While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
Early in April, 1832, Brig.
General Atkinson, with about three hundred
troops, was ordered to Fort Armstrong to
prevent a threatened war between the
Menominee and Fox Indians, on account of a
massacre, committed by a band of the latter
on a small band of drunken Menominee the
previous summer at a point near Fort
Crawford. To prevent bloodshed he was
directed to demand the murderers of the
Foxes; but on arriving at Rock Island he
soon learned that there was imminent danger
of a war of a different character--that
Black Hawk, with his entire band, was then
on his way to invade the State of Illinois
and would probably be joined by the
Pottawattomie and Winnebago. In order to
ascertain the facts in the case, he called
upon the Indian Agent and Col. George
Davenport, both located here, and requested
them to furnish, in writing, all the
information they had in relation to the
movements and intentions of Black Hawk in
coming to the State of Illinois. Both
gentlemen replied to his inquiries
immediately as follows:
My opinion is that the squaws and old men
have gone to the Prophet's town, on Rock
river, and the warriors are now only a few
miles below the mouth of Rock river, within
the limits of the State of Illinois. That
these Indians are hostile to the whites
there is no doubt. That they have invaded
the State of Illinois, to the great injury
of her citizens, is equally true. Hence it
is that that the public good requires that
strong as well as speedy measures should be
taken against Black Hawk and his followers.
Respectfully, I have the honor to be your
obedient servant,
[Signed,] Andrew S. Hughes. To Brig-Gen.
Atkinson.
In reply to your
inquiry of this morning, respecting the
Indians, I have to state that I have been
informed by the man I have wintering with
the Indians that the British band of Sac
Indians are determined to make war upon the
frontier settlements. The British band of
Sac Indians did rendezvous at old Fort
Madison, and induced a great many of the
young men to join them on their arrival at
the Yellow Banks. They crossed about five
hundred head of horses into the State of
Illinois, and sent about seventy horses
through the country toward Rock River. The
remainder, some on horseback the others in
canoes, in a fighting order, advanced up the
Mississippi, and were encamped yesterday
five or six miles below Rock river and will
no doubt endeavor to reach their stronghold
in the Rock river swamps if they are not
intercepted. From every information that I
have received, I am of the opinion that the
intentions of the British band of Sac
Indians is to commit depredations on the
inhabitants of the frontier.
Respectfully, your obedient
servant,
George Davenport. [Signed,] "To Brig. Gen.
Atkinson."
Being satisfied
from the information thus acquired, that
there was danger ahead for the small
settlements of whites in the Northern
portion of the State, he immediately
addressed a letter to Gov. Reynolds, of
Illinois, from which we take the following:
The band of Sacs, under
Black Hawk, joined by about one hundred
Kickapoo and a few Pottawattomie, amounting
in all to about five hundred men, have
assumed a hostile attitude. They crossed the
river at the Yellow, Banks on the sixth
inst., and are now moving up on the east
side of Rock river, towards the Prophet's
village.
"The regular force under my command is too
small to justify me in pursuing the hostile
party. To make an unsuccessful attempt to
coerce them would only irritate them to acts
of hostility on the frontier sooner than
they probably contemplate.
"Your own knowledge of the character of
these Indians, with the information herewith
submitted, will enable you to judge of the
course proper to pursue. I think the
frontier is in great danger, and will use
all the means at my disposal to co-operate
with you in its protection and defense.
With great respect, Your most obedient
servant,
H. Atkinson, Brigadier General of the U. S.
Army, His Excellency, Gov. Reynolds,
Belleville, Ills."
On receipt
of Gen. Atkinson's letter, Gov. Reynolds
issued his proclamation, calling out a
strong detachment of militia to rendezvous
at Beardstown on the 22d of April. In
obedience to this command a large number of
citizens assembled and offered their
services. They were met by Gov. Reynolds,
and after bring organized into a brigade, he
appointed Brig. Gen. Samuel Whitesides
commander. His brigade embraced 1600
horsemen and two hundred footmen--being four
regiments and an odd spy battalion.
First regiment, Col. Dewitt; second, Col.
Fry; third, Col. Thomas; fourth, Col.
Thompson; Col. James D. Henry, commanded the
spy battalion.
The troops took up their line of march at
once, under command of Gen. Whitesides,
accompanied by the Commander-in-Chief, Gov.
Reynolds. For the purpose of laying in
provisions for the campaign they went to
Yellow Banks, on the Mississippi river,
where Major S. S. Phelps, who had been
appointed quarter master, supplied them.
They arrived on the 3d of May, and left for
Rock river on the 7th.
The books presented are for
their historical value only and are not the
opinions of the Webmasters of the site.
Autobiography of Black
Hawk or Ma-Ka-Tai-Me-She-Kia-Kiak,
Copyrighted By J. B. Patterson, 1882
