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
General Henry to take command; but he said ‘No, stand at your post,’
and walked along the line talking to the men in a low, calm voice.
Lieutenant Harris, U.S.A, seemed much agitated; he ran up and down the
line and exclaimed: ‘Captain, we will catch hell!’ He had horse
pistols, belt pistols, and double-barrelled gun. He would pick the
flints, reprime, and laid the horse pistols at his feet. When he got
all ready he passed along the line slowly, and, seeing the nerves of
the men all quiet–after General Henry’s talk to them–said, ‘Captain,
we are safe; we can whip five hundred Indians.’ Instead of Indians
they proved to be the company of General Dodge, from Galena, of one
hundred and fifty men, en route to find out what had become of General
Atkinson’s army, as, since the murder of the six men, communication
had been stopped for more than ten days. My look-out at the top of the
hill did not notify us, and we were not undeceived until they got
within thirty steps of us. My men then raised a yell and ran to finish
their lunch.
“Next morning,[156] in passing into a grove of timber, my front scouts
again came under whip and reported Indians. I asked where? They
pointed to my two scouts on the right, trying to catch an Indian pony;
one had on a red shirt, and they mistook them for Indians. These two
men had been in Stillman’s defeat, and as their horses were weak and
it was easier to march out of line, I had detailed them to go in the
road in front. I now ordered them to the rear and to drop behind as
far as they chose, and detailed two other men, on whom I could rely,
to take the advance.
“When we got within fifteen miles of Galena, on Apple River, we found
a stockade filled with women and children and a few men, all terribly
frightened. The Indians had shot at and chased two men that afternoon,
who made their escape to the stockade. They insisted on our quartering
in the fort, but instead we camped one hundred yards outside, and
slept–what little sleep we did get–with our guns in our arms. General
Henry did not sleep, but drilled my men all night, so the moment they
were called they would bounce to their feet and stand in two lines,
the front ready to fire and fall back to reload while the others
stepped forward and took their places. They were called up a number of
times, and we got but little sleep. We arrived at Galena the next
day,[157] and found the citizens prepared to defend the place. They
were glad to see us, as it had been so long since they had heard from
the army. The few Indians prowling about Galena and murdering were
simply there as a ruse.
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[Illustration: LIEUT. GURDON S. HUBBARD.]
[Illustration: CAPT. ELIJAH ILES.]
[Illustration: CHARLES BRACKEN.]
[Illustration: KELLOGG’S GROVE MONUMENT.]
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“On our return from Galena,[158] near the forks of the Apple River and
Gratiot roads, we could see General Dodge on the Gratiot road on his
return from Rock River. His six scouts had discovered my two men that
I had allowed to drop to the rear. Having weak horses they had fallen
in the rear about two miles, and each took the other to be Indians,
and such an exciting race I never saw until they got sight of my
company; then they came to a sudden halt, and after looking at us for
a few moments wheeled their horses and gave up the chase. My two men
did not know but that they were Indians until they came up with us and
shouted ‘Indians!’ They had thrown away their wallets and guns and
used their ramrods as whips.
“The few houses on the road that usually accommodated the travel were
all standing, but vacant, as we went. On our return we found them all
burned by the Indians. On my return to the Illinois River I reported
to General Atkinson, saying that from all we could learn, the Indians
were aiming to escape by going north with the intention of crossing
the Mississippi River above Galena. The new troops had just arrived
and were being mustered into service. My company had only been
organized for twenty days, and as the time had now expired, were
mustered out. All but myself again volunteered for the third time.
“Of all the men in my company in the Black Hawk war, I know of no one
now living but John T. Stuart. Major Stuart was elected to Congress
over Stephen A. Douglas, and was the first and last one who ever beat
Douglas in his race for office. Mr. Lincoln was assassinated in
Washington, while president; Dr. Early was killed in Springfield;
General Henry died in New Orleans; General Anderson, of Fort Sumter
memory, who mustered my company in and out, is dead.”
With the exception named, and the further one that Henry had been
promoted to lieutenant-colonel and was such at the time, the history of
that march is accurate, remarkably so.
General Henry in this instance had the abiding confidence of the men,
and his presence alone was a battalion in strength.
Following closely after Iles’ departure, Captain Snyder started out to
cover the same territory and report depredations.
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Footnote 148:
The muster rolls invariably show the election to have been held on the
31st. Possibly the election was held the 30th, but the officers were
not sworn in until the 31st.
Footnote 149:
Lincoln’s opponent in the election for captain.
Footnote 150:
Galenian.
Footnote 151:
June 4.
Footnote 152:
June 5.
Footnote 153:
June 6.
Footnote 154:
Evening, June 7.
Footnote 155:
June 8.
Footnote 156:
June 9.
Footnote 157:
June 10. Galenian.
Footnote 158:
Left Galena June 11.–Galenian.
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