The Black Hawk War Including a Review of Black Hawk's Life
A deep scar ran across the face of To-qua-mee, by which the Hall girls
easily recognized him at the murder of their parents, and by which they
could easily have recognized him on his trial, but, thanks to the
ingenuity of counsel, who had him so bedaub his face with paint,
recognition was all but impossible. A little later, when he bathed in
the Illinois River with his friends, the imposture was discovered and he
was forced to flee for his life to escape the wrath of the settlers.
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Footnote 132:
Iles’ Early Life and Times, p. 43. The author claimed the presence of
Col. William S. Hamilton in his party, but in that he was mistaken, as
Col. Hamilton returned to Galena with Strode.
Footnote 133:
The statement by Matson that one Mike Girty was connected with the
Indian Creek massacre is incorrect.
Footnote 134:
Matson’s “Memories of Shau-be-na.”
Footnote 135:
Matson.
Footnote A:
That part of Morgan County subsequently organized into Cass County in
1837.
Footnote 136:
Kee-was-see was another defendant, Armstrong 368. Richard M. Young was
the judge, Thomas Ford the prosecutor, and Hamilton and Bigelow
attorneys for defense at that time.
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CHAPTER XXII.
GENERAL PANIC–INDEPENDENT COMPANIES RAISED–ATKINSON’S MARCH
CONTINUED–INSUBORDINATION–ARMY DISBANDED–INTERIM REGIMENT RAISED.
If Stillman’s defeat spread consternation, the Indian Creek massacre
created a veritable and universal panic in the West. Counties began the
organization of companies and regiments, Putnam alone contributing an
entire regiment, called the Fortieth, which was mustered into the field
May 21st. It was composed of the companies of Captains George B. Willis,
Robert Barnes, William M. Stewart and William Haws, with the following
staff: Colonel, John Strawn; Lieutenant-Colonel, William Cowen; Major,
Elias Thompson; Adjutant, Henry K. Cassell; Quarter-master, Jeremiah
Strawn; Paymaster, Peter Barnhart; Surgeon, B.M. Hayse; Quartermaster’s
Sergeant, Roland Mosley; Surgeon’s Mate, Richard Hunt; Sergeant-Major,
William Myers; Drum Major, Ward Graves; Fife Major, Michael Reed.
After ranging that section of the country until June 18th, when all
danger was thought to be over, it was mustered out at Hennepin.
Colonel Moore’s Vermilion County regiment was another, while ten
companies of foot and mounted rangers ranged over territory generally
local: Capt. Peter Menard, mounted, of Peoria County, mustered out at
Dixon’s August 14th;[137] Cyrus Matthews, foot, of Morgan, mustered out
at Fort Wilbourn August 1st; Capt. George McFadden, mounted, of LaSalle,
mustered out at Ottawa June 29th; Capt. John Stennett, mounted, of
Schuyler, mustered out September 4th; Capt. M.L. Covell of McLean,
mounted, mustered out at Bloomington August 3d; Capt. John S. Wilbourn,
foot, of Morgan, mustered out June 9th; Capt. Solomon Miller, mounted,
of St. Clair, mustered out at Belleville August 2d; Capt. William
Warnick, mounted, of Macon (ranged that county only), mustered out
September 24th at Decatur; Capt. Charles S. Dorsey, mounted, of Tazewell
(ranged that county only), mustered out at Pekin July 9th; Capt. James
Walker of Will, and, finally, the company of Capt. Earl Pierce, about
which nothing can be learned, mustered out August 16th.
The life of Captain Wilbourn’s company was ephemeral. Reports reached
Beardstown that trouble was imminent at Hennepin and that reinforcements
were needed at once. Accordingly twenty-nine men volunteered from
Beardstown under Capt. John S. Wilbourn, took the steamer Caroline,
Captain Doty commanding, and proceeded forthwith to Hennepin. Captain
Doty, for the better protection of those aboard, and also aggressively
to deal with the enemy, mounted a field piece upon the boat, where it
might do execution at long range. At Hennepin, however, the rumor was
found to be false and without delay the company was sent back to
Beardstown and mustered out June 9th, and this was all the service that
the company of Captain Wilbourn saw.
Neighboring states were also placed in a state of panic, and to escape
possible raids, Michigan, Indiana and Missouri called out the militia,
the first two actually sending a force to Chicago. The last named, while
calling out its militia, did not send it forward. The following general
order, made in response to the call of Governor Miller of Missouri,
ordering Major-General Gentry to have 1,000 men in readiness to march at
a moment’s warning to the frontier, appears in the Missouri Republican
of June 12th, 1832:
“GENERAL ORDER.
“Columbia, May 31, 1832.
“Sir:–Having been required by General Order to raise and organize the
Ninth Brigade, which I have the honor to command, 300 mounted
volunteers, for the defense of the frontiers of the State of Missouri,
to be held in readiness to march at a moment’s warning, you will,
therefore, with the least possible delay, cause to be raised and
organized in the Twenty-sixth Regiment, Ninth Brigade, and Third
Missouri Militia, which you have the honor to command, 100 mounted
volunteers.
“You will organize 100 volunteers, to be raised into two companies–50
men each–and cause an election to be held in each for one captain, one
lieutenant, and one ensign, and as soon as all the company officers
are elected, you will make a return to me, certifying the name and
rank of each person elected, etc., that they may be commissioned
accordingly. Their services will be accepted for six months, unless
sooner discharged; but no pay or compensation need be expected unless
ordered by the Governor into actual service. Each volunteer will keep
constantly in readiness a horse, with necessary equipment, a rifle in
good order, with an ample supply of ammunition, etc., so as to be
ready to march at a moment’s warning.
“JESSE T. WOOD,
“Brig.-Gen., Commanding Ninth Brigade, Third Div., Mo. Militia.”
“THOMAS G. BERRY,
“Col. Commanding Twenty-sixth Reg., Ninth Brig., Third Div., Mo.
Militia.”
Very naturally the frontier was regarded as a slaughtering pen, where
flame and the tomahawk were ravaging the settlements almost to
extinction, and one would think such scenes as the Indian Creek massacre
would have incited the militia to revenge the atrocities of monsters who
could butcher women and children; but such was the disorder, lack of
organization, dissension and open insubordination among many of the
influential that, though they passed scalps, plunder and other evidences
of hideous crimes, the troops murmured, and upon one plea and another
flatly asked for discharge.
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Atkinson did everything a gallant officer could to spur the army on to
an early capture of the enemy. On the 22d, at the third camp above
Dixon’s, he issued the following order:
“Headquarters, Right Wing, West Dept.,
“Third Camp above Dixon’s, on Rock River, 22d May, 1832.
“Order No. 22.
“The troops will move this morning as early as practicable. General
Whiteside will call on the Commanding General for special instructions
as to the operations of the Illinois volunteers. Major Long’s
Battalion will join General Whiteside’s Brigade, and receive his
orders. Col. Taylor, First Regiment Infantry, will accompany the
volunteers as inspector general of that corps, and will superintend
the regularity of its movements, order of encampment, of battle, etc.,
etc. Capt. Harney of the First Infantry will accompany Col. Taylor as
assistant inspector.
“By order of Brig. Gen. Atkinson,
“A.S. Johnston, A.D.C., A.A.A. Gen.”
The purpose of these orders was to have such men as Taylor and Harney,
who were courageous and tactful fighters, pursue the enemy to the death,
and effectually would they have done it had the troops manifested the
least disposition for the task.
Further alarming reports of danger to the frontier below Dixon’s
prompted General Atkinson, on the 23d, to withdraw with the regulars to
Dixon’s, from which point Stillman was ordered with his three companies
to proceed to join the main army for scouting service, leaving
Lieutenant Williams of Colonel James’ odd battalion in command of the
volunteers remaining, while Major Bliss continued in charge of the
regulars at that post, which was ordered to be fortified for better
security. Accordingly Fort Dixon was erected on the north side of Rock
River, opposite.
The special instructions mentioned in the foregoing order were as
follows:
“Headquarters Right Wing, Western Department,
“Third Camp above Dixon’s Ferry, Rock River, 22d May, 1832.
“Special Order No. 11.
“It being ascertained that the hostile Indians have left Rock River
and passed up Sycamore Creek, and probably across to Fox and DuPage
rivers, General Whiteside will move with the Illinois volunteers up
Sycamore Creek, scour the country in that direction for the enemy,
pass from thence to Fox River of the Illinois, and be governed by
circumstances as to a further pursuit of him, persevering, however,
until he is subdued or driven from the country. As soon as this
service is performed and Governor Reynolds may deem the frontier
secure, or take other measures for its defense, the Illinois
volunteers, in the United States service, will be mustered by the
brigade major and discharged, he taking care to note on the muster
rolls all delinquents.
“General Whiteside will, during his operations, inform the commanding
general by express, at Dixon’s Ferry, which is established as general
headquarters and the base of operations, of every occurrence that may
require his attention.[138]
“By order of Brig. Gen. Atkinson,
“Alb. S. Johnston, A.D.C., A.A. General.”
After three days’ vain search, the army reached a Pottowatomie village
on Sycamore Creek, where much of the plunder secured from Stillman was
found cached, likewise many of the scalps taken from his men and the
murdered victims of Indian Creek. All Indian property found there was
confiscated by the men, who were becoming audacious. At that point the
trail of the Indians lay to the north, while their homes lay to the
south. Taylor urged pursuit with his accustomed vigor, but the
undercurrent of dissatisfaction was so strong that Governor Reynolds
called to his tent all the captains of his army for a conference. A tie
vote resulted, whereupon General Whiteside, in his wrath at seeing the
scalps of his friends and women and children ignored, declared he would
no longer lead them except to be discharged. Therefore the army turned
its course southward, a detour being made by some of the troops to rob