The Black Hawk War Including a Review of Black Hawk's Life
continued war upon the Americans! This affair, unprovoked and mean,
occurred in May, 1815, and I take the liberty to copy the account of it
as published immediately after its occurrence.
“St. Louis, May 20 (1815).–Every day affords a new proof that the Rock
River Sacks intend to continue the war. They have been notified of the
pacification by the military commander of this district, as well as by
Governors Clark and Edwards; yet they still continue their war parties
on the frontiers of St. Charles, and murder all those who are so
unfortunate as to come within their reach.
“On Wednesday, the 10th inst., at Cap aux Gre, a party of rangers were
detached to procure wood. Whilst proceeding on this duty, a man by the
name of Bernard, who was in advance of the squad, was fired on and
mortally wounded. Lieut. Massey, with a reinforcement from the fort,
attacked the Indians, and, after a rapid exchange of several shot, the
savages precipitately retreated.
“On the Friday following, a young man, an inhabitant of Portage des
Sioux, was pursued by four Indians. He was returning from the village
of St. Charles on horseback, and had reached the Portage fields, when
he discovered the Indians in full speed after him. Being well mounted,
he escaped.
“An express arrived here on Wednesday last from Capt. Musick of the
rangers stationed near Cuivre, informing him that a number of the
rangers’ horses are stolen by the Indians, who are becoming very
troublesome. The extraordinary rise of the waters of the Mississippi,
overflowing its banks in many places, and filling up the lakes and
rivulets in the neighborhood, enables the Indians to attack and to
baffle pursuit.”
Extract of a letter from Lieut Drakeford, of the United States Rangers,
to Col. Russell, dated Fort Howard, May 25, 1815.
“Sir:–Yesterday, about 12 o’clock, five of our men went to some cabins
on the bluff, about one-quarter of a mile below the fort, to bring a
grindstone. The backwater of the Mississippi rendered it so that they
went in a canoe. On their return they were attacked by a party of
Indians, supposed to be about fifty in number. They killed and
tomahawked three and wounded one mortally. While about this mischief,
we gave them as good a fire from a little below the fort as the
breadth of the breakwater would permit of. Captain Craig and myself,
with about forty men, waded across the water and pursued them. In
going about half a mile we came on them and commenced a fire, which
continued about one hour, part of which time at a distance of about
forty steps, and no part of the time further than one hundred and
fifty steps. Shortly after the commencement of the battle, we were
reinforced by Capt. Musick and twenty of his men. The enemy now ran;
some made their escape, and others made to a sinkhole that is in the
battleground, and from there they returned a most rapid fire. It being
very dangerous to approach nearer than fifty steps of the sink, we at
length erected a breastwork on the two wheels of a wagon, and resolved
on moving it up to the edge of the sink to fire from behind, down into
the sink, and preserve us from theirs.
“We got the moving battery finished about sunset and moved it up with
a sufficient number of men behind it, whilst all other posts round
were sufficiently guarded in case they should be put to the rout.
“We had not moved to within less than ten steps of the sink before
they commenced a fire from the sink, which we returned at every
opportunity and all possible advantages. Night came on and we were
obliged to leave the ground and decline the expectation of taking them
out without risking man for man, which we thought not a good exchange
on our side. During the time of the battle, another party of Indians
commenced a brisk fire on the fort. Captain Craig[34] was killed in
the commencement of the battle; Lieutenant Edward Spears at the moving
of the breastwork to the sink. The morning of the 25th we returned to
the ground and found five Indians killed and the sign of a great many
wounded that had been taken off in the night. The aggregate number of
killed on our part is one captain, one third lieutenant; five privates
killed, three wounded, one missing; one citizen killed and two wounded
mortally.”[35]
Concerning the same affair, Captain David Musick, of the St. Louis
county rangers, in a letter or report to Col. William Russell, commander
of that district, dated Lower Cuivre Ferry, May 25, 1815, had this to
say:
“About 11 o’clock yesterday we were alarmed by the firing of guns in
the direction of Fort Howard, and immediately mounted such horses as
were within reach and proceeded in full speed to the assistance of
Captain Craig, whom we found closely engaged with the Indians and
pretty equally matched with respect to number.
“Having arrived in good season, just on the rear of the Indians, who
immediately broke and ran, a part of them retreated into a sinkhole
and baffled every art to get them out, as they had a better chance to
kill than be killed.”[36]
To which battle a Mr. Archambeau added the finishing touches:
“St. Louis, Missouri, June 3.–The Indians must have suffered
considerably in their late attack on the rangers near Fort Howard. Two
more dead Indians have been discovered some distance from the
battleground, and a vast quantity of blood marked their retreat to
their canoes. Indeed, I think the rangers behaved extremely well in
this affair; only their ardor to get at the enemy exposed them too
much, which was the cause of our loss. Craig and Spears would have
done better in combat with regular troops; they evinced such a
contempt of danger and death that they despised the devious mode of
Indian warfare. I am informed Lieutenant Spear’s family are by no
means opulent. His widow should receive his pay without delay. I am
informed from good authority that the Indians of Rock River have
declared they are willing to bury the tomahawk if _their friends_, the
English, will only say the word. The last war parties sent to our
frontiers were mustered by the _British_ and sent to murder our women
and children _since_ they received an official account of the
ratification of the late treaty. The bulk of the Kickapoo nation have
separated from the hostile bands, and I am at a loss to imagine how
the redoubtable Duncan Graham can subsist so many of his Majesty’s
allies at this time. The village at Rock River and the straggling
camps on this side, above and below the Lemoine, must amount to 1,200
or 1,500 warriors–Sacks, Foxes, Ioways, Winnebagoes and
Fallsavoins.”[37]
The most atrocious of his murders may be found in the following:
“The house of Mr. Robert Ramsay of St. Charles County, Missouri
Territory, about 50 miles from St. Louis, was recently attacked by the
_British allies_. Three of his children were horribly butchered, his
wife so mangled as to leave no hope of her recovery, and he himself
dangerously wounded. Hard the necessity that may compel the
extermination of these miserable beings excited to murder by the
nation that has been impudently called the ‘bulwark of religion.’ We
trust decisive measures will be taken to give security to our
frontiers. It is probable that, as in 1794, many _Englishmen_ are
among the savages, exciting them to these horrid deeds. If any such
are found, they ought to be capitally punished on the spot without
mercy.”[38]
In a later communication, this same revolting crime is more particularly
related:
“A letter received at St. Louis, Missouri, has the paragraphs below.
Why does British influence lead the deluded savages to extermination?
In the South as well as the West, it appears that the war in which the
Indians were involved on British account is not yet closed. Is the
alliance to be dissolved only by the destruction of one of the
parties? What murders has the ‘bulwark of religion’ to account for!
Merciless Englishmen, let the wretched Indians have peace!
“You have no doubt heard of the butchery of Robert Ramsey and his
family by the savages.
“Mrs. Ramsey was attending the milking of her cow and their pretty
little children were amusing themselves feeding the poultry and
assisting their mother. Mr. Ramsey, who, you know, has but one leg,
was near his wife at the moment the first shot was fired. He saw his
wife fall and proceeded to lead her into the house; but as he reached
the door he received a wound which prevented him going to the relief
of his children, who were caught by the Indians and cut to pieces in
the yard. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey are dead; both were shot through the
abdomen. Mrs. R. was far advanced in pregnancy.”[39]
Matters in the West had assumed such a tragic phase that heroic measures
were projected at the seat of government, and Gen. Jackson was given
command of the military district which embraced the seat of hostilities.
He at once assigned Brig.-Gen. Smith to command the post at Prairie du
Chien and Gen. Scott to the command of military districts 8 and 9, being
Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri, while Jackson himself was
placed under orders to conduct a western campaign. Col. Miller with 500
men was encamped at Portage des Sioux and the regiment of riflemen under
Lieut.-Col. Hamilton was directed by Jackson to immediately organize and
march to Prairie du Chien. The fact that Jackson was to settle with
Black Hawk and his braves at once stimulated the people with new hope,
as will be seen by the following:
“It is determined to scourge the _allies_ of our late enemy in the
Missouri Territory, etc., into a respect for the lives and property of
our frontier fellow citizens. Their depredations are constant and
distressing. The commissioners to settle a peace with them have
effected nothing. The deputations from most of the tribes were
‘insufficient,’ and from those most desirable to have met there were
no representatives at all. The detail of proceedings is interesting
and shall be preserved; but at present the flood of news from France
bears down everything. It appears that General Jackson will open a new
_negotiation_ with them upon the ‘last resort of reason.’ We
understand he will soon proceed from Nashville to St. Louis, where a
handsome body of regulars will be collected, and that he will be
accompanied by a militia force from Kentucky and Tennessee. In
obedience to his request, Governor Clark of the Missouri Territory
has, in general orders, directed the militia of that state to hold
itself in readiness to march at a moment’s notice; and we have every
prospect that British influence among the northern will receive the
same reward that befell it among the southern Indians. _It must be
eradicated._”[40]
Doubtless British influence recollected a little adventure with Jackson
the preceding 8th of January, for immediately the expedition by him was
to become a reality, overtures for peace were made and commissioners to
make a treaty were substituted for the person of Jackson, as will be
seen by the following from the Missouri Gazette of June 17th, 1815.
The following letters were received by Governor Clark on Wednesday last:
“It appears that Messrs. Turcot and Lagoterie (who were employed by
the commissioners to proceed to Rock River and announce to the Indians
the object of the treaty to be held at Portage des Sioux) were
fortunate in reaching Little Mascoutille, some distance below their
place of destination, without any accident. At this place they met
with a party of Fox Indians, bearing letters from the British