to determine, and the reader is left to compare the statement with the declarations made by Black Hawk to Isaac R. Campbell before he started to Ilinois from Keokuk, and by Ne-o-pope to Mr. Dixon, when the Indians arrived at Dixon's Ferry. Whether true or false, it was of no benefit to the Indians.

While Stillman's men were engaged in camp duties, three unarmed Indians, bearing a flag of truce, made their appearance coming across the high point of land before men- tioned, and were taken into custody. Pretty soon after this occurrence, five other Indians on horse-back were seen on the high ground about one mile distant. At sight of these Indians, an old soldier named Harrison exclaimed, " Get ready, boys ; you'll have all the fighting now that you want." Without further orders from any source, the men mounted in hot haste, and it was not long until three-fourths of the command was darting away in the direction of the Indians as fast as their horses could carry them. While the

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larger part of the men were flying away after the five mounted Indians, one of the flag of truce party was cowardly killed. The other two Indians of the flag of truce party man- aged to escape. Stillman's men being best mounted, soon overtook and killed two of the other party of five Indians, and pursued the other three to the edge of the timber where Black Hawk was lodged. At this juncture Black Hawk and a party of about fifty of his braves suddenly confronted Stillman's Illinoisans with a terrible war whoop, and rushed forward to meet them. It was now the turn of the volunteers to retreat. Without waiting for the onslaught, they wheeled and fled as if they were pursued by a thousand savage warriors, instead of fifty or less. They dashed through the camp, spreading ter- ror and consternation among their comrades, but late so eager to meet the foe. The wildest panic ensued ; there was " mounting in hot haste," and without waiting to see whether there was any thing to run from, every man fled, never stopping until they had reached Dixon's Ferry or some other place of safety, unless stopped by the tomahawk or bullet. The first man to reach Dixon was a Kentucky lawyer, who, as he strode into Dixon, reported that every man of Stillman's command had been killed except himself. Another man, named Comstock, never stopped until he reached Galena, where he reported that " the men were all drunk, as he was, got scared and made the best time they could out of danger, but that he didn't see a single Indian." Wagons, ammunition, and almost every thing else, except the horses on which the men were mounted, or on which others could mount, were left to the Indians.

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The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a history of the Northwest-history of Illinois-history of the county, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc., etc., Part 19

Author: Johnson & co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Johnson & Company Number of Pages: 932

Author: Johnson & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Johnson & Company
Number of Pages: 932