CHAPTER VIII.
MAJOR TAYLOR’S BATTLE–BATTLE OF THE SINK HOLE–VARIOUS MURDERS–BRITISH
AGENTS WITHDRAWN FROM ROCK RIVER COUNTRY.
Disturbances by the Sacs now followed so frequently that Major Zachary
Taylor, with a detachment of troops, was sent against that one
disturbing and bandit element of Indian population located near the
mouth of Rock River, Black Hawk’s village.
Black Hawk attacked and repulsed Major Taylor in a manner which made the
pulse of every settler throb with fear for the safety of his family. He
had, without the least provocation, been constantly and successfully
engaged in warfare the most stubborn and unrelenting, and backed by his
British friends, the safety of the country, after Taylor’s defeat, hung
in the balance. Major Taylor’s report, a temperate and dignified
document, is as follows:
“Sir:–In obedience to your orders, I left Fort Independence on the 2d
ult. and reached Rock River, our place of destination, on the evening
of the 4th inst., without meeting a single Indian or any occurrence
worthy of relation.
“On my arrival at the mouth of Rock River, the Indians began to make
their appearance in considerable numbers; running up the Mississippi
to the upper village and crossing the river below us. After passing
Rock River, which is very small at the mouth, from an attentive and
careful examination, as I proceeded up the Mississippi, I was
confident it was impossible for us to enter its mouth with our large
boats. Immediately opposite its mouth a large island commences, which,
together with the western shore of the Mississippi, was covered with a
considerable number of horses, which were doubtless placed in those
situations in order to draw small detachments on shore; but in this
they were disappointed, and I determined to alter the plan which you
had suggested, which was to pass the different villages as if the
object of the expedition was Prairie du Chien, for several reasons.
First, that I might have an opportunity of viewing the situation of
the ground to enable me to select such a landing as would bring our
artillery to bear on the villages with the greatest advantage. I was
likewise in hopes a party would approach us with a flag, from which I
expected to learn the situation of affairs at the Prairie, and
ascertain in some measure their numbers and perhaps bring them to a
council, when I should have been able to have retaliated on them for
their repeated acts of treachery; or, if they were determined to
attack us, I was in hopes to draw them some distance from their towns
towards the rapids, run down in the night and destroy them before they
could return to their defense. But in this I was disappointed. The
wind, which had been in our favor, began to shift about at the time we
passed the mouth of Rock River, and by the time we reached the head of
the island, which is about a mile and a half long, it blew a perfect
hurricane, quarterly down the river, and it was with great difficulty
we made land at a small island, containing six or eight acres, covered
with willows, near the middle of the river, and about sixty yards from
the upper end of the island. In this situation I determined to remain
during the night if the storm continued, as I knew the anchors of
several of the boats in that event would not hold them, and there was
a great probability of their being drifted on sandbars, of which the
river is full in this place, which would have exposed the men very
much in getting them off, even if they could have prevented their
filling with water.
“It was about 4 o’clock in the evening when we were compelled to land,
and large parties of Indians were on each side of the river, as well
as crossing in different directions in canoes; but not a gun was fired
from either side. The wind continued to blow the whole night with
violence, accompanied with some rain, which induced me to order the
sentinels to be brought in and placed in the bow of each boat. About
daylight, Capt. Whiteside’s boat was fired on at the distance of about
fifteen paces, and a corporal, who was on the outside of the boat, was
mortally wounded. My orders were, if a boat was fired on, to return
it; but not a man to leave the boat without positive orders from
myself. So soon as it got perfectly light, as the enemy continued
about the boat, I determined to drive them from the island, let their
numbers be what they might, provided we were able to do so. I then
assigned each boat a proper guard, formed the troops for action and
pushed through the willows to the opposite shore; but those fellows
who had the boldness to fire on the boats cleared themselves as soon
as the troops were formed by wading from the island we were encamped
on to the one just below us. Capt. Whiteside, who was on the left, was
able to give them a warm fire as they reached the island they had
retreated to. They returned the fire for a few moments, when they
retreated. In this affair we had two men badly wounded. When Capt.
Whiteside commenced the fire, I ordered Capt. Rector to drop down with
his boat to ground and to rake the island below with artillery, and to
fire on every canoe he should discover passing from one shore to the
other which should come within reach. In this situation he remained
about one hour, and no Indians making their appearance, he determined
to drop down the island about sixty yards and destroy several canoes
that were laying to shore. This he effected, and just on setting his
men on board, the British commenced a fire on our boats with a six, a
four and two swivels, from behind a knoll that completely covered
them. The boats were entirely exposed to the artillery, which was
distant three hundred and fifty paces from us. So soon as the first
gun fired, I ordered a six-pounder to be brought out and placed, but,
on recollecting a moment, I found the boat would be sunk before any
impression could be made on them by our cannon, as they were
completely under cover; and had already brought their guns to bear on
our boats, for the round shot from their six passed through Lieut.
Hempstead’s boat and shattered her considerably. I then ordered the
boats to drop down, which was done in order, and conducted with the
greatest coolness by every officer, although exposed to a constant
fire from their artillery for more than half a mile.
“So soon as they commenced firing from their artillery, the Indians
raised a yell and commenced firing on us from every direction, whether
they were able to do us any damage or not. From each side of the
river, Capt. Rector, who was laying to the shore of the island, was
attacked the instant the first gun was fired, by a very large party,
and in a close and well contested action of about fifteen minutes,
they drove them, after giving three rounds of grape from his
three-pounder.
“Capt. Whiteside, who was nearest to Capt. Rector, dropped down and
anchored nigh him, and gave the enemy several fires with his swivel;
but the wind was so hard down stream as to drift his anchor. Capt.
Rector at that moment got his boat off, and we were then exposed to
the fire of the Indians for two miles, which we returned with interest
from our small arms and small pieces of artillery whenever we could
get them to bear. I was compelled to drop down about three miles
before a proper place presented itself for landing, as but few of the
boats had anchors sufficient to stop them in the river. Here I halted
for the purpose of having the wounded attended and some of the boats
repaired, as some of them had been injured by the enemy’s artillery.
They followed us in their boats until we halted on a small prairie and
prepared for action, when they returned in as great a hurry as they
followed us.
“I then collected the officers together and put the following question
to them: ‘Are we able, 334 effective men, officers, non-commissioned
officers and privates, to fight the enemy with any prospect of success
and effect, which is to destroy their villages and corn?’ They were of
opinion the enemy was at least three men to one, and that it was not
practicable to effect either object. I then determined to drop down
the river to the Lemoine without delay, as some of the ranging
officers informed me their men were short of provisions, and execute
the principal object of the expedition, in erecting a fort to command
the river. This shall be effected as soon as practicable with the
means in my power, and should the enemy attempt to descend the river
in force before the fort can be completed, every foot of the way from
the fort to the settlements shall be contested.
“In the affair at Rock River, I had eleven men badly wounded, three
mortally, of whom one has since died. I am much indebted to the
officers for their prompt obedience to orders, nor do I believe a
braver set of men could have been collected than those who compose
this detachment. But, sir, I conceive it would have been madness in
me, as well as a direct violation of my orders, to have risked the
detachment without a prospect of success. I believe I should have been
fully able to have accomplished your views if the enemy had not been
supplied with artillery and so advantageously posted as to render it
impossible for us to have dislodged him without imminent danger of the
loss of the whole detachment.
“I am, sir, yours, etc.,
“ZA. TAYLOR, _Brev. Maj._,
“_Com. Detachment_.”[32]
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[Illustration: MAJ. ZACHARY TAYLOR.]
[Illustration: GEN. ANDREW JACKSON.]
[Illustration: GOV. NINIAN EDWARDS.]
[Illustration: GEN. (OR GOV.) WILLIAM CLARK.]
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Emboldened by his successes, Black Hawk continued his warfare, and in
the murder of inoffensive settlers there was no abatement. Through the
year 1814 they continued, and notwithstanding the treaty made between
the two nations, we find the English agents and Black Hawk still
pursuing their depredations in the spring of 1815.
“Traitors.–The undernamed gentry were residents within this and the
neighboring territories previous to the war, and always claimed the
rights of citizens of the United States; but as soon as war was
declared they, to a man, took part against us, and were active agents
in the British interest in different parts of the Indian country:
“Robert Dickson, James Aird, Duncan Graham, Francois Boutillier,
Edward La Gouthrie, Brishois, of the Prairie du Chien, Jacob Franks,
the brothers Grigneaus of Green Bay, Joseph La Croix and Lassaillier
of Milwaukee, Joseph Bailly and his cousin Barrott of St. Josephs,
Mitchell La Croix, Louis Buisson, Louis Benett, formerly of Peoria.
“It is ascertained that in the unsuccessful attack made by the
unfortunate Lieut. M’Nair, four men were killed. M’Nair was wounded
and taken prisoner and conveyed two days on his march to Rock River;
but, being unable to travel, was tomahawked. A man taken up from the
river at Carondelet a few days ago was recognized to be one of the
four missing of the name of Best.
“By late news from Rock River, we learn that the Kickapoos have
abandoned the British and demanded peace, agreeably to the treaty. It
is further said that the Sacs, Winnebagoes and Fallsavoine are
determined to prosecute the war.”[33]
Here, long after the treaty of Ghent, signed December 24th, 1814, Black
Hawk formulated and made his dastard attack on Fort Howard, known as the
“sink hole affair.” Note how puerile, yea, preposterous, his adopted son
fiction appears in the light of contemporaneous reports and his
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
commandant of Prairie du Chien to Governor Clark, who informed them of
the departure of Captain Duncan Graham, deputy scalping master
general, from Rock River, after bestowing on his worthy comrades, the
Sacks, 10 barrels of gunpowder and 20 fuses as a reward for their
services in butchering the helpless women and children on the
frontiers.
“As usual, the Sacks received the news of peace with ‘unbounded joy,’
and even sent a British flag to protect our messengers on their
return. They acknowledged they had 200 warriors on the frontiers, but
could not tell the number of their killed and wounded. They said they
would attend the treaty and bury the tomahawk.”[41]
A treaty of peace was finally in sight–the treaty of Portage des Sioux!
And now up to this time, it must be owned by the impartial mind that
rather than receiving any wrong from the Americans, Black Hawk, without
any provocation and contrary to his promises, had waged a merciless war
on the feeble settlements simply because he hated the Americans–the
enemy of his friends, the British. Drake, to condone those atrocities,
has stated on page 90 of his “Life of Black Hawk:” “Some palliation for
these outrages may be found in the fact that the British on the
northwest frontier, long after they were officially notified of the
peace, continued to excite the Indians to acts of violence against the
United States, and, indeed, participated in them likewise.” This
statement, from a man snugly ensconced in an upholstered chair, must be
regarded as magnanimous! We have found here Black Hawk the cold-blooded
aggressor and murderer, and when he subsequently stated that the treaty
signed by him in 1816 was not made known to him, can he be believed?
Armstrong, another apologist for the “poor Indian,” stated that Black
Hawk was a truthful Indian, though he “withheld facts that were
material.”[42] The frightful plight of the settlers can never be
realized by the present generation; neither can the actions of the
British be justly comprehended in the face of present amity. Plotting
destruction, Black Hawk was invariably found to the front, and while
successful, he found no fault with the defense of the Americans. That
remained for the time when he felt the heel of the conqueror, resenting
his years of blood-shedding. Where one man is invariably the offender,
it is safe to pronounce him an incorrigible quarreler. Black Hawk was
this and more–he was a British mercenary.
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Footnote 32:
Copy of letter to Gen. Howard, Niles Reg., Sup. to Vol. 7, p. 137.
Footnote 33:
Niles Reg., Vol. 8, p. 311.–June 10, 1815.
Footnote 34:
Black Hawk claimed the credit of being in the sink and also of killing
Capt. Craig, “the leader,” which, of course, could not be true.
Footnote 35:
Niles Reg., Vol. 8, p. 311.–July 1, 1815.
Footnote 36:
Niles Reg., Vol. 8, p. 312.–July 1, 1815.
Footnote 37:
Niles, Vol. 8, p. 312.–July 1, 1815.
Footnote 38:
Niles, Vol. 8, p. 271.–June 17, 1815.
Footnote 39:
Niles, Vol. 8, p. 348.–July 15, 1815.
Footnote 40:
Niles, Vol. 8, p. 436.–Aug. 19, 1815.
Footnote 41:
All these Indian troubles dated from Black Hawk’s return, it must be
noted. Prior to it, no record is to be found of hostile Sacs.
Footnote 42:
Armstrong’s “The Sauks, etc.,” p. 126.
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