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. Atkmson marches on 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 White 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.

THIS band of patriots continued here and guarded the country, until the new levy of troops could arrive and be organized. And many of them still continued until the end of the last campaign. It will be recollected that I stated in a preceding page that A. W. Snyder was elected Captain of one of the six companies, who volunteered a second time to defend the northern frontier. Capt. Snyder was Wakefield 58

Wakefield 59 constantly on the march with his men, between Galena, and Fox and Rock rivers, guarding the frontiers from being taken by surprise by the Indians, as it was well known that they were prowling about through the country, as they had done considerable mischief upon the northern frontier, and particularly in the mining country, and on the road leading from Fort dark to Galena. Capt. Snyder thought that it would be best to range between Galena and Rock and Fox rivers; as those settlements were so exposed as easily to become a prey to their barbarity, should they be suffered to make an attack upon them. On the night of the 17th of June, Captain Snyder and his company were encamped about thirty-five miles east of Galena, and not far distant from the Burr Oak grove. On that night his sentinels were fired upon by the Indians; but the cowardly wretches did not stand to fight. They fired and retreated immediately. Next morning Captain Snyder took his company and went in pursuit of them with all possible speed. He pursued them to their camp. But they first discovered his approach, and took to flight, but he was not to be dodged. It was now day, and he had the light of the sun to see how to trail in pursuit of them. His men were mounted on horseback; and the word was—"not to spare them." They were put to the whip and spur; and in a very short time Captain Snyder overtook them. But they sought refuge in a ditch, or hole in the ground to fight from, in order to sell their lives as dear as possible. As it appears there were but four of them, they in all probability were out as spies from the main body of Indians. After they took shelter in this hole, or gully, there was but a very slight prospect of killing, except by a charge upon them; so Captain Snyder surrounded the hole and

Wakefield 60 ordered his men to charge upon them,—which order was promptly obeyed. The Indians fired upon them as they charged, and wounded one man mortally. Col. Semple was one of the number who charged upon them in this dangerous place, and killed one with his pistol. They killed them all in this place of supposed security, except one, and him they killed within a few steps of it, after he had got out. The wounded man was by the name of Macomson. They now had to make a litter to carry him on, as it was impossible for him to ride; accordingly Capt. Snyder had one made, and eight men detailed to carry it; that being the only way they could take him along, for it was perceived that he could survive but a short time. Captain Snyder thought that it would be best to take up the line of march toward the camp, where he had been stationed occasionally, at Kellogg's grove, in order that if Macomson died, he might have a chance to pay the last duty that man can pay to his fellow men upon earth;—or if there was any prospect of his recovery, that there might be no means left untried to save his life:—but this was not destined to be the case. They proceeded on until the men became very much fatigued, and thirsty for want of water; likewise they thought he was dying: so they stopt to see what would be his fate; also to search round, and if possible get some water, as they were by this time very thirsty, having been in the chase ever since it was clearly light. In their eagerness to obtain this indispensable article to sustain life, they scattered in different directions in search of it; not dreaming or apprehending the slightest danger of being taken by surprise. But in this they were mistaken. They were fired upon by about seventy or eighty Indians. Two gentlemen, one by the name of Scott, the other McDaniel, together with their horses, were killed the first fire, and a

Wakefield 61 gentleman by the name of Cornelius badly wounded. The men being surprised so suddenly, became very much alarmed, and some of them commenced a retreat. Captain Snyder perceiving it, ordered a halt and endeavoured to form them for action. Some of them so panic struck, were still for taking to flight. Capt. Snyder then requested General Samuel Whiteside, who was then in his company in the capacity of a private, to try and assist him, to bring the men to a stand. Gen. Whiteside then cried aloud that he would shoot the first man that attempted to retreat. They then formed, and the battle became warm on both sides, which lasted a considerable time, both the Indians and our men taking the advantage of trees. General Whiteside being an excellent marksman, took a cool and deliberate aim at the Indian Commander, who had been yelling and hallooing all the time of the action. As soon as his gun fired, the Indian was heard no more; and his horse was immediately seen without the rider. The Indians now began to retreat, which told us plainly that General Whiteside had killed their commander. The panic had still fast hold of a part of our company. They refused to pursue them further. Captain Snyder, General Whiteside and Colonel Semple, with some others endeavored to persuade the men to pursue them, but it was impossible to get a part of them to consent; they peremptorily refused. When Captain Snyder perceived that it was impossible to effect anything with a part of his small band; he ordered a march back to their camp. They did not march far before they met Major Riley, with a detachment of regulars. After a consultation between Riley and Snyder, they came to the conclusion that it was then too late to follow the Indians that night. They all then returned to their encampment and abandoned the idea of further pursuit.

Wakefield 62 They did not know but that Black Hawk and his whole army were close by, and if so small a band would fall in with them, they might fall an easy prey to their vengeance, for at that time it would have been almost impossible to have made good their retreat, for they had then been about sixty days almost constantly on the march, and their horses a greater part of them without corn, or any food except grass. This was a prudent step. Captain Snyder immediately marched his men to head quarters, which was Fort Wilbourn, where the new levy of troops had all assembled, and had been organized into three Brigades; under officers hereafter to be mentioned. Captain Snyder made a report of his battle to General Atkinson, and having been much worn out by fatigue, and this his second term of service having expired, he and his company were discharged, and they all retired once more to their respective homes to embrace their wives and children, and enjoy the happiness of sitting by their own firesides, without the fear of being disturbed by the shrieks and yell of the savage; and those who had fought, no doubt, felt happy that they had borne a part of the hardships of war, in defence of their country's rights. But men who will not fight in such a cause, hardly can be said to have good and noble feelings. All honorable men are generally brave,— but a dishonorable man has nothing to stimulate him to be brave. I am in possession of the names of some of those who did not do their duty in this battle,—but I will forbear mentioning any of their names; for it may be that they may have respectable fathers and mothers, or wives and children, that might be seriously injured by the exposure. So I will forbear saying anything that would tend to injure the feelings of an honorable and

Wakefield 63 dutiful son, or cause a pang to reach the heart of an affectionate wife, father or mother. But it never is wrong, or does any harm to eulogize those who act honorably and brave. There were some such spirits, by all accounts, who acted that part in this little band, that were engaged in the battle, of which I have just been informing the reader about. Amongst them were General Samuel Whiteside, Colonel Semple and Captain Snyder himself. It is stated by all that they acted with bravery and fearlessness ; and some others that I am not able to name at this time. The number of Indians that were killed in this engagement could not be ascertained. As their number was so far superior to that of the company of Captain Snyder, it was thought expedient to desist, and not stay to hunt them up. But from every account we could get, there were a number, besides their commander that I have already mentioned. The men on our part that were killed, were choice citizens, and all had families, but one. The man who was wounded in the first skirmish had to share the same fate of the rest who were killed. It was out of the power of men or officers to save him from becoming a prey to their vengeance. I shall have to dismiss this campaign for the present, and take up the second levy of troops. Those counties, that I as an express bearer was sent to, to raise more troops, were ordered to have them ready for marching in due time so as to be at Beardstown, the place of rendezvous, on the third day of June. Accordingly in compliance with said order, the following companies rendezvoused at that place, viz: From Clinton county, a company of the number of sixty-eight, commanded by Captain A. Bankson;— from Washington county, a company containing fifty-three, commanded by Captain Burnes ; — from

Wakefield 64 Randolph, two companies, containing each fifty men, commanded by Captains Feaman and Briggs. The companies after their arrival, organized themselves into a squadron, and for their officers elected Theophilus W. Smith, of the county of Madison, their Lieutenant Colonel; and Sidney Breese, of the county of Randolph, Major.45 On the fifth day of June, the commandant (Col. Smith,) appointed the following persons to form his staff, viz: John Omelvany, Adjutant; Benjamin Bond, Paymaster; William I-L Terrell, Surgeon; J. B. Logan," Surgeon's mate; C. V. Halstead, Quarter Master; John Hawthorn, Hospital Steward. Colonel Smith after procuring provision, and waggons to transport them, took up a line of march (6th May,) for General Atkinson's head quarters at Fort Wilbourn — a small fort erected by Rev. Mr. Horn,47 as a place to secure provision he had procured at St. Louis; — at which place the troops from the different parts of the State assembled, also some from the State of Indiana. Although General Atkinson could not receive them on account of there having been a sufficient number from our own State, and the scarcity of provision. Yet she certainly deserves great applause for her patriotism in sending to our assistance. Here all the volunteers were organized into three Brigades, which being the ij;th May. Doctor Alexander Posey was elected Brigadier General, of the first Brigade; Willis Hargrave, Colonel, of the first regiment; William J. Gatewood, Lieutenant Colonel; and James Hampton, [Huston] Major; all from the county of Gallatin : Colonel John Ewing, from Franklin county, was elected Colonel, of the second regiment; —Storm, Lieut. Colonel; and Johnson Wren, Major; the third regiment under the command of Colonel Samuel Leach; Lieutenant, Col. Campbell; and Major

Wakefield 65 [Joseph] Shelton. John Dement of Vandalia was elected to the command of the spy battalion. General Posey appointed Major Alexander P. Hall and B. A. dark as his Aids-de-camp, and Major [John] Raum, Brigade Inspector. The second Brigade from the eastern side of the State commanded by Brigadier General M. K. Alexander; Major Wm. B. Archer, was appointed by the General his Aid-de-camp; and Major Sheledy, Brigade Inspector. It also consisted of three regiments, and a battalion of spies. The first regiment under the command of Colonel J. M. Blackburn; Lieutenant Colonel, Wm. Wyatt; and Major Jas. S. Jones. The second under the command of Colonel Samuel Adams; Lieutenant Colonel J. W. Barlow; and Major George Bowers. The third under the command of Colonel Moses [Hosea] Pierce; Lieutenant Colonel C. Jones; Major William Eubanks. The battalion of spies under the command of Major William McHenry. The third Brigade from the western side of the State commanded by Brigadier General James D. Henry; who appointed Major Alexander P. Field, his Aid-de-camp ; Major Murray McConnel, Brigade Inspector. This brigade had four regiments and a spy battalion. The first regiment under command of Col. S. T. Mathews; Lieutenant Colonel James Gillham; and Major James Evans. The second, commanded by Colonel Jacob Fry; Lieutenant Colonel J. Smith; and Major Benjamin James. The third under command of Colonel Gabriel Jones; Lieutenant Colonel Theophilus W. Smith; and Major Sidney Breese. The fourth under command of Colonel James Colhns; Lieutenant Colonel P. H. Sharp; and Major William Miller. The battalion of spies under the command of Major W. L. D. Ewing. The aggregate strength of the three Brigades being

Wakefield 66 about three thousand two hundred, besides three companies of Rangers that were left to protect the settlements west of the Illinois river, and the public stores at such points as it was necessary to leave provisions. This force, with the volunteers from the mining country, together with the regulars, made about four thousand effective men. About this time the Indians attacked a fort in the mining country, known by the name of Apple River Fort. In this attack the citizens suffered great loss by the Indians killing their stock and destroying property; which the following letter from Captain Flack will more fully show, as he was in the fort during the engagement. It is in the following words, to wit: "Mr. John A. Wakefield: u SIR: — In reply to your request, I proceed to give an account of the attack of the Indians on Apple River Fort. Apple River Fort is situated about fourteen miles east of Galena. It was on the 24th of June, when harmony and peace appeared to reign through the fort, the day before a waggon had been despatched to Galena for the purpose of bringing a supply of lead and meat, which had run short in the afternoon on Sunday, the waggon arrived with a supply of meat and lead. About the time the team was removed from the waggon, the ladies of the fort had assembled to go to the river to hunt goose-berries; after starting they discovered coming from towards Galena three men, and being anxious to hear the news from there, they concluded to wait, expecting to hear something about the Indians. When they arrived they proved to be men on an express from Galena going to Dixon's ferry on Rock river; one of the men was a Mr. F. Dixon, the other two I have no recollection of their names. They were all intoxicated , after coming up they recollected that their guns were empty; one of the men dismounted and charged his piece, the other two would not; the man, after loading his gun, mounted his horse and they all rode off in full speed, whooping and hallooing towards Dixon's ferry. When they had got to

Wakefield 67 the distance of about three hundred yards, the one that carried the loaded gun was some fifty or sixty yards ahead of the other two, when a large number of Indians, being in ambush; arose and fired upon him; when he fell from his horse, shot through the thigh; his horse fled and left him; he arose and fired at the Indians at about the distance of fifteen steps, but his fire took no effect as was ever ascertained. The Indians made towards him with their hatchets, when the other two coming up to his relief with their empty guns, they presented their guns, which caused the Indians to halt till the wounded man had got between them and the fort, they kept giving back with their guns presented till the wounded man gained the fort. The firing of the guns gave the alarm just in time for the people to make their retreat to the fort. "Apple River Fort had once been an extensive smelting establishment, and had become a considerable village, the fort being small, families lived in these houses in day time, and every one had his own to himself, but at night all repaired to the fort for safety. " The Indians pursued these men within firing distance of the fort, all on horseback, they rode up, dismounted and hitched their horses, and I think in about three minutes the fort was surrounded by about one hundred and fifty Indians, with all the savage ferocity and awful appearance, that those monsters could possibly appear in. The inhabitants had all reached the fort in time to defend themselves, which appeared to have been a providential thing, for if it had not been for the firing of the Indians on the express bearers, the fort would have certainly been taken, as the people would have been taken upon a surprise when they were not apprehending the least kind of danger from those savage barbarians. " There was a very heavy fire kept up for the space of one hour on both sides. Early in the engagement a Mr. George Herclurode was shot in the neck, and never spoke afterwards, he being at a port hole trying to defend himself and the helpless inmates of the fort; a Mr. James Nuting was also shot at the same time in the head, but not mortally. There appeared to be no dismay in the fort. " Such bravery and heroism amongst women has scarcely

Wakefield 68 ever been surpassed in any country. Women and children were all actively engaged in the defence of the fort. Girls eight years old were busily engaged in running balls and making cartridges, and women loading guns. "The Indians got into those houses before spoken of, and knocked out the chinking and kept up their fire until they got discouraged. They then commenced plundering the houses, chopt, split and tore up a quantity of fine furniture. There was scarcely a man or woman that was left with a second suit of clothing. They went into my father's house; there was a large bureau full of fine clothes, they took six fine cloth coats and a number of fine ruffle shirts, with their tomahawks they split the drawers and took the contents. They ripped open the bedticks, emptied the feathers, took all the bedclothing, and broke all the delf in the cupboards. Some of the out houses were kept for the purpose of storing away provisions; they got into those houses where a number of flour barrels were stowed away; they would lie down on their faces and roll a barrel after them until they would get into a ravine, where they were out of danger; they then would empty the barrels of flour, after they had destroyed this necessary article, and when they found they could not succeed in taking the fort as they expected, they then commenced the warfare upon the stock; they killed all the cattle that were near the fort and took a number of fine horses to the number of about twenty, which were never got again by the owners. The horse that lost his rider in the first onset ran to the fort, which the Indians did not get. "Mr. Dixon on his retreat never stopt at the fort, thinking from the large number of Indians the fort would be taken, he made for Galena, and not being acquainted with the country he missed his road, and went to the house of Mr. John McDonald, who had a very large farm, of which Apple river formed a part of the fence. When he got to the house he found a large number of Indians at that place, and in a few minutes found himself completely surrounded; he lit from his horse, let down a pair of draw-bars, and made his escape across the river to Galena. At the time the Indians commenced the fire upon the express bearers, the people of the

Wakefield 69 fort started an express to Galena for assistance, which never came until about eleven o'clock the next day. Colonel Strode who had the command at Galena, marched to their assistance with about one hundred men. But this little band of men, women and children, had bravely stood their ground and kept the field, in spite of the Black Hawk and his ferocious savage brothers, with all their frightful yells and war-whoops. "But it was not without some suffering that this small handful did it. There was no water in the fort, and being taken upon a surprise, the people had not time to lay any in after the attack was first made upon the express bearers, and the weather being very warm, the men and women became so fatigued and exhausted in time of the engagement that they were compelled to drink dish water, to quench their thirst. " This fort was commanded by Captain Stone, and there were twenty-five men besides women and children. This small force stood their ground before the great and mighty chief called Black Hawk, and upwards of one hundred and fifty of those hideous monsters, that take so much delight in their savage warfare; as it was afterwards ascertained that Black Hawk commanded in person at this engagement. " It was supposed that the Indians lost several of their number in this skirmish, as they were seen putting several Indians on their horses and packing them off during the engagement, and after it was over there was a quantity of blood discovered on the ground. " The Indians in killing the cattle would skin and take out of a beef such pieces as they seemed to like best, leaving the balance on the ground. "Apple River Fort is about sixteen miles from Kellogg s Grove and it is believed by all that this was the war party of Indians that attacked Major Dement's spy batallion on thenext day at this grove." Sir this is an outline of the transactions of this skirmish, and agreeably to my memory is a correct one, &c."Yours respectfully, with sentiments of the highest esteem. "FLACK."



Wakefield 70 In and about this time, perhaps a day or two before, another scouting party of Indians came within a quarter of a mile of Fort Hamilton, on the waters of the Pickatoleca. Three men had just left the fort, and gone to the farm of a Mr. Spafford. They made an attack on them and killed two, the third fled, an Indian seeing he had got away without falling as the other two, pursued him in order to despatch him likewise, but in this the savage had made a bad calculation, the white man was not hurt, and in place of the Indian killing him he killed the Indian, and made shift to hide from the vigilant eye of the rest; after staying in his place of concealment for some time he ventured to sally forth to go to the fort, but about that time Colonel William S. Hamilton arrived at the fort with a large number of Menominie Indians who had volunteered to go against the Sac and Fox nations, in order to assist in subduing the common enemy of both them and the whites. The frightened man who had run so narrow a risk of being killed by them in the attack they had made upon him and his companions, seeing those friendly and harmless Menominies pouring into the fort, retreated back to his place of concealment where it is said he kept himself secreted for six or eight days, living upon nothing but the vegetation that grew out of the earth. But at last he was obliged to yield to the pangs of hunger and venture forth and risk all consequences, for he found it was as well to die by the sword as famine, when to his great joy he found his mistake. One of the men killed in the attack was by the name of Appleton, but the other I do not recollect, neither do I know the name of the brave fellow that made his escape and so manfully gave the Indian that pursued him a quietus. Which in the sequel the reader will find the others of this party all shared the same fate on that day.

Wakefield 71 Those cowardly wretches as soon as they had killed the two men, took to flight which is their general practice, especially scouting parties. But General Dodge, who happened to arrive at the fort soon after those daring wretches had committed this depredation, with about twenty men, pursued with all possible speed, and in about six or eight miles overtook them. When they saw they were pursued they made for the Picketoleca, and got under the bank of the creek. General Dodge stopped not for the advantage they had got of him, by being under the bank, but rushed up within a few feet of them and killed the whole band of them, consisting of eleven in number as was supposed at that time, report says since that the Indians give an account of two of them getting away. General Dodge in this skirmish had four men wounded, three of which proved mortal, Samuel Black, was one; he lived ten days; Samuel Wells, was another who lived twenty-two days; and Montaville Morris who lived twenty-four days. Thomas Jenkins was shot through the hip, but not mortal. It appears that there was about this time a number of those scouting parties prowling about the mines in order to take scalps, and steal horses. Captain James W. Stephenson about this time, perhaps the same day, fell in with another party of those miserable beings, between Apple River Fort and Kellogg's Grove; when they discovered him and his men they took to flight. And the Captain and men gave them chase, he pursued them something like five miles before he was able to overtake them. They succeeded in reaching a large thicket, here they had every advantage of him, they lay concealed in the bushes and were completely hid from him, he had no other way to get at them than to charge upon them in their hiding place; which he did, and opened a brisk fire upon them,

Wakefield 72 in a very few feet of where they were laying. But the enemy having all advantage of him, he was compelled to fall back with the loss of some of his men, but the Captain and men not willing to give up the contest, charged a second and third time upon them. On the third charge the Captain received a wound in his breast, which was thought to have been mortal at that time, also three of his men were killed dead on the ground. One by the name of Howard, one by the name of Ames, and a Mr. Fowler. The men now seeing that the Indians had every advantage of them, thought it was best not to put the lives of good men in stake against the lives of those filthy savages. It could not be ascertained in this skirmish how much execution was done to the Indians, as the men had to retreat and give the field to the enemy. As Captain Stephenson had but a small detachment of his company, and three of them lay dead on the ground, and himself wounded. I will now return to the army at Fort Wilbourn. The first Brigade, marched on the twentieth day of June. The second on the twenty-first. And the third on the twenty-second. All ordered to concentrate at Dixon's. Major Dement who commanded the spy battalion of the first Brigade was ordered on ahead, in order if possible to overtake a band of Sacs who had been doing mischief at Bureau river. He proceeded on with his battalion in front of the Brigade, until he came to a grove that is generally known by the name of Kellogg's Grove. On the 25th day of June, about two hours before day, an express arrived from Gratiot's Grove informing Major Dement that traces of Indians had been seen the day previous leading southwestward, supposed to have been about five hundred in number. The

Wakefield 73 express was continued to General Posey at Dixon's ferry, thirty-seven miles distant from Kellogg's Grove. At daylight Major Dement, with twenty-five men, made preparations for leaving the fort on an excursion towards where the Indians had passed, about five miles from the fort, but previous to his leaving gave orders to those who remained to saddle their horses and hold themselves in readiness to act as circumstances might render necessary. During this time the party who were to accompany Major Dement to examine the Indian trail had advanced about three hundred yards from the main body when they discovered seven Indian spies, and immediately pursued them—some of them however returned to the camp and informed Major Dement of this circumstance, who fearing that they might be led into an ambuscade, (first endeavoring to quell excitement which the appearance of Indians had occasioned at the fort, and requiring the prompt execution of his order, to put themselves in readiness for any emergency) started out in haste to prevent further pursuit of the Indian spies; and advancing in the direction of the Indians about one mile from the camp for that purpose, he succeeded in retaining twelve or fourteen— the remainder still further ahead. Meantime Major Dement apprehensive that an attack might be made by a large body of Indians whom he suspected to be concealed in the grove, and observing that a number of his men had followed him out from the fort, determined on the expediency of forming his men in the prairie, then about one mile from the fort, in order to cover the retreat of those who had pursued the Indian spies. While Major Dement was taking the necessary steps to put this determination into execution, the Indians amounting to between two and three hundred, rushed

Wakefield 74 from the grove, raised a yell and commenced firing. About twenty-five men who were within hearing, formed in a body to resist the attack, and to cover the retreat of the party who had pursued the Indian spies to the grove, the remainder of those who came out from the fort immediately returning. The small company thus hastily formed, bravely stood their ground until they were in danger of being surrounded by superior numbers. Major Dement then ordered his men to retire to the fort closely pursued by the Indians. On their retreat they overtook three men on foot, who were making towards the fort, but not being able to reach it were cut off by the enemy. The Indians kept up a brisk fire on the stockade for nearly an hour; but finding themselves unable to stand against the steady aim of the brave riflemen within, gave up all hopes of carrying it, and withdrew to the woods. About three hours after the Indians had left the ground. General Posey arrived with a reinforcement, with which he had started from the encampment immediately after the arrival of the express from Major Dement. The Indians remained in sight of the fort till within an hour or two of General Posey's arrival. Next day General Posey marched to the north, in the direction in which the Indians had last been seen, crossed their trail, returned to Kellogg's Grove, where he encamped to await the arrival of the baggage waggons. The loss of our troops were five killed, and three wounded; that of the enemy nine killed that were found on the ground, and it is supposed five others fell in the engagement, as that number of the enemy's horses came into the camp without their riders. There were some choice spirits in this action, or the superior number of Indians would certainly have cut



Wakefield 75 off this small band of men, as the place of refuge they were in was very little better than the open field. In this small band of soldiers was our much beloved and respected Lieutenant Governor Zadock Casey; he was one of the number who formed to cover the retreat of those that had advanced in pursuit of the enemy. It is natural always for honorable men to be brave, there is something in their breast [s] that always stimulates them to noble acts, and on our cool reflection they would court death before dishonor. This, in my opinion, is what stimulates men to act bravely and patriotic. They are not only acting for the good of their country but they believe it to be an imperative duty for them to do so. General Posey marched his whole Brigade from this place to Fort Hamilton, where he remained for some days. Here Major Dement resigned his command. I must here dismiss General Posey for the present, and return back to Dixon's, where the second and third Brigades had arrived when the express came stating that Major Dement had had a battle. General Alexander, who commanded the second Brigade, was despatched with his Brigade with all speed across Rock river, and ordered to march his troops toward Plum river, a stream running into the Mississippi, there to intercept the Indians on their retreat, if they should attempt to cross the Mississippi. General Atkinson remained at Dixon's with the infantry, and General Henry with his Brigade of volunteers for two days, in order if possible to ascertain what direction the Indians were taking; where he ascertained that the Indians had retreated back up Rock river, and that it was only a war party of about one hundred and fifty. He came to the conclusion to pursue his intended route up Rock river on the east side of the Four Lakes; where it was stated that Black Hawk had fortified himself with his whole army, and

Wakefield 76 intended to give General Atkinson a general fight. On the evening of the 26th of June, Captain George Walker and three Pottawattomies from Chicago, came into the camp at Dixon's, and stated that there were seventy-five Pottawattomies awaiting to join the whole army at Sycamore creek, that they had been there several days awaiting our arrival, and that they had become suspicious that they were in great danger as it was their opinion that the Sacs was [werej not far away. Next morning General Henry sent on Colonel Fry with his regiment, with orders to reach there as soon as possible, and await our arrival. Colonel Fry always strictly doing his duty, moved on with all possible celerity, with Capt. Walker as his pilot, to where these children of the forest were awaiting to join in the chase against Black Hawk and his band, with Mr. Caldwell who acts as their principal chief in council. They had also their war chief Shabbaneypiha-bo-naJ along. Mr. Caldwell has been an interpreter to the Indian Agent for some years. He is a man of fine education and general information. His father was a British officer and his mother was a Pottawattomie squaw. But for a half breed he is very fair skinned. The whole of the third Brigade under command of General Henry, with General Atkinson at our head, took up the line of march from Dixon's on the 27th of June, directing our course up Rock river, towards the Four Lakes. We lay on the night of the 28th, at Major Stillman's battle ground. On the 29th, we overtook Col. Fry, with the seventy-five Pottawattomie Indians with him. The Indians appeared to be highly pleased to think they were honored so far as to take a hand with us against the Sacs. They were well armed, with both guns and spears. The 30th, we passed through the Turtle village,

Wakefield 77 which is a considerable Winnebago town, but it was deserted. We marched on about one mile, and encamped in the open prairie near enough to Rock river to get water from it. We here saw very fresh signs of the Sac Indians, where they had been apparently fishing on that day. General Atkinson believed we were close to them, and apprehended an attack that night. The sentinels fired several times, and we were as often paraded, and prepared to receive the enemy, but they never came. But from what the sentinels gave into the officers of the day, there was no doubt that Indians had been prowling about the camp. July first, we had not marched but two or three miles before an Indian was seen across Rock river at some distance off in a very high prairie, which no doubt was a spy, and likely was one that had been prowling about our encampment the night before. We proceeded a few miles further and came to the place where the Indians who had taken the two Miss Halls prisoners had stayed several days. It was a strong position, where they could have withstood a very powerful force, which we afterwards discovered they always encamped in such places. We had not marched but a few miles from this place, before one of our front scouts came back meeting the army in great haste, and stated that they had discovered a fresh trail of Indians where they had just gone along in front of us. Major Ewing, who was in front of the main army some distance, immediately formed his men in line of battle and marched in that order in advance of the main army about three quarters of a mile. We had a very thick wood to march through, where the undergrowth stood very high and thick; the sign looked very fresh and we expected every step to be fired upon from the thickets. We marched in abreast in this order about two miles, not stopping for the unevenness of the

Wakefield 78 ground or any thing else, but keeping in a line of battle all the time, until we found the Indians had scattered, then we resumed our common line of march, which was in three divisions. Soon after we had formed into three divisions, the friendly Indians that were with us raised an alarm by seven or eight of them shooting at a deer some little in advance of the army. The whole army here formed for action; but it was soon ascertained that these children of the forest, had been at what their whole race seems to have been born for, tradesmen to shooting at the beasts of the forest. We here camped by a small lake this night and had to drink the water which was very bad, but it was all that could be found. Here this night a very bad accident happened. One of the sentinels mistaking another that was on post with a blanket wrapped around him, for an Indian, he shot him just below the groin in the thick of the thigh. At first the wound was thought mortal. I understood before I left the army, the man was nearly well. Here General Atkinson had on this night breast works thrown up which was easy done; as we were encamped in thick heavy timber; this was a precaution which he was always after famous for, which went to show that he set a great deal by the lives of his men, and by no means was any marks of cowardice ;— for generalship consists more in good management than any thing else. July 2nd. We started this morning at the usual time, but went but a few miles, before Major Ewing, who was still in front with his battalion, espied a very fresh trail, making off at about a left angle. He dispatched ten men from the battalion, in company with Captain George Walker, and a few Indians, to pursue it and see if possible where it went to. He moved on in front of his battalion a small distance further, when he came on the main Sac trail of Black Hawk's whole army; which appeared to

Wakefield 79 be about two days old. Captain Early, who commanded a volunteer independent company, and had got in advance this morning, called a halt, so did Major Ewing with his battalion. Then Major Ewing sent back one of his staff officers for the main army to call a halt a few minutes. He with Major Anderson of the Infantry, Captain Early, and Jonathan H. Pugh, Esquire, went a little in advance, where Major Anderson, with a telescope, took a view across the lake, as we had now got to Lake Kushkanong. They then discovered three Indians, apparently in their canoes. Major Ewing went 'himself and informed General Atkinson what discovery was made, and requested General Atkinson to let him take his battalion round through a narrow defile that was between two of those lakes, where we supposed the Indians were. By this time our scouts, who had taken the trail that led off on our left, returned, bringing with them five white men's scalps. They followed the Indian trail until it took them to a large Indian encampment that they had left a few days before. They reached it; the scalps were sticking up against some of their wigwams; —some of them were identified, but I do not recollect the names of any, except one, which was said to be an old gentleman by the name of [William] Hale. Major Ewing then marched his battalion about one mile, where the pass on the side of the lake appeared so narrow, that he dismounted his men, and had the horses all tied, and a few men left to guard them, and the rest of us marched on foot about one mile through a narrow defile on the bank of Kushkanong lake. This was considered a dangerous procedure, but Col. Ewing, who was in front with Major Anderson, would have been first in danger. We now found that we were getting too far in advance of our horses; so Major Ewing sent a part of the men back for them. When

Wakefield 80 we mounted our horses, we were joined by Captain Early and his independent corps. We then marched some distance around the lake, and went in between two of them, in a narrow defile, until we found another deserted encampment. We now saw clearly that the Indians were gone from the Kushkanong lake. So the next thing to be done was to find which direction they had steered their course. July 4th. Major Ewing and his spy battalion, with Colonel Collins and Colonel Jones, were sent up the river in the way the trail of the Indians seemed to be making, to see what discoveries could be made. They at last saw that they were still making up the river on the east side. We returned to the camp late in the evening. On the evening before. General Alexander had come up with us. He stated that he had been to the Mississippi, and had explored the country on Plum river, and had made no discoveries of the Indians making their escape. July 5th. General Atkinson lay by this day with the main army; but Col. Fry, who was always a man that wished to be actively engaged for the welfare of his country, marched across Rock river on this day, to see if there was any sign of the enemy passing up on the west side. Colonel Fry did not return until late in the evening. He reported, he had seen another Indian trail on the opposite side from us, and that he had followed it until it went into a tremendous thicket, such as his horses could not penetrate. On the 4th of July, some of our scouts had taken an old Sac Indian a prisoner, which in their flight, the rest of the Indians had run off" and left. He was nearly starved to death, and literally blind. After feeding him, General Atkinson had him examined, telling him at the same time that if he caught him in a lie he would have him put to death. The old fellow told all he knew, which was not very much. He stated that

Wakefield 81 Black Hawk had passed on up the river, on the east side, the same that they were then on. He stated that he was so old that they never thought it worth while to tell him anything about their movements; that in marching, he frequently did not get up to their camp till late in the night, and sometimes not until the next morning. So our prisoner was not of much benefit to us. He had but few days to live, and to shorten his days we concluded the best plan would be to give him plenty to eat, and leave him to kill himself in that pleasant way. But we learnt afterwards that he was denied this satisfaction, for some of General Posey's men came upon him, and he soon became an easy prey to their deadly rifles. July 6th. General Atkinson on this day took up the line of march, still up Rock river, on the east side. We this day reached a Winnebago village called the Burnt Village, on White Water, a small stream running into Rock river, but one that was almost impassable, as it was a perfect swamp on each bank, and very deep in the middle of the channel. Next morning, on the 7th of July, one of the regulars went to this stream, which was not more than one hundred and twenty yards from our encampment, to fish. While fishing, three Indians fired on him from the opposite side of the river and wounded him very badly with two balls. This was a hard case, for the enemy to come within one hundred and twenty yards of our encampment, and wound one of our men, and we not able to help ourselves, for this dismal stream. The night we got here, (to White Water) General Posey's brigade, in company with Col. Dodge's squadron, came up to us. They were out of provisions, and in a state of suffering, and were compelled to push on to where we were to get something to sustain nature. Colonel John Ewing and his regiment did not reach us that night, and encamped about one mile and a half off

Wakefield 82 from the main army. Here an awful accident happened. Col. Dunn, who was a Captain of a company, was here what is generally called the officer of the day, whose duty it is to visit the sentinels once or more through the course of the night. Captain Dunn in performing this duty, just before day in the morning, was fired upon by one of the sentinels, and severely wounded; he was shot in the groin, a place that generally proves fatal. When he was examined, his surgeons pronounced it mortal, which threw all his friends into mourning; for he was a man much beloved by all that knew him. But here I must stop. It won't do to write his epitaph yet, for he is still a living man, and is young and in the bloom of life. He still may be a useful member of society, and a friend and public servant to his country, which he has already been for several years, holding some of the most important offices in the gift of the legislature,—such as Canal Commissioner, which he still holds, and many more. So, if he had died, the State would have sustained a great loss, in losing so good a citizen. Soon after the Indians shot the regular. General Atkinson took up the line of march, still up the river, and made shift to cross one branch of this dismal stream. White Water; but it was with much difficulty, as many a horse mired down, and threw his rider into the water, where he and his gun were literally buried in mud and water; but all made shift to get out. Here we expected to have been fired upon by the enemy. Major Ewing, still in advance of the main army some distance, got over first. He then formed his men in battle order, and stood as a front guard, until the main army could cross this dismal stream; which they had to bridge with grass, as they afterwards had to do many more the same way. In this swampy country the grass grows very high, the ground

Wakefield 83 being very rich. There were plenty of scythes, and men to use them; so it was an easy job to make a temporary bridge with this substitute, such as the heaviest kind of baggage waggons could pass with safety. We marched on this day about fifteen miles up the river. On this evening the whole forces got together, and camped together for the first time. Our forces looked like they were able to whip all the Indians in the north western territories. At this place the old blind chief, a Winnebago Indian, came with General Dodge's corps. General Atkinson on the next morning, July the 8th, had a talk with him, in order if possible to find out where Black Hawk was with his forces. The old blind or one eyed chief, told him that the Indians that we were in pursuit of, were still down on the Island opposite the Burnt Village, where they shot the regular, and stated that if we did not find them there he would give General Atkinson leave to take his life. Upon this General Atkinson made a retrograde movement, and measured the ground and fathomed the muddy branches of the celebrated White Water, that we crossed the day before. We took up our abode that night on the same ground that we left before at the Burnt Village. Next morning, July the 9th. Colonel Fry undertook to make a bridge across the almost impassable gulf. He was furnished with a number of the regulars, who were always ready for such undertakings. A strong guard was placed on the bank of the stream on the opposite side, for fear of those suffering who passed over on a raft. Captain Early, in the course of the day, took a part of his men and penetrated some distance into the Island. They brought back word that they had seen a good deal of fresh sign, and were of opinion that the Indians were there. Colonel William S. Hamilton, who had a small band

Wakefield 84 of Menominie Indians under his command, took them and went clear through the Island and hunted it out thoroughly. They returned in the evening, bringing the news that the Indians had left this Island. General Atkinson was again deceived by those treacherous Winnebagoes, but in place of putting the old one eyed chief to death, he still consulted them [him]. They [He] next told him that Black Hawk was still higher up the stream, on what was called the Tumbling Land. Colonel Fry's bridge, that he had spent the best part of this day at with more than one hundred hands, was now kicked over and abandoned. We now found that there was no dependence to be placed in those treacherous Winnebagoes. The men now had been marching through swamps for a considerable length of time without success; and no execution done, only what General Posey's men had done by killing the old blind Indian. We now plainly saw that Black Hawk knew we were in his neighborhood. He knew all the passes between those swamps, and could evade our pursuit for some time; which discouraged our men very much. Here his Excellency Governor Reynolds and his aids left us; likewise Colonel T. W. Smith, who had been promoted to the office of Adjutant General,— which office was not then of much service to us. Col. A. P. Field, General Henry's aid, and Major Breese, also left us,—(some on furlough and some discharged,) and returned home: These men at this time did not believe, that there would be any fighting, or I think they would not have left the army. We here were in another bad box. We were in a manner out of provision; and the nearest point to us, where we could get a supply was Fort Winnebago, which was about eighty miles distant from us; and to get it, we were compelled to go through the most

Wakefield 85 swampy country that an army ever was marched through. July 10th. General Atkinson this morning sent Col. Ewing with his regiment down Rock river to Dixon's with Colonel Dunn, who was supposed to be mortally wounded. General Posey with the rest of his brigade, was sent to Fort Hamilton, as a guard to that frontier part of the country, which was in a very exposed situation, on account of General Dodge having the troops from there with him. General Henry and his brigade, Gen. Alexanders brigade and General Dodge's squadron, were all this day sent to Fort Winnebago after provision. Gen. Atkinson dropped down a short distance from our present encampment, near to the Kushkanong lake, and there built a fort, which he called Fort Kushkanong, after the lake. General Atkinson gave Generals Alexander, Henry, and Dodge, orders to return as soon as they drew provision. Here, when we got to Fort Winnebago, we were still surrounded by the Winnebagoes. A half breed Indian by the name of Poquet, told us he thought we might find Black Hawk by going around the head of Fox river, a stream of considerable size which empties into Green Bay; and offered to go with some of the Winnebagoes as a pilot. At this place we met with a misfortune which we had been very much troubled with during our march, which I omitted mentioning before. Our horses were given to fright and running in a most fearful manner; the army was constantly in danger of suffering great damage by their taking those frights. There is no one can tell what a horrid sight it is, to see two thousand horses coming at full speed toward an encampment in the dead hour of night. This night they got more scared than common. There were about three

Wakefield 86 hundred head on this night, that run about thirty miles before they stopped; and that, too, through the worst kind of swamps. This circumstance caused us to stay here two days, trying to recover our horses, but all could not be found. Our road back the way we had come, was hunted for upwards of fifty miles; and still a great number of them were missing.



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