CHAPTER XXIX.
MURDERS NEAR OTTAWA–POSEY’S DIVISION ORDERED FORWARD–ALEXANDER’S
DIVISION ORDERED TO PLUM RIVER–HENRY’S DIVISION, WITH
REGULARS, MOVED.
At 12 o’clock of the 23d General Henry’s Brigade marched for Dixon’s
Ferry with General Atkinson, camping for the night eight miles out.
About 7 o’clock of the 24th they resumed the march, camping for the
second night at the “Winnebago Inlet,” twelve miles from Dixon’s.
On the morning of the 25th, Atkinson and staff pushed forward,
escorted by Capt. Stephen H. Webb’s company of regulars, and reached
Dixon’s by 10 o’clock, General Henry’s Brigade reaching the same
point at 10 that evening. As before stated, Posey’s Brigade was
early this morning detached by General Brady from this post, with
orders to report to General Dodge at Fort Hamilton, and was safely
on the march when Atkinson arrived, fortunately meeting Lieutenant
Ewing north of Buffalo Grove as the latter was making for Dixon’s
for reinforcements.
Ewing’s statement on reaching Dixon’s, that many fresh trails
indicated the presence of large numbers of Indians in the party
making westerly to escape beyond the Mississippi, caused Atkinson to
at once detach Alexander’s Brigade with orders to march to the mouth
of Plum River to intercept such escape if possible, and, unless
otherwise ordered, to return to Dixon’s. Accordingly, the brigade
moved at 6:30 the following morning.
Very soon after its departure an express brought news of the murder,
on Fox River, of two citizens employed in conducting a wagon; also
of the death of one of Captain McFadden’s men in an expedition, June
24, on Indian Creek, the details of which Hon. George M. Hollenback
has kindly furnished me:
“The last depredations committed by the Indians in this vicinity
were done on a Sunday, about the last of June. Upon that day, a
mounted detachment, numbering about 150 men, under Captain Arnett,
left Ottawa for the purpose of proceeding to the Hollenback
settlement and collecting and driving to a place of safety the
settlers’ stock.
“About the time the detachment left, something happened to one of
the men which delayed him a few minutes, when he proceeded to
rejoin the rest of the men. Upon his way, he fell in with two men
named Schermerhorn and Hazelton, in a wagon, following up the
detachment, in order to visit their homes not far distant from the
old Mission, and were, as they supposed, perfectly secure.
“The party had reached a place not far from William L. Dunnivan’s,
when they were fired upon, and both men in the wagon were killed;
the soldier on horseback escaping. An Indian threw a spear at him
as he turned to flee, cutting in its flight some of the mane from
the horse, just in front of the rider. He immediately returned to
Ottawa, and procuring sufficient reinforcements, returned to the
scene, and found the dead bodies of the men, which were taken to
Ottawa for burial. The detachment had heard the firing a mile or
so in the rear, but thought nothing of it until the killing was
subsequently learned. During the afternoon of the same day the
other tragedy was enacted on the west side of Fox River, near
Indian Creek.
“On that day, four of McFadden’s company, Captain George McFadden
himself and two brothers, Third Corporal Ezekiel, and Daniel
Warren, and Private James Beresford left Ottawa and proceeded up
the west side of Fox River, near Beresford’s home, in search of
strawberries. They were in fine spirits and it was Beresford’s
twenty-first birthday.
“They presently dismounted and, after picking strawberries until
they were satisfied, proceeded to remount, which all did save
Beresford, who was in the act when they were fired upon by
Indians. This so frightened Beresford’s horse that he could not
remount, and he broke and ran, leaving him helpless to escape. The
volley was effective upon McFadden, he receiving a ball through
the ankle, which at the same time mortally wounded his horse,
which, after running nearly four miles, dropped dead. The Warrens
escaped, but poor Beresford, when last seen by his companions, was
fleeing for his life, with the Indians in close pursuit. His fate
was ever veiled in mystery, for no friendly eye ever rested on him
afterward. His death and the manner of it were, of course,
unknown.”
Brady had been given his choice, whether to command the First and
Second Brigades or the Third, with the regulars. He chose the
latter, and at noon of the 28th marched with them up the left bank
of Rock River, making twelve miles that afternoon and halting for
the night. Before moving, Orders 44, 45, 46 and 47 were issued, as
follows:
“Headquarters, Army of the Frontier,
“Dixon’s Ferry, 26 June, 1832.
“Order No. 44.
“The combined army of regular and volunteer troops, comprising the
force under the Commanding General, is organized as follows in the
following manner:
“The First and Second Brigades of Volunteers constitute the first
division under the senior Brigadier[192] thereof, when acting in
conjunction, and the brigade of regular troops and the Third
Brigade of Volunteers constitute the second division under the
orders of Brigadier-General Brady, and the whole under the
immediate orders of the Commanding General.
“One company of regular troops, or a detail of that strength, and
one company of mounted men of the Third Brigade, with the
dismounted men of the brigade of volunteers, will remain at this
post and constitute its garrison. The detail of regular troops for
this duty to be made by Colonel Taylor, and the volunteer company
for the same service by Brigadier-General Henry. The duty hereby
required is of the most honorable and important nature, and will,
it is hoped by the Commanding General, be embraced by those
detailed with cheerfulness. After fifteen or twenty days, the
volunteer company thus detailed may be relieved by another company
from the same brigade, or from some other brigade, as the
Commanding General may direct.
“The brigade of regular troops, and the Third Brigade of
Volunteers, will hold themselves in readiness to move at a
moment’s notice. The regular troops are to fill their haversacks
with provisions for the march, and the Third Brigade of Volunteers
will complete its supply of provisions, in addition to what it has
on hand, to fifteen days’ rations per man. Each will draw a full
supply of ammunition.”
“Headquarters, Army of the Frontier,
“Dixon’s Ferry, 26 June, 1832.
“Order No. 45.
“Lieutenant Bowman,[193] of the Illinois Volunteers, will march
this evening with a detachment of seventeen men to Kellogg’s Grove
for the purpose of protecting the provisions at that place. Lieut.
Bowman is charged with the defense of the station, and will be
obeyed and respected by the officers and men left by General Posey
in charge. He will return to this place early in the morning.”
On the 28th final preparations were made for caring for the frontier
in the absence of the army and arranging for the departure of the
troops at an early moment, as will be seen by the following order:
“Headquarters, Army of the Frontier,
“Dixon’s Ferry, 28 June, 1832.
“Order No. 46.
“Lieutenant Holmes, Asst. Com. Sub., is charged with procuring and
furnishing the army with such further supplies of provisions as
may be requisite. He will station himself at this post, visiting
Forts Wilbourn and Galena, if it should be necessary, or other
points where the nature of his duties may call him. The staff of
the Commissariat attached to the Army of the Frontier will be
subject to the orders of Lieut. Holmes. Lieut. Gardenier of the
First Infantry, now at Galena, will act as Asst. Com. Sub. at that
place, take charge of such provisions as may be sent to that post,
and make issue to such volunteer troops as have been enrolled and
mustered into the service, and when there is a deficiency, make
purchases to meet emergencies. He will send an express to Fort
Crawford, with a request that the Commanding Officer there will
send from the depot at that place, to Galena, 200 barrels of flour
and 150 barrels of pork, and hire transportation for the same.
Lieut. Gardenier will procure, if practicable, a steamboat at
Galena to go up for it, in preference to any other mode of
transportation.
“In addition to the supply of provisions expected from Fort
Wilbourn, by the teams now gone for it, Lieut. Holmes will cause
an equal quantity, or more, to be brought to this place without
delay. Escorts to the wagons will be furnished by the Commanding
Officers at Ottoway and this place when called on by Lieut.
Holmes. Lieut. Crossman, Asst. Quartermaster, will remain in this
district of country and attend to the disbursements of all
expenses which may be necessarily incurred in the Quartermaster’s
Department.”
At this period George E. Walker called at headquarters to report the
presence at the mouth of Sycamore Creek of Shabbona, Caldwell and
others, who at Fort Wilbourn had signified a willingness to command
a force of Pottowatomies, and desired a detachment to meet and
confer with them at that point. Accordingly, the final order issued
at Dixon’s was promulgated:
“Headquarters, Army of the Frontier,
“Dixon’s Ferry, 28 June, 1832.
“Order No. 47.
“General Henry will detach Colonel Fry, with his regiment, this
morning, to the mouth of Sycamore Creek, where Caldwell and
several of the principal men of the Pottawattomies, with 75
warriors, are encamped, waiting to join the army to co-operate
with us against the Sac Indians. The object of the movement is to
give countenance to the party under Caldwell till the main army
comes up, which will move to-day as early as practicable. Col. Fry
will, of course, use the necessary precautions for the security of
his command.”
On the 29th Atkinson and staff moved from Dixon’s Ferry, reaching
Stillman’s battlefield that evening, where they camped–as stated by
Albert Sidney Johnston in his journal–a distance of six miles from
the “Sycamore Creek, or Kishwaukee, where Colonel Fry’s Regiment is
now encamped.” Four miles were made June 30th, Atkinson resting on
Rock River for the day.[194] On the 1st of July seven more miles
were made in the forenoon, the army stopping for the night in the
fork of Turtle Creek and Rock River, just above the mouth of Turtle
Creek.[195]
Lack of water was felt the following day for the first time, and
after a severe march, on the 2d, the army camped above and near the
mouth of “the river of the Four Lakes,” on the banks of a large
pond, the first water to be found after a march of five hours.
About 10 o’clock of the 3d, scouts brought in news of a deserted
Indian camp, broken up three nights before, which gave signs of the
recent burial of five Indians. Several scalps and many feathers were
also left there. The division halted at “Lake Koshkonong, or Mud
Lake,” a large body of water formed by the widening or enlargement
of Rock River. Trails were everywhere abundant, but no enemy was in
sight, nor was his position then conjectured.
At night Captains Gordon and Menard arrived from Alexander’s
command, which had steadily moved thence from the mouth of Plum
River, with word that it was marching to form a junction with
Atkinson’s forces.
On the 4th the old reliable and ever-ready Colonel Fry was sent
forward with his regiment and several other independent companies to
reconnoiter both sides of the river, but, notwithstanding the utmost
vigilance, the shadowy enemy was nowhere to be found. Early in the
day Captain Briggs was dispatched with a detachment to reach
Alexander, then twenty miles distant, and urge that officer to lose
no time in joining Atkinson at that point, which he did during the
afternoon.
At 1 o’clock one of Briggs’ men returned and reported an old blind
Sac at the deserted camp, who was brought in[196] and gave
information which was not believed. Investigation was made in the
vicinity of the “Lake we live on” and trails of Indians who had
three or four days’ advance were discovered to lead to the
northwest. At this point General Dodge’s approach was noticed, “with
a strong force from the Four Lakes.”[197]
Again on the 5th the regiments of Colonel Fry and Colonel Jones were
detailed to scout the west side of the river and discover, if
possible, the route and position of the enemy. For fifteen miles
they advanced through mires and undergrowth, until, becoming
satisfied that he had moved up the river a considerable distance,
they returned, meeting Posey and Dodge’s brigades encamped on the
west side of the lake, ten miles from Atkinson.
Provisions were becoming scarce by reason of the usual wastefulness
of the volunteers, who still continued their disobedient and
independent tactics, and Atkinson, becoming alarmed, issued general
order No. 48:
“Headquarters, Army of the Frontier,
“Camp on Cooshkenong Lake, 5 July, 1832.
“Order No. 48.
“The Commanding General has been disappointed in not finding, on
his arrival at this place (day before yesterday), the enemy, who
had occupied a strong position in the immediate neighborhood for
the last six weeks, and which it was understood he would not
abandon without a struggle. He has, however, retreated
precipitately in various directions with a view, it is thought, of
concentrating at some more favorable point not remote from us,
where he will make a stand on the defense. Hence it is necessary
that the greatest vigilance should be observed, and the Commanding
General therefore calls upon the officers and men composing this
command to observe and enforce the strictest obedience of orders
and discipline, and he admonishes every soldier against the
smallest waste of the provisions issued to him, as a contrary
course will certainly subject him to suffering and want, detached
as we all are at a distance from our depots.
“It is not at all improbable but we shall come in conflict with
the enemy in a day or two. On such an occasion it is only
necessary for the troops to be firm. If they stand, and more
particularly if they advance upon the enemy, success is
inevitable.
“The several corps and brigades will be in readiness to move
to-morrow morning.”
Superior officers seemed not to know how to manage the men, all of
whom had votes they dared not antagonize at home, and here,
surrounded with swamps, provisions scarce and no enemy in sight,
with a remarkable spirit of procrastination rampant, the capture of
Black Hawk seemed extremely remote. While it was the boast of the
army of volunteers that it contained the leading spirits of the
state, we are forced to the conclusion that it had been much better
for the state and the reputation of the army if there had been in it
and commanding fewer judges of the Supreme Court, members of
Congress and candidates for various other offices, and more of such
men as Henry and Dodge.
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Footnote 192:
Posey.
Footnote 193:
2d Lt. Samuel Bowman of Capt. Gershom Patterson’s Company, who was
killed at the Battle of the Bad Axe, Aug. 2.
Footnote 194:
It has been said he crossed the boundary line between Illinois and
the present state of Wisconsin on this day, at a point where the
Turtle Village was located, where Beloit now stands. Wakefield, p.
4. Thwaites, 32. Ford, 31. Moses, 372. But I quote Johnston’s
Journal, written on the day and on the spot.
Footnote 195:
A.S. Johnston’s Journal.
Footnote 196:
Ford states that this old Indian was put to death by a later
detachment, but that is a mistake.
Footnote 197:
Johnston’s Journal.
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