BLACK HAWK WAR




In 1831 a treaty was made by which Black Hawk and his tribes of Indians were to remove to the west side of the Mississippi river, and release all claims upon the east side. Emissaries of the British government, from Canada, induced the Indians to disregard the treaty and return to their former homes in Illinois. On the sixth day of April, 1832, Black Hawk, with his followers, crossed the Mississippi, bringing with them their women, children and property. He announced that his mission was peaceful - but no doubt his object was to reclaim the territory he had released under the treaty of the year before. Governor Reynolds, learning of the movement of Black Hawk, called for volunteers to repel the invaders. Eighteen hundred volunteers, under Whiteside and Reynolds, were mustered into service, and General Atkinson dispatched them in pursuit of the Indians. On the twelfth of May they reached Dixon's ferry, where they were joined by Major Stillman with 275 men. Stillman considered his command independent of Whiteside, and declined to join Whiteside's brigade. Stillman, with Major Baily, received orders to go to "Old Man's creek," now Stillman's run, to ascertain the movements of the Indians. The two battalions camped about ten miles from the ferry on the evening of the thirteenth, and on the morning of the fourteenth Stillman took command of both battalions, and continued in pursuit until sunset, when they encamped in "front of a small creek" (Stillman's run) about thirty miles from Dixon. Black Hawk hearing of their approach, sent out three men to meet them and take them to his camp, that a council might be held; but the men were taken prisoners. Five others were sent out for the same purpose, but two of them were killed. This aroused Black Hawk, and with about forty men he met the assailants - the main body of his warriors being about ten miles away - and routed them completely, and in great confusion. In the fight, Major Perkins, Capt. Adams, and nine men, were killed, one of whom, James Milton, was from Macon county. William Cox, and others from this county, had their horses shot.

The following is a complete copy of the muster roll of the company from Macon county engaged in the war, showing the names of the volunteers, date of enlistment, date of discharge, and status of company at the time of discharge:

"Muster roll of Captain Johnson's company of mounted volunteers, belonging to the Fifth regiment, commanded by James Johnson, of the brigade of mounted volunteers of Illinois militia, commanded by Brigadier General Samuel Whiteside. Mustered out of service of United States at mouth of Fox river, the state of Illinois, on the 27th day of May, 1832; distance, miles, 150 from place of enrollment.

(The date of enlistment was all was April 24, 1832; and the term was 35 days.)

1.    Jas. Johnson, Captain, promoted to Colonel 16 May 1832
2.    William Warnick, 1st Lieutenant, absent with leave
3.    I.C. Pugh, 2d Lieut., promoted to Captain 16 May 1832
4.    J.D. Wright, 1st Sergeant, absent on extra duty
5.    James A. Ward, 2d Sergeant, promoted to 2d Lieutenant
6.    Walter Bowls, 3d Sergeant, absent with leave
7.    Joseoph Hanks, 4th Sergeant
8.    Henry M. Gorin, 1st Corporal
9.    S.R. Shepard, 2d Corporal
10.    G. Coppenbarger, 3d Corporal, absent with leave
11.    James Milton, 4th Corporal, killed in battle
12.    Asher Simpson, private
13.    A.W. Bell, private
14.    Abram Black, private
15.    D. McCall, private
16.    D.H. Stewart, private, absent on extra duty
17.    Elisha Butler, private, absent with leave
18.    G.D. Smallwood, private
19.    John Hanks, private
20.    Jacob Lane, private, absent on extra duty
21.    John Henderson, private, absent with leave
22.    James Querry, private
23.    James Miller, private
24.    John Manly, private
25.    James Ennis, private, absent with leave
26.    John Clifton, private, absent with leave
27.    Jesse Dickey, private, wounded in battle
28.    John Williams, private, absent with leave
29.    John Murphy, private
30.    Jacob Black, absent with leave
31.    James Herrod, private, absent with leave
32.    Kinian Ingram, private, absent with leave
33.    C. Hooper, private, absent with leave
34.    Robert Smith, private
35.    S.B. Dewees, private, sick
36.    S. Miller, private
37.    S.Troxel, private, absent with leave
38.    Thos. Davenport, private, absent with leave
39.    William Hanks, private, absent with leave
40.    William Adams, private, absent with leave
41.    William Miller, private
42.    William Hooper, private, absent with leave
43.    William Cox, private, absent with leave
44.    Joseph Clifton, private, absent with leave

I certify, on honor, that the muster roll exhibits the true state of the company of mounted volunteers under my command, of the Illinois militia, of the brigade of mounted volunteers under the command of Brigadier General Samuel Whiteside on this day, and that the remarks set opposite the names of the men, are accurate and just.

Signed Fox River, Ill., this the 27th day of May, 1832,
I.C. PUGH, Captain,
Commanding the Company"

There was also a company of Rangers organised during the summer of 1832, commanded by Captain William Warnick. This company was out in the vicinity of Kickapoo town near the head of the Big Vermillion, but found no Indians and soon returned.

The History of Macon County, 1876, pgs.58-60



In the year 1767, there was born in the Sauk village an Indian boy, destined to be a great leader of his people. Tracuta Wahicatah was the name given him, but the whites in after years called him Black Hawk. As he grew to maturity, he gave evidence of superior talents. He proved himself brave in battle, and sagacious and eloquent in the councils of his tribe. Inferior no doubt he was to the great Shawnee warrior, Tecumseh, or to the Pequot chief, Philip, but his portrait reveals the passion of deep lines of character. His forehead is broad and high, his jaws massive and mouth firm. He was ambitious of a warrior's fame; but he was always merciful to the weak and to the women and children of the pale faced- foe who fell into his hands. In 1810 and 1811 Black Hawk and comrades were "nursing their wrath to keep it warm," against the whites. A party of Sacs, by invitation, went to see the prophet at Teppecanoe. They returned more angry against the Americans. A party of Winnebagoes had massacred some whites, which excited for murder the Sac band headed by Black Hawk. A part of his band and some Winnebagoes attacked Fort Madison in 1811, but were repulsed. Black Hawk headed the Sacs in this attack.

In 1812 emissaries from the British arrived at Rock Island with goods, and secured Black Hawk with five hundred warriors to go with Col. Dixon to Canada. When they reached Green Bay there were assembled there bands of the Ottowas, Pottawatomies, Winnebagoes, and Kickapoos, under the command of Col. Dixon. Black Hawk and band participated in the battles of River Raisin, and Lower Sandusky, and other places, but getting dissatisfied with the hard fighting and small amount of spoils, he and twenty commrades, left for the Sauk village at Rock Island, where he remained for many years at peace, with the exception of a small battle on the Quiver river settlement in Missouri, in the present limits of St. Charles county, where one white man and an Indian were killed.

The principal cause of the Indian troubles in 1831-32, better known as the Black Hawk war, was the determination of Black Hawk and his band to remain in their ancient villages, located on Rock river, not far from its junction with the Mississippi. The government having some tine previously, by various treaties, purchased the village and the whole country from the Sac and Fox tribe of Indians, had some of these lands surveyed, and 1828 some of the lands in and around the ancient village were sold; the collision of the two races for the possession of the property produced the first disturbance between the Indians and the government. Seeing that war was inevitable the Governor of Illinois made a call on the militia of the state for seven hundred men on the 26th of May, 1831, and appointed Beardstown, on the Illinois river, as the place of rendezvous. The call was responded to with that promptness characteristic of the early pioneers of this state. Their habits of life were such that all were familiar with the rifle. After marching eight days, the mounted militia reached a point a few miles below the Sac village on the Mississippi, where they joined the United States forces under Gen. Gaines, and encamped in the evening. The next morning the forces marched up to the Indian town prepared to give the enemy battle; but in the night the Indians had escaped and crossed the Mississippi. This ended Black Hawk's bravado and his determination to die in his ancient village. The number of warriors under his command was estimated at from four to six hundred men. Black Hawk and his band landed on the west side of the Mississippi, a few miles below Rock Island, and there camped. Gen. Gaines sent a peremptory order to him and his warriors that if he and his head men did not come to Rock Island and make a treaty of peace, he would march his troops and give him battle at once. In a few days Black Hawk and the chiefs and head men to the number of twenty-eight, appeared at Fort Armstrong, and on the 30th of June, 1831, in full council with Gen. Gaines and Governor John Reynolds, signed a treaty of peace.

During the winter of 1831-32 rumors were rife that Black Hawk and his band were dissatisfied, restless, and preparing for mischief. A chief of the Winnebago Indians who had a village on Rock river, some thirty miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, joined Black Hawk, who was located on the west bank of the Father of Waters. The chief had great influence with Black Hawk and his band. He made them believe that all the tribes on Rock river would join them, and that together they could bid defiance to the whites. By this unwise counsel Black Hawk resolved to re-cross the river, which he did in the winter of 1832. That move proved to be their destruction. Through his influence and zeal Black Hawk encouraged many of the Sacs and Foxes to join him at the head of his determined warriors. He first assembled them at old Fort Madison on the Mississippi; subsequently, marched them up the river to the Yellow Banks, where he pitched his tent April 6th, 1832. This armed array of savages soon alarmed the settlers, and a general panic spread through the whole frontier, from the Mississippi to Lake Michigan. Many settlers in terror abandoned their homes and farms, and the Governor decided, on the 16th of April, to call out a large number of volunteers to operate in conjunction with Gen. Atkinson, who was in command of the regular forces at Rock Island. The Governor ordered the troops to rendezvous at Beardstown on the 22d of April. We give Governor Reynolds' circular which he addressed to the citizen- soldiers in the crisis then pending: