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Kellogg's Grove Fort
After leaving Apple River
Fort, being well supplied with provisions,
the Indians moved leisurely toward the fort
at Kellogg's Grove, with the intention of
taking it, as scouts had come in and
reported that it was not very strongly
garrisoned on the day previous to their
arrival on the 23d of June. At this time the
Illinois troops were rendezvoused at a place
known as Fort Wilbourn on the Illinois
river, at or near where now stands the city
of LaSalle. What was then called the new
levy, after Stillman's defeat, were
assembled there, numbering about three
thousand men, being formed into military
organizations consisting of three brigades.
The first brigade was commanded by Gen.
Alexander Posey. The second by Gen. M. K.
Alexander, and the third by Gen. James D.
Henry. Major John Dement, of Vandalia, was
elected to the command of a spy battalion
composed of three companies. Gen. Atkinson,
of the United States Regulars, commanding,
while these organizations were progressing.
The Indians had made a raid on Bureau creek,
situated between the Illinois and Rock
rivers. John Dement had been chosen major by
the members of three companies of Gen.
Posey's brigade, which was a spy battalion.
The Major's battalion being ready for duty
when the news reached the fort of the attack
upon the settles on Bureau creek, it was
ordered to march at once to the scene of
danger for protection of the settlers, and
to discover and watch the movements of the
Indians, if possible. The Major was ordered
to scour the country through to Rock river,
and then to report to Col. Zackary Taylor,
who commanded a small force of United States
troops at a small fortification at Dixon's
Ferry on Rock river.
On the 22d of June, 1832, Major Dement
reached Colonel Taylor's command, having
performed the duties to which he was
assigned by General Atkinson. On his arrival
Colonel Taylor informed the Major that he
had arrived at an opportune time, as he
wished him to take his command, swim their
horses across the river, and promptly occupy
the country between his position and the
Lead Mines at Galena, a distance of about
sixty miles, with headquarters at Kellogg's
Grove, thirty-seven miles in the direction
of Galena and Apple River Fort. There had
been stationed at the grove two companies of
Regulars, commanded by Major Riley, and
three companies of Volunteers that had
abandoned this position the day before the
arrival of Major Dement, and left the
country without protection and entirely
unguarded. These troops had been engaged in
two or three skirmishes with the Indians,
and according to the reports of the
soldiers, had been worsted in each. Major
Dement's command numbered one hundred and
forty men, all told, not one of whom had
ever seen any military experience, but they
were men to be relied upon. They were
citizen soldiers, brave and intelligent,
equal to any emergency, and had no superiors
in the service. This being an odd battalion,
Major Dement was entitled to the staff of a
Colonel. His staff was composed of Zadoc
Casey, Paymaster; ------ Anderson, Colonel
Hicks, and others. The Captains of the
companies, and the staff officers, were
leading citizens, who had, at short warning,
left their several avocations to engage in
defending the country against the attacks of
the Indians. 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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