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General Atkinson's Report
Headquarters First Artillery
Corps, North-Western Army
Prairie du Chien, Aug. 25, 1832
Sir: I have the honor to
report to you that I crossed the Ouisconsin
on the 27th and 28th ultimo, with a select
body of troops, consisting of the regulars
under Colonel Taylor, four hundred in
number, part of Henry's, Posey's and
Alexander's brigades, amounting in all to
1,300 men, and immediately fell upon the
trail of the enemy, and pursued it by a
forced march, through a mountainous and
difficult country, till the morning of the
2d inst., when we came up with his main body
on the left bank of the Mississippi, nearly
opposite the mouth of the Ioway, which we
attacked, defeated and dispensed, with a
loss on his part of about a hundred and
fifty men killed, thirty men, women and
children taken prisoners--the precise number
could not be ascertained, as the greater
potion was slain after being forced into the
river. Our loss in killed and wounded, which
is stated below, is very small in comparison
with the enemy, which may be attributed to
the enemy's being forced from his position
by a rapid charge the commencement, and
throughout the engagement the remnant of the
enemy, cut up and disheartened, crossed to
the opposite side of the river, and had fled
into the interior, with a view, it is
supposed, of joining Keokuk and Wapello's
bands of Sacs and Foxes.
The horses of the volunteer troops being
exhausted by long marches, and the regular
troops without shoes, it was not thought
advisable to continue the pursuit; indeed, a
stop to the further effusion of blood seemed
to be called for, till it might he
ascertained if the enemy would surrender.
It is ascertained from our prisoners that
the enemy lost in the battle of the
Ouisconsin sixty-eight killed and a very
large number wounded; his whole loss does
not fall short of three hundred. After the
battle on the Ouisconsin, those of the
enemy's women and children, and some who
were dismounted, attempted to make their
escape by descending that river, but
judicious measures being taken by Captain
Loomis and Lieutenant Street, Indian Agent,
thirty-two women and children and four men
have been captured, and some fifteen men
killed by the detachment under Lieutenant
Ritner.
The day after the battle on the river, I
fell down with the regular troops to this
place by water, and the wounded men will
join us to-day. It is now my purpose to
direct, Keokuk to demand a surrender of the
remaining principal men of the hostile
party, which, from the large number of women
and children we hold prisoners, I have every
reason to believe will be compiled with.
Should it not, they should be pursued and
subdued, a step Major-General Scott will
take upon his arrival.
I cannot speak too highly of the brave
conduct of the regular and volunteer forces
engaged in the last battle, and the
fatiguing march that preceded it, and as
soon as the reports of officers of the
brigades and corps are handed in, they shall
be submitted with further remarks: 5 killed,
6 wounded, 6th inft. 2 wounded, 5th inft. 1
Captain, 5 privates, Dodge's Bat., mounted.
1 Lieutenant, 6 privates, Henry's Bat. 1
private wounded, Alexander's. 1 private
wounded Posey's.
I have the great honor to be, with great
respect,
Your obedient servant,
H. Atkinson, Brevet Brig. Gen. U.S.A. Maj.
Gen. Macomb, Com. in Chief, Washington. 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
Black Hawk Indian WarFree
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