The Black Hawk War Including a Review of Black Hawk's Life
Traveling all that night and the succeeding night, resting the
intervening day, the three survivors reached Galena the morning of the
third day.
Aaron Hawley’s horse being the fastest, was the first to get away, and
it was always supposed that he was cut off by another party of the same
band of Indians and killed, as stated. When last seen by the other three
he was making his course toward the Pecatonica.
On the 8th of June the bodies of St. Vrain, Fowler and Hale were
recovered[146] and buried four miles south of Kellogg’s Grove, “old
place.” A bill for the relief of the widow and heirs of St. Vrain was
passed by Congress January 6th, 1834. His tragic death was deplored the
country over by reason of his unusual acquaintance and his great
reputation for good deeds all his life long.
Felix de Hault de Lassus de St. Vrain[147] (such was his full name) in
personal appearance was tall and slightly built, with black eyes and
black curling hair, worn rather long. He was born in St. Louis,
Missouri, March 23d, 1799. His grandfather, Pierre Charles de Hault de
Lassus et de Luziére, Knight of the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of
St. Michael, was born in Bouchain in Hainault (now Department of the
North), where his ancestors had lived from time immemorial, holding
offices of the highest importance and trust. This grandfather was
compelled to leave France during the “Reign of Terror,” for the Spanish
possessions on the Mississippi, where the oldest son subsequently became
Governor de Lassus of Upper Louisiana. Mr. Felix St. Vrain’s father,
Jacques, was an officer in the French navy. After the transfer of
Louisiana to the United States members of the family, with the exception
of the Governor, were appointed to offices of trust under our
Government. St. Vrain married Mademoiselle Marie Pauline Grégoire,
daughter of Charles Cyril Grégoire, also of France.
The Indians had always recognized him to be a man of unusual bravery and
devotedly attached to their welfare; in fact, he was opposed to the use
of the military that spring in sending Black Hawk back to the west side
of the Mississippi, and early in April he went to St. Louis to dissuade
the authorities from interfering, but the many and constantly increasing
depredations of Black Hawk’s band were perverting the well-disposed
Indians to similar acts, and it was decreed that the murderers of the
Menominees must be taught a substantial lesson in behavior. Accordingly
St. Vrain boarded the boat with General Atkinson and returned to Fort
Armstrong. Upon this boat he was detected with the soldiers by the
Indian spies, who immediately reported the fact to Black Hawk. Without
investigating their charge of treason, all of St. Vrain’s life of
devotion to the Indians was blotted out. In the manner of all his
miserable judgments in the past, Black Hawk now swore revenge on the
agent and selected “The Little Bear” as his deputy to execute the
decree.
Gen. George W. Jones, brother-in-law of St. Vrain, identified the body
and took back to camp with him the dress coat and pouch which he wore on
that day. These articles are to this day in the possession of the
Grégoire family.
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Footnote 141:
Matson’s Memories of Shau-be-na.
Footnote 142:
Correspondence of Hon. George M. Hollenback.
Footnote 143:
Correspondence of Hon. George M. Hollenback.
Footnote 144:
Smith’s Wisconsin, 418. Hist. Jo Daviess County, 286.
Footnote 145:
Account of George W. Jones, his brother-in-law.
Footnote 146:
Galenian, June 13, 1832.
Footnote 147:
Correspondence of St. Vrain’s granddaughter, Julie de St. Vrain
Schwankovsky, of Detroit.
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CHAPTER XXIV.
ATKINSON’S MARCH TO MOUTH OF FOX RIVER–DODGE’S MARCH TO MEET HIM–CAPTAIN
ILES’ MARCH.
On the 29th of May General Atkinson crossed over from Dixon’s Ferry to
Ottawa to take up his headquarters opposite the mouth of Fox River,
where Fort Johnston was established, and where he remained until June
8th, Col. Zachary Taylor returning to Dixon’s to take charge of that
post with the regulars who returned with him. On May 29th Atkinson
issued General Order 26:
“Colonel Fry of the Illinois volunteers will assume command of the
troops at this place, and give the orders necessary for its defense
and the protection of the inhabitants in its vicinity until the troops
shall have been organized and officers elected according to the laws
of the state, which election will take place to-morrow[148] morning,
and the officers elected will be obeyed and respected accordingly. Mr.
Achilles Morris and William Kirkpatrick[149] are appointed to appraise
the horses, the equipage and private arms of the troops.”
To give additional protection to the northwest corner of the State, the
companies of Captains Iles and Snyder were selected from Fry’s regiment
and ordered forward.
Captain Iles’ company marched first, reaching Galena by way of the Apple
River Fort route, June 10th. On June 11th[150] it leisurely started on
its return trip, remaining over in Taylor’s camp at Dixon’s a short
time, and then as leisurely continued to Fort Wilbourn, where it was
mustered out by Lieut. Robert Anderson June 16th, after having served
its period of twenty days’ enlistment. No event of interest transpired
to give character to the march, and had it not been for the prominence
of its men during subsequent years, it would probably never have been
chronicled. In 1883 Captain Iles published a book, entitled “Early Life
and Times,” in which, on pages 45 _et seq._ we have happily preserved to
our use that march of celebrated men:
“A few companies from the disbanded troops again enlisted for twenty
days, to remain and protect the settlers until new troops could
assemble. I was elected captain of one of these companies, although
there was hardly a man in it but what was better suited to be a
commander. It was made up of generals, colonels, captains, and
distinguished men from the disbanded army. I was proud of it.
“My company was mustered in by young Lieut. Anderson, a graduate of
West Point, acting as adjutant (of Fort Sumter fame). While the other
companies were ordered to scout the country, mine was held by Gen.
Atkinson in camp as a reserve. One company was ordered to go to Rock
River (now Dixon), and report to Col. Taylor, afterwards president,
who had been left there with a few United States soldiers, to guard
the army supplies. The place was also made a point of rendezvous. Just
as the company got to Dixon, a man came in and reported that he and
six others were on the road to Galena, and in passing through a point
of timber about twenty miles north of Dixon, they were fired on and
the six killed, he being the only one to make his escape. One of the
number killed was Col. St. Vrain, Indian agent. Colonel Taylor ordered
the company to proceed to the place, bury the dead, go on to Galena,
and get all the information they could about the Indians. But the
company took fright, and came back to the Illinois River
helter-skelter. (Note.–This is purely a flight of the imagination. No
such company was sent, and none fled.)
“Gen. Atkinson then called on me[151] and wanted to know how I felt
about taking the trip; that he was exceedingly anxious to open
communication with Galena, and to find out, if possible, the
whereabouts of the Indians before the new troops arrived. I answered
the general, that myself and men were getting rusty, and were anxious
to have something to do, and that nothing would please us better than
to be ordered out on an expedition; that I would find out how many of
my men had good horses and were otherwise well equipped, and what time
we wanted to prepare for the trip. I called on him again at sunset,
and reported that I had about fifty men well equipped and eager, and
that we wanted one day to make preparations. He said, ‘Go ahead,’ and
he would prepare our orders.
“The next day[152] was a busy day, running bullets and getting our
flintlocks in order–we had no percussion locks then. Gen. Henry, one
of my privates, who had been promoted to the position of major of the
companies, volunteered to go with us. I considered him a host, as he
had served as lieutenant in the war of 1812, under Gen. Scott; was in
the battle of Lundy’s Lane, and in several other battles. He was a
good drill officer, and could aid me much. Mr. Lincoln, our late
president, was a private in my company. After Gen. Atkinson handed me
my orders, and my men were mounted and ready for the trip,[153] I felt
proud of them, and was confident of our success, although numbering
only forty-eight. Several good men failed to go, as they had gone down
to the foot of the Illinois rapids to aid in bringing up the boats of
army supplies. We wanted to be as little encumbered as possible, and
took nothing that could be dispensed with, other than blankets, tin
cups, coffee pots, canteens, a wallet of bread, and some fat side
meat, which we ate raw or broiled.
“When we arrived at Rock River[154] we found Col. Taylor on the
opposite side, in a little fort built of prairie sod. He sent an
officer in a canoe to bring me over. I said to the officer that I
would come over as soon as I got my men in camp. I knew of a good
spring half a mile above, and I determined to camp at it. After the
men were in camp I called on General Henry, and he accompanied me. On
meeting Colonel Taylor (he looked like a man born to command) he
seemed a little piqued that I did not come over and camp with him. I
told him we felt just as safe as if quartered in his one-horse fort;
and, besides, I knew what his orders would be, and wanted to try the
mettle of my men before starting on the perilous trip I knew he would
order. He said the trip was perilous, and that since the murder of the
six men all communication with Galena had been cut off, and it might
be besieged; that he wanted me to proceed to Galena, and that he would
have my orders for me in the morning, and asked what outfit I wanted.
I answered nothing but coffee, side meat and bread.
“In the morning[155] my orders were to collect and bury the remains of
the six men murdered, proceed to Galena, make a careful search for the
signs of Indians, and find out whether they were aiming to escape by
crossing the river below Galena, and get all information at Galena of
their probable whereabouts before the new troops were ready to follow
them.
“John Dixon, who kept a house of entertainment here and had sent his
family to Galena for safety, joined us and hauled our wallets of corn
and grub in his wagon, which was a great help. Lieutenant Harris, U.S.
Army, also joined us, and I now had fifty men to go with me on the
march. I detailed two to march on the right, two on the left, and two
in advance, to act as lookouts to prevent a surprise. They were to
keep in full view of us and to remain out until we camped for the
night.
“Just at sundown the first day, while we were at lunch, our advance
scouts came in under whip, and reported Indians. We bounced to our
feet, and having a full view of the road for a long distance, could
see a large body coming toward us. All eyes were turned to John Dixon,
who, as the last one dropped out of sight, coming over a ridge,
pronounced them Indians. I stationed my men in a ravine crossing the
road, where any one approaching could not see us until within thirty
yards; the horses I had driven back out of sight in a valley. I asked