History of the War between the United States and the Sac and Fox Nations of Indians E-Book

John Wakefield

• Herausgeber: Charles River Editors
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 300

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

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History of the War between the United States and the Sac and Fox Nations of Indians is a contemporary account of the Black Hawk War.

Leseprobe

HISTORY OF THE WAR BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE SAC AND FOX NATIONS OF INDIANS

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John Wakefield

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Copyright © 2016 by John Wakefield

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE.

CHAPTER I.: The Winnebagoes attack Captain Lindsey’s Keel Boats in 1827—lose two men killed and seven wounded—General alarm in the mining country—Gov. Cass takes measures to punish them—he corresponds with Gov. Edwards—Gov. Edwards sends a Regiment from the northern counties to the Mines, under Col. Neale—the people of the Mines form themselves into a corps of mounted volunteers—elect Gen. H. Dodge their commander.—Gov. Cass moves against the Indians to the portage of the Wisconsin river—they sue for peace—treaty entered into—the Indians give up the Red Bird as a hostage for the good behaviour of the rest of the nation—he dies in Jail.—The Sac and Fox Indians next, wage war—Gen. Gaines applies to Gov. Reynolds for mounted volunteers—they rendezvous at Beardstown—Gen. Duncan appointed by Gov. Reynolds, to take the command—they march to Rock Island—the Indians sue for peace—treaty entered into.

CHAPTER II.: The Sac and Fox Indians cross over the Mississippi to the State of Illinois, in a warlike manner—Extract of a letter from General Hughes to Gen. Atkinson—Extract of a letter from George Davenport to Gen. Atkinson—Extract of a letter from Gen. Atkinson to his Excellency, Governor Reynolds—Proclamation of Governor Reynolds to the citizens of Illinois—Visit made to the hostile band, by Henry Gratiot, Esq., sub Indian Agent for the Winnebagoes—Rendezvous of the Volunteers at Beardstown—Organized into a brigade under Gen. Whiteside—Mustered into the service of the United States at Rock Island—Col. John Ewing and the Author sent ahead to spy out the enemy’s camp; take a prisoner and return—Meet the army—Arrival at Dixons, on Rock River.

CHAPTER III.: Meet Maj. Stillman with a battalion from the northern counties— Major Stillman takes his battalion, goes up Rock river, in order to ascertain the movements of the enemy—Falls in with them—has a battle, and is defeated—Retreats back to General Whiteside.—Colonel Ewing, Robert Blackwell, Esq. and the Author sent as expresses for more troops.—General Whiteside marches his Brigade to the battle ground—They bury the dead—Return back to Dixon’s—Meet General Atkinson there with provision, five hundred regulars and two hundred foot militia.—They take up the line of march after the enemy—March to Fox river.—The Indians kill three families before they get there—They bury the persons killed—Army become dissatisfied, and are discharged—Three hundred volunteer to guard the frontier until the new levy of troops arrive.

CHAPTER IV.: Capt. Snyder has a battle with the enemy—Arrives at Head Quarters, and he and his company are discharged—New levy of troops rendezvous at Beardstown and Hennepin—Fort Wilbourn (or Fort Horn) built:—It becomes Head Quarters—The Volunteers organized into three Brigades—Attack on Apple River Fort—A party of Indians appear near Fort Hamilton, and kill two men—Gen. Dodge pursues; overtakes them; and kills the whole party—Capt. Stephenson falls in with another war party—Has an engagement—Loses three men, and himself wounded—Major Dement has a battle with the enemy—The three Brigades take different directions—Gen. Atkinson marches up Rock River with Gen. Henry’s brigade:—The three Brigades meet at lake Kushkanong; likewise a squadron under Gen. Dodge from Michigan Territory—They continue for several days scouring the country in search of the enemy—Move up to the burnt village on While Water—Col. Dunn wounded by a sentinel—A regular shot by an Indian while fishing—Gen. Atkinson moves down to lake Kushkanong, and builds a Fort—The second and third Brigades and Col. Dodge’s squadron proceed to Fort Winnebago for provision—Gen. Posey sent to Fort Hamilton—Our horses take a fright at Fort Winnebago, and run away.

CHAPTER V.: Narrative of the imprisonment of the two Miss Halls—Their treatment by the Indians—They are purchased by General Dodge and Mr. H. Gratiot, through the Winnebagoes—Their arrival on the eleventh day after their captivity at White Oak Springs—Reverend Mr. Horn becomes a friend and protector to them—They are married—Anecdote of Mr. F. stating the race that Mr. C. rode upon his beaver hat, which caused the death of three women—Poor little Susan forsaken by her mother, and about to be left to the mercy of the savage, when a kind hunter takes charge of her.

CHAPTER IV.: General Alexander returns back to Fort Kushkanong.—Generals Henry and Dodge take up the line of march to intercept the enemy, should they be making to the north—March to the Rapids on Rock River—Come to a Winnebago Village—Have a talk with the Indians—Send an express to General Atkinson—They come across the trail of the enemy and return—Fired on as they enter our camp—We take up the line of march next morning in pursuit—Terrible storm on that evening.—Second day come to the Four Lakes—Encamp there—A description of those Lakes—Doctor Philleo kills an Indian—We overtake the enemy the same evening, and have a general battle—We defeat the enemy—They retreat across the Wisconsin River—An Indian talks to us from the top of a mountain, before day, on the next night—General Henry addresses his men—Major Ewing with his Spy Battalion proceeds next morning to the top of the mountain-—Makes but little discovery.

CHAPTER VII: Generals Henry and Dodge march to the Blue Mounds for provision—There meet the other two Brigades—Take up the line of march across the Wisconsin—Again get on the trail of the enemy—Take a Winnebago Indian a prisoner—He gives information that the enemy is four days ahead of us—We take him along—We enter the Mountains—Bad travelling—Lose a number of horses—Overtake the enemy at the mouth of Bad-Axe, on the Mississippi—General Engagement—-General Henry completely routs the enemy.

CHAPTER VIII.: Steam boat Warrior has an Engagement with the enemy, the day before we overtook them—Steam boat commanded by Lieutenant Kingsbury—Arrival of the steam boat Warrior soon after our engagement—She returns and brings us provision.—General Atkinson, believing that the enemy were nearly all destroyed, did not pursue them across the Mississippi—March down to Prairie du Chien—We find the friendly Indians rejoicing at the defeat of the enemy—General Atkinson has a talk with the Winnebagoes—We march to Dixon’s and are discharged.

CHAPTER IX.: Report of Gen. Atkinson to Major General Macomb at Washington—Indian talk with General Street, when they delivered Black Hawk and the Prophet—Description of Black Hawk and the Prophet—General remarks of the Author.

APPENDIX.

History of the War between the United States and the Sac and Fox Nations of Indians

By

John Wakefield

HISTORY OF THE WAR

BETWEEN

THE UNITED STATES AND THE SAC AND FOX NATIONS OF INDIANS, AND PARTS OF OTHER DISAFFECTED TRIBES OF INDIANS IN THE YEARS EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN, THIRTY-ONE, AND THIRTY-TWO.

BY JOHN A. WAKEFIELD, ESQ.

PREFACE.

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IN PRESENTING THIS SMALL VOLUME to the world, the author is aware that he is exposing his name to the public calumny, by those who are ready at all times to find fault; but he hopes the candid, who will reflect a moment on the many difficulties attending the compiling such a work, will be as charitable towards him, as the nature of the case will admit. They must reflect that the many actors in the late war have not all the same views of things that took place—as it is the nature of man to differ in opinions, and those that were eye witnesses of the events recorded in this narrative, (or history,) to have different opinions from each other.

The writer who traces events at a remote period from the time they transpired, stands on more favorable ground, because they are not fresh in every one’s memory, and men are not disposed to find so much fault.

But it has been the aim of the author to track as near the truth, as his knowledge of the different actors, and all that were in any way concerned in the war, would permit. If he is found in error, it will be an error of the head and not of the heart.

But he is aware that he has not done this subject that justice which its importance deserves. But, as he has already observed, he hopes an honorable and patriotic people will exercise all the charity that characterizes the American people, and, more especially, to one that never attempted before to write for the inspection of an enlightened republic.

For a history of the expedition against the Indians, the author has to depend upon public record, and such other information as is well authenticated by man that can be confided in; but in the last two campaigns, the author was an eye witness to almost all that he has here written.

In order to give a full detail of all the transactions and relationship between those Indians and the United States, the author has thought it would be more satisfactory to give all the treaties that ever were held with them, which commenced in eighteen hundred and four.

Many false reports have gone abroad respecting the lands of those Indians, representing that the Government has not done strict justice.

In giving an account of the frontier massacres by the Indians, the author has to depend on newspaper information; but it is his opinion that all that have been found upon record, which were published in this state, are literally true, and may be relied upon as facts.

But, it is not in the power of the author to give an account of all the masacres that the Indians have committed on the frontier, as many were committed that have not been recorded; or, if they were, the author has not been fortunate enough to get possession of them.

In giving the different treaties, the author principally confines himself to the Sac and Fox nations:—But, in the last treaty which has lately been made, he will be able to give the substance, or the whole of the treaty with the Winnebagoes.

He would be glad to enter into a history of the hostilities that took place between the Winnebagoes and the United States, in 1827, but he has not such documents before him as would justify a review of it. And he is also well aware that some more able hand will, in due time, give the whole of the transactions of those Indians a thorough investigation; and that the public will not suffer by the author’s passing over the particulars of that expedition against those Indians.

The author deems it necessary to confine himself to facts, and without some public documents, more than his own knowledge, he could not with any propriety, enter into a full history of the transactions between the United States and those Indians, more than simply to state, that they made an attack on some keel boats that were running on the Mississippi, and commanded by captain Allen Lindsey, and the general outline of the transactions afterward, in bringing them to a treaty.

This was the first difference, of any importance, that took place between the United States and those Indians, since the war with Great Britain.

The author, in order to show the cause of difference between the United States and the Sac and Fox Indians, thinks it best to lay before the reader many interesting documents, consisting of letters and a number of depositions, to show the necessity of the Executive in calling upon the militia of the state of Illinois, to protect its citizens:—And he flatters himself that, after the perusal of those letters and depositions, none will have the hardihood to say, that Governor Reynolds did wrong in the course he pursued to subdue those Indians.

The author takes more pains, and troubles the reader with those documents more than he would have done, if he had not seen with regret, that misrepresentations have gone abroad respecting those Indians.

He flatters himself that, after a perusal of the different treaties entered into by the United States and the Sac and Fox Indians, and the many violations of those treaties by those Indians, all will justify the course taken to bring them to subjection, and restore peace to our country,—which is the case at this time:—and that it could not be done in any other way than a resort to arms, as all other means were tried, both by General Clark, and the different Indian Agents; and that with a great degree of forbearance on the part of the General Government, which the reader will plainly see when he takes a full view of the many outrages and depredations committed by those lawless savages, who did every thing except murder, before there was a call for men to volunteer in defence of their country.

The author wishes further to observe, that he has taken all the pains that lay in his power, to place the different officers to their proper command, and to detail the part they acted in the war: But he at the same time is well aware that there may be some officers whom he may not mention, that are deserving well of their country; on account of not having it in his power to get a complete list of all the mounted volunteers, that turned out in defence of their country; for many of them were stationed on the frontier, and did not march with the main army, but performed important services in defence of the northern frontiers; as many of the citizens would have certainly been destroyed by the Indians, whose known mode of warfare, is to steal upon the helpless part of community, at the dead hour of night, when there is no chance of defence.

So, I consider that those rangers who were placed on the frontier, performed a high and important service, in ranging those frontiers, and protecting the lawful settler in quietness at his own fireside, and save his wife and children from becoming a prey to the savage barbarity of the tomahawk and scalping knife.

THE AUTHOR.

Vandalia, Illinois, 1833.

HISTORY

OF THE

LATE INDIAN WAR

CHAPTER I.

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THE WINNEBAGOES ATTACK CAPTAIN LINDSEY’S KEEL BOATS IN 1827—LOSE TWO MEN KILLED AND SEVEN WOUNDED—GENERAL ALARM IN THE MINING COUNTRY—GOV. CASS TAKES MEASURES TO PUNISH THEM—HE CORRESPONDS WITH GOV. EDWARDS—GOV. EDWARDS SENDS A REGIMENT FROM THE NORTHERN COUNTIES TO THE MINES, UNDER COL. NEALE—THE PEOPLE OF THE MINES FORM THEMSELVES INTO A CORPS OF MOUNTED VOLUNTEERS—ELECT GEN. H. DODGE THEIR COMMANDER.—GOV. CASS MOVES AGAINST THE INDIANS TO THE PORTAGE OF THE WISCONSIN RIVER—THEY SUE FOR PEACE—TREATY ENTERED INTO—THE INDIANS GIVE UP THE RED BIRD AS A HOSTAGE FOR THE GOOD BEHAVIOUR OF THE REST OF THE NATION—HE DIES IN JAIL.—THE SAC AND FOX INDIANS NEXT, WAGE WAR—GEN. GAINES APPLIES TO GOV. REYNOLDS FOR MOUNTED VOLUNTEERS—THEY RENDEZVOUS AT BEARDSTOWN—GEN. DUNCAN APPOINTED BY GOV. REYNOLDS, TO TAKE THE COMMAND—THEY MARCH TO ROCK ISLAND—THE INDIANS SUE FOR PEACE—TREATY ENTERED INTO.

THE AUTHOR, IN GIVING A history of the late war between the United States and the Sac and Fox nations of Indians, thinks it would be doing the subject injustice, not to give an outline of the difficulties that took place between the United States and the Winnebagoes, in the year eighteen hundred and twenty-seven, which he has observed in his preface, was the first disturbance of any kind that took place between the Government of the United States and the Indians, since the last war with Great Britain. But the author, in giving a small outline of this disturbance, has to depend upon his memory alone; as, at that time, it had never entered his head that he would be the biographer of this small disturbance that took place between the Government and those Indians.

But, in attempting to give the public the causes and particulars of the war betwixt the Government and the Sac and Fox nations of Indians, he thinks that it would not be amiss to take a passing notice of the transactions that took place on this occasion.

Captain Allen Lindsey, a gentleman of the first respectability in our country, was running a couple of keel boats on the Upper Mississippi, in the summer of eighteen hundred and twenty-seven; when within a few miles of Prairie du Chien, was visited by a number of Winnebagoe Indians, some of them came aboard of his boats and showed signs of hostility to him, such as preyed upon his mind so much that, before he returned, he provided himself with a few fire arms, so that, in case of an attack by them, he might be able to defend himself.

He was at this time on his way up to St. Peters. He made his trip, and accordingly on his return, when within a few miles of Prairie du Chien, he was again visited by those same Indians. He had to pass down the river close to their towns and habitation for several miles; for that is the way these wretched beings live, in small bark wigwams, along some water course, where they can paddle their canoes.

But agreeably to Capt. Lindsey’s expectations, he was not permitted to pass by their dwellings in peace.—Very late in the evening, a number of those blood thirsty savages made their appearance to him in a menacing manner, by opening a heavy fire upon his boats; and by the help of their canoes attempted to board them. But Capt, Lindsey, had fortunately for him, anticipated that they did not intend to let him pass without firing him a salute of this description. He was prepared for them, although he had but few men aboard of his boats, but what he had proved to be soldiers. The Indians opened a heavy fire upon him, which was returned by him and his boat’s crew with double interest. There were a large number of Indians, who charged upon him in their canoes, thinking to board his boats, but he prevented them by the hardest kind of fighting They came so near boarding him, that, a number of them lashed their canoes to his boats; but he gave them a quietus in the act, and they bequeathed their canoes to him in return, and became bait for the fish of the Mississippi. At this, each one made shift for himself. The Indians paddled their canoes in one direction, and Captain Lindsey rowed his boats the other.

Captain Lindsey lost two fine men in the action, and a number wounded; but how many I do not recollect at this time. If this officer had not anticipated mischief from those wretched beings, there is no doubt but that he and his whole crew would have been massacred by those inhuman barbarians; for it is generally supposed that it was plunder, or, in other words, the cargo that the boats contained, they were after.

Captain Lindsey ran his boats down as soon as possible, to Galena, a small town on Fever River, six miles above where it empties itself into the Mississippi, which is now the county seat of Jo Daviess county, in the north-west corner of the State of Illinois.

When Captain Lindsey arrived at that point, and gave the news, it created great fear and alarm; to such a degree, that expresses were sent in different directions to inform the citizens of the Mines to move into Galena, and prepare for war. The people of the Mines took the alarm, so that in two days’ time there were not less than three thousand men, women and children, who fled to this place for safety. Those Indians had made many threats against the miners, and had at different times ordered them off, and told them to quit the diggings, saying that the ground they were digging on was theirs. This news, coming at this time, when they were apprehensive of mischief, gave them an alarm, and caused them to fly to Galena for safety. They forsook their rude habitations, and assembled at that place, in order to assist in defending each other. There were a few forts built in the more thickly settled parts of the Mines, and some of the most fearless citizens occupied them.

There was a committee of safety appointed in Galena, who corresponded with all parts of the Mines, and adopted measures for the safety and preservation of all; and in the mean time had some strong block houses built at Galena. The people likewise, who were able and willing to bear arms, volunteered and formed themselves into companies, and chose their own officers; ranged the country, and kept a good look out, for fear the Indians would steal upon them, and take them by surprise.

Governor Cass, in the mean time, was not inactive, but corresponded with Governor Edwards, then Governor of Illinois. Governor Edwards immediately raised one regiment of mounted volunteers in the northern counties, and sent them on to the relief of the mining country, and to go against those Indians. They elected Thomas M. Neale their commander. The people of the Mines formed themselves into another corps, and elected General Dodge their commander—a man well qualified to command, and who had some experience in the same.

Col. Neale marched his regiment to the Mines, but no further. Gen. Dodge, assisted by Gov. Cass, marched on a force of near one thousand men, to the portage of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers, where the Indians sued for peace. A treaty was then made with them. They gave up their commander, who had been the principal cause of the war, whom they called the Red Bird. He was put in prison at Prairie du Chien, and was to have been kept as a hostage for the good behaviour of the rest of his nation, but he soon died.

After this treaty, the forts were again forsaken, and the citizens returned to their respective habitations, and peace and safety seemed to be felt by all, until the hostile movement of the Sacs and Foxes, in the spring of eighteen hundred and thirty-one; when they invaded the State of Illinois, by leaving their own side of the Mississippi, crossing over, and attempting to claim the land they had sold to the General Government, in the neighborhood of Rock Island. Here this terrible and warlike nation of Indians committed all kinds of outrage on the citizens near this place. The citizens had purchased the land they lived upon from the General Government, and had opened good farms, built houses, and had been living in peace and quietness for nearly three years, when these wretched monsters in human shape attempted to drive them from their homes, and take possession of them themselves; which in fact they did. But this was not all those savage monsters did. They turned their horses into their wheat fields, killed their stock and laid waste whole farms.

It was time now for those citizens to ask for assistance from their countrymen. They did so. Petition after petition was sent to the Governor of Illinois, laying before him their grievances. Governor Reynolds hesitated not a moment, but addressed the proper officers on this important subject. He addressed letters to Generals Clark and Gaines on this subject, and tried every means that lay in his power to dissuade those unhappy people to desist from their designs, and return back to their own side of the Mississippi to their own land. But to this they turned a deaf ear too, as well as to all kind of entreaty that could be made through their agents, or Gen. Gaines, or any other person. They bid defiance to General Gaines, and bantered him to fight them with his regulars. This was enough. Gen. Gaines saw now that there was no way of settling this business, only by a resort to arms. He accordingly made a call upon Governor Reynolds for seven hundred mounted volunteers to co-operate with him in driving them from the State.

Governor Reynolds immediately obeyed the call, and issued his proclamation to the citizens of the northern counties of Illinois, who turned out to the number of fifteen hundred strong, and rendezvoused at Beardstown, on the Illinois river; and between the first and tenth days of June were organized into a brigade, under the command of Gen. Joseph Duncan.

This brigade was officered in the following manner, viz: James D. Henry, of Sangamon county, Colonel of the first regiment; Jacob Fry, Lieutenant Colonel; John T. Stuart, Major; Thomas Collins, Adjutant; Edward Jones; Quarter Master; and Thomas M. Neale, Paymaster. The Captains were as follows: Adam Smith, William F. Elkin, A. Morris, Thomas Carlin, Samuel Smith, John Lorton, and Samuel C. Pierce.

The second Regiment was commanded by Colonel Daniel Leib, of Morgan County; —— ——, Lieutenant Colonel; Nathaniel Butler, Major; Captains H. Mathews, John Hanes, George Bristow, William Gilham,——Kincade, Alexander Wells, William Weatherford, and W. Jordan, Quarter Master.

There was one odd battalion, which was officered in the following manner: Nathaniel Buckmaster, Major; James Semple, Adjutant; Joseph Gillespie, Paymaster; ——, Quarter Master; Richard Roman, Surgeon; Captains William Moore, John Loramie, and Solomon Miller, ——

The spy battalion, next, was officered in the following manner: Samuel Whiteside, Major; Samuel F. Kendle, Adjutant; John S. Greathouse, Quarter Master; P. H. Winchester, Pay Master; Captains Erastus Wheeler, William B. Whiteside, William Miller, and Solomon Prewitt.

Those were the officers that composed the brigade under Gen. Joseph Duncan, with a few exceptions. The name of the Lieutenant Colonel in Col. Leib’s regiment, I have not been fortunate enough to get in possession of, and I have not been able to get all the staff officers belonging to it; for I have no public record to resort to. Therefore, I hope no gentleman will think hard of me, or feel himself slighted in not having his name inserted in this history.

General Duncan, after his brigade was organized, took the line of march for the seat of war, or where the savage rebels were assembled and bidding defiance to General Gaines and his regulars, at or near Rock Island.

When General Duncan arrived at Rock River, he had to cross this stream near an island; and for fear of an ambuscade, General Gaines had it raked with a six pounder, so that if the enemy were concealed in this hiding place, he might drive them from it until his men could cross.—He fired his six pounder a number of times into this Island, but the enemy had taken the alarm, and crossed over the Mississippi; but still kept embodied for action. They did not much like the sound of the six pounder.

Some of them afterwards came over to Rock Island, where General Duncan had arrived with his men, and joined General Gaines, who took command of all the forces then in the field. They held a white flag in their hands. They now sued for peace. The Black Hawk was not one of the company. General Gaines demanded of them to bring him. They at first refused, but he told them that he would march his forces across the river and cut them off, if they did not produce him. They then returned and brought the wretched Hawk, who had caused so much trouble to them and our own Government.

They then entered into capitulations of a treaty; the articles of which they violated in a few weeks afterwards by the most daring outrage. It was stipulated in the articles, that they were to remain on the west side of the Mississippi, and never to cross the river, and come into the State of Illinois, without the permission of the President of the United States, or the Governor of Illinois. But they soon forgot this agreement. They crossed over in a few weeks, went within a few hundred yards of Prairie du Chien in the dead hour of night, fell upon a camp of Menominie, Indians slaughtered and killed twenty-five of them; and that too, within gun-shot of a garrison of regulars. Those Menominie Indians never have been at war with the Government of the United States. They have ever looked to it for protection.—They had been that day in an Indian frolic, and were nearly all drunk. It is a well known thing, that, when Indians get into one of those drunken frolics, they are dangerous, one to another, and the squaws invariably make it a rule to hide their arms until they get sober. This was the case at this time. Those Menominies had just been gorging with this hydra monster of all evil, and were lying in their wigwams, lost in sleep; never dreaming or thinking that there was the least danger of being butchered by those hideous monsters, that were of the same species of human beings with themselves. But the deadly tomahawk and spear were buried in them when in their helpless situation. The Menominies, it is said, succeeded in killing four of these savage monsters, who deserved to die the worst of deaths.

The Menominies immediately informed Gen. Street of the massacre. He repaired immediately to the battle ground. They appeared to be in great distress for the loss of their friends. They had killed a number of squaws and children. The Menominies made heavy complaints to Gen. Street, saying, you have told us that you would protect us, and see that the Sacs and Foxes would let us alone. Gen. Street told them that they would be punished for what they had done. He accordingly sent a communication to Governor Reynolds, informing him of their movements, and the slaughter of the Menominies; and at the same time, took measures to demand the murderers; the particulars of which I am not able to lay before the public. But instead of the Sacs and Foxes delivering up the murderers, they early in the spring following, crossed over to the State of Illinois, armed and equipped for war, and passed by, almost in sight of Fort Armstrong, bidding defiance to General Atkinson, the commander of the fort. Gen. Atkinson then communicated to Governor Reynolds, by express, their movements. Governor Reynolds then lost no time in issuing his proclamation to the citizens of Illinois, calling for volunteers.

CHAPTER II.

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THE SAC AND FOX INDIANS CROSS OVER THE MISSISSIPPI TO THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, IN A WARLIKE MANNER—EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM GENERAL HUGHES TO GEN. ATKINSON—EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM GEORGE DAVENPORT TO GEN. ATKINSON—EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM GEN. ATKINSON TO HIS EXCELLENCY, GOVERNOR REYNOLDS—PROCLAMATION OF GOVERNOR REYNOLDS TO THE CITIZENS OF ILLINOIS—VISIT MADE TO THE HOSTILE BAND, BY HENRY GRATIOT, ESQ., SUB INDIAN AGENT FOR THE WINNEBAGOES—RENDEZVOUS OF THE VOLUNTEERS AT BEARDSTOWN—ORGANIZED INTO A BRIGADE UNDER GEN. WHITESIDE—MUSTERED INTO THE SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES AT ROCK ISLAND—COL. JOHN EWING AND THE AUTHOR SENT AHEAD TO SPY OUT THE ENEMY’S CAMP; TAKE A PRISONER AND RETURN—MEET THE ARMY—ARRIVAL AT DIXONS, ON ROCK RIVER.

Extract of a letter from General Hughes, sub Indian Agent, to General Atkinson, dated,

“RockIsland, April 13th, 1832.

“My opinion is, that the squaws and old men have gone to the Prophet’s town, on Rock river—and the warriors are now only a few miles below the mouth of Rock river, within the limits of the State of Illinois. That those Indians are hostile to the whites there is no doubt.

That they have invaded the State of Illinois, to the great injury of her citizens, is equally true. Hence it is, that the public good requires that strong as well as speedy measures should be taken against Black Hawk and his followers.

“Respectfully I have, the honor to be,

“Your obedient servant.

(Signed,)“ANDREW S. HUGHES.”

“To Brig. Gen. Atkinson.”

Extract of a letter from George Davenport, Esq. to Brigadier General Atkinson, dated,

“Rock Island, April 13th, 1832.

“Dear Sir: In reply to your enquiries of this morning, respecting the Indians, I have to state, that I have been informed by the man I have wintering with the Indians, that the British band of Sac Indians are determined to make war upon the frontier settlements. The British band of Sac Indians did rendezvous at old fort Madison, and induced a great many of the young men to join them on their arrival at the Yellow Banks. They crossed about five hundred head of horses into the State of Illinois, and sent about seventy horses through the country toward Rock river. The remainder, some on horseback, the others in canoes, in a fighting order, advanced up the Mississippi, and were encamped yesterday five or six miles below Rock river, and will no doubt endeavor to reach their strong hold in the Rock river swamps, if they are not intercepted. From every information that I have received, I am of opinion, that the intention of the British band of Sac Indians, is to commit depredations on the inhabitants of the frontier.

“Respectfully your ob’t. serv’t.

(Signed,)“GEO. DAVENPORT.”

“To Brig. Gen. Atkinson.”

Extract of a letter from General Atkinson to his Excellency, Governor Reynolds, dated,

“Fort Armstrong, April 13th, 1832.

“Dear Sir: The band of Sacs under Black Hawk, joined by about one hundred Kickapoos, and a few Pottawatamies, amounting in all to about five hundred men, have assumed a hostile attitude. They crossed the river at the Yellow Banks, on the sixth instant, and are now moving up on the east side of Rock river towards the Prophet’s village.

* * * * * * *

“The regular force under my command is too small to justify me in pursuing the hostile party. To make an unsuccessful attempt to coerce them, would only irritate them to acts of hostility on the frontier, sooner than they probably contemplate.

“Your own knowledge of the character of these Indians, with the information herewith submitted, will enable you to judge of the course proper to be pursued. I think the frontier is in great danger, and will use all the means at my disposal to co-operate with you, in its protection and defence.

“With great respect,

“Your most ob’t. serv’t.

“H. ATKINSON, Brigadier

“General of the U. S. Army,”

His Excellency, Gov. Reynolds, Bellville, Ill.

I will next give the reader Governor Reynolds’s Proclamation to the militia of Illinois, and his concluding remarks; and of the necessity of those that were able to bear arms, turning out in defence of their country’s rights.

“To the Militia of the North-western section of Illinois:

“Fellow Citizens: Your country requires your services. The Indians have assumed a hostile attitude, and have invaded the State, in violation of the treaty of last summer.

“The British band of Sacs, and other hostile Indians, headed by the Black Hawk, are in possession of the Rock river country, to the great terror of the frontier inhabitants.

“I consider the settlers on the frontiers in imminent danger. I am in possession of the above information from gentlemen of respectable standing, and from Gen. Atkinson, whose character stands so high in all classes.

“In possession of the foregoing facts and information, I hesitate not as to the course I should pursue. No citizen ought to remain quiet when his country is invaded, and the helpless part of community is in danger. I have called out a strong detachment of militia, to rendezvous at Beardstown, on the 22nd instant; provision for the men, and corn for the horses will be furnished in abundance. I hope my countrymen will realize my expectations, and offer their services, as heretofore, with promptitude and cheerfulness, in defence of their country.

“JOHN REYNOLDS,

“Commander in Chief.”