carried with it associations of great military talent, savage cunning and cruelty. Gen. Scott, with 1000 United States troops, was sent to the northwest to superintend the future operations of the campaign.

The new levies under the proclamation of Gov. Reynolds, were to meet, some on the 3d of June, again at Beardstown, and others on the 10th of the same month at Hennepin, and efficient messengers were sent to convey intelligence of the requisition to different parts of the State. The greatest dispatch was required to enable forces in the most distant counties to assemble and march more than a hundred miles to the places of rendezvous in so short a period of time. The previous organization of the volunteers, however, greatly facilitated the labor of bringing the present call into the field.

The men in the service now asked to be discharged, urging that they had enlisted at a moment's warning, for the protection of the frontier, without providing clothes for themselves or food for their families at home, and both must suffer if the campaign was protracted. The term of enlistment being undefined, they had a right to return home, but the governor appealing to their patriotism, they agreed to remain 12 or 15 days longer. In the meantime, Gen. Atkinson arrived at Dixon with provisions, encamped on the northwest side of the river, and threw up embankments for the protection of his stores. The companies of Capts. Bailey and Stillman, were organized as a brigade under the command of Col. Johnson, and received into the service of the United States, and one part ordered to Ottawa for the defence of that place, while the other remained at Dixon to guard the stores. On the 19th of May, the whole army consisting of volunteers and regulars, under the command of Gen. Atkinson, marched up the river in pursuit of the enemy. Toward evening news was received that several white families had been murdered by the savages, on Indian creek, not far from Ottawa. The story of the massacre is but a repetition of the bloody tragedies which always characterize savage warfare. About 70 warriors made a descent on the settlement, and in broad daylight stealthily entered a house in which 3 families had assembled, and murdered 15 of the inmates.*

On the receipt of the news, Gen. Atkinson ordered Gen. Whitesides and Col. Taylor, afterwards president of the United States, to continue the pursuit of the Indians with the volunteers, while he with the regulars fell back to Dixon. After several days march, the trail of Black Hawk led the army to a village of the Potawattomies on Sycamore creek, where were discovered several relics of the tragedy on Indian creek, and the battle of Stillman's Run. The inhabitants had fled, and the trail separating led in different directions, a precaution doubtless taken to elude the pursuing force. It was the supposition that Black Hawk had visited the town to secure the co-opertion of the Potawattomies, who were perhaps deterred from rendering assistance by the overwhelming

*The flends who perpetrated the butchery afterward related, with infernal glee, that the women squawked like geese, as they were pierced with spears.or felt the keen edge of the tomahawk entering their heads The bodies of the victims were scalped and otherwise mutilated, the children were chopped to pieces with axes, and the women suspended by their feet to the wails of the houses, their clothes falling over their heads, leaving their persons exposed to the public gaze.

number of the whites. While the army lay at the village, a reconnoitering party was sent out to search for lost horses, and returning in the night, they discovered a large Indian force stealing away in the dark, evidently to avoid the whites, and to join their comrades, a large body of whom it was inferred was in the vicinity. The trail of the Indians led north, while the homeward route of the volunteers now about to return led south, and it therefore became necessary to determine whether to continue the pursuit or return home. Col. Taylor and Major Harney, of the regular army, and Gov. Reynolds urged them to remain in the service till the Indians could be overtaken and chastised. The volunteers, however, expressed great reluctance to a continuance of the pursuit. The private soldiers also were not only displeased with the commanding general, but they had left their business in such condition as to require their presence at home. Gen. Whiteside, upon whom the principal command devolved in the absence of Gen Atkinson, although opposed to following the enemy, agreed to be governed by a majority of the officers, and the question being submitted to a vote, one-half were for pursuing the Indians and the other half for returning home. Gov. Reynolds seeing the demoralizing condition, caused them to be marched to Ottawa, and on the 27th and 28th of May they were discharged and the campaign thus ended without effecting any important results.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

1832-THIRD CAMPAIGN OF THE WAR.

Requisition for Additional Troops-Attack on Apple Creek FortCaptain Stephens' Encounter with the Indians-Organization of the New Levies-Battle of Kellog's Grove-Battle of the Wisconsin.

Gen. Atkinson called upon the governor at the time these troops were mustered out, and at his suggestion a call was made for 1000 additional men to co-operate with the previous requisition and 1000 more to guard the frontiers. The danger of exposed settlements being very imminent, an appeal was made to the disbanded troops, and a regiment raised to serve till the new levies could be made available. After the election of Jacob Fry as colonel and James D. Henry as lieutenant colonel, the different companies of which it was composed were immediately dispatched to the most exposed localities. The regiment, after bravely guarding the imperiled frontier, was finally mustered out of service at Dixon, on the 19th of June by Col. Taylor. One of the companies under Captain Snyder, had some severe skirmishing with a body of some seventy Indians in the vicinity of Kellog's grove, in which 4 of the savages and 2 or 3 of his own men were killed. The new levies arrived, but before they could be organized or brought into the field, the Indians committed a number of murders in different parts of the country.

On the 6th of June Black Hawk and about 150 warriors made an attack on Apple River Fort, situated a quarter of a mile north of the present village of Elizabeth and within 12 miles of Galena. The fort was a stockade having strong block houses at the corners, and had been erected for the benefit of a small village of miners, who resided in their homes during the day and retired to the fort for protection at night. Three messengers chanced to be on their way from Galena to Dixon, and when within half a mile of the village, were fired upon by Indians lurking in ambush. One of them was wounded, but by the assistance of his two companions he reached the fort without further injury. The inhabitants, as usual during the day, were scattered abroad attending to business, when the report of guns apprised them of danger and they fled to the fort in advance of the enemy. The Indians came within firing distance, when the battle commenced and was continued with great fury for 15 hours, during which several attempts were made to burn and storm the fortifications. The assailants took possession of the dwellings in the village, and while some knocked holes in the

walls through which in safety they fired upon the fort, others destroyed provisions, broke crockery, and with devilish glee ripped open beds and bestrewed the houses and yards with feathers. There were only 25 men in the fort, but they fought with the impetuosity of desperation, deeming it better if they could not repulse their adversaries to die in defence of their families, than suffer capitulation and butchery afterward. The mothers and children partook of the same inspiration, and by moulding bullets and charging guns greatly assisted in warding off the assaults of the enemy. The Indians at length, finding they could not prevail against the garrison, raised the seige and departed, taking with them horses, cattle, flour and other provisions. The Americans sustained a loss of one man, that of the Indians could never be ascertained as their killed and wounded were carried away in the retreat. A messenger in the meantime had hurried to Galena for assistance, and Col. Strode of the militia marched to afford them assistance, but the enemy had left before he arrived.

On the 24th of June two men were killed near Fort Hamilton, situated among the lead mines 4 or 5 miles east of Galena. Gen. Dodge, of Wisconsin, who by chance visited the fort shortly after the tragedy was committed, immediately followed the trail of the savages to the Pekatonica, where they took refuge under a high bank of the river. The brave commander and his equally brave men immediately rushed on the sheltered foe and killed the entire number, having three of their own men mortally wounded in the assault. This action although small, exhibited the greatest daring on the part of those engaged in it.

About the same time Capt. Stephenson of Galena, and a portion of his company fell in with a party of Indians between Apple River Fort and Kellog's Grove, and pursued them till they took refuge in a small grove in the midst of the prairie. The Americaus commenced a random fire into the timber but after the loss of a few men retired. Notwithstanding this loss neither officers nor men were yet willing to abandon the contest, and the party in a short time returned and charged into the grove, receiving the galling fire of the savages, who were so effectually protected by the trees it was impossible to dislodge them. The charge was renewed a second and a third time, and not until 3 additional men were killed and the captain supposed to be mortally wounded did the fighting cease. The Indians had greatly the advantage, and the rashness of making an attack under the circumstances is perhaps as much an object of censure as the heroic deeds performed are feats of admiration.

As previously arranged in the call for troops, the new levies met at Beardstown and Hennepin, but were afterward ordered to Fort Wilburn where a permanent organization was effected.* A promiscuous multitude of several thousand persons had assembled at this place, and the greatest patience and judgment was required to form them into an army. As many of the most prominent men in the State were present and wanted positions, there was great danger in the bestowal of offices that dissatisfaction might arise and thus seriously impair the efficiency of the army. It was

"This was a smaii fortification on the south bank of the Illinois, about a mile above Peru, and had been erected by Lieut. Wilburn, for the protection of the supplies entrusted to his care by Col. March.

however agreed in a consultation between the governor and captains of the various companies who had already been chosen, that the principal officers should be elected by the troops over whom they were to act. Three brigades were organized, and on the 16th of June Alexander Posey was elected general of the first, Milton K. Alexander general of the second, and on the 18th, James D. Henry general of the third. Gen. Atkinson received them into the service of the United States and acted as commander-in-chief of the force thus organized, which amounted to 3192 men. The governor appointed on his staff Benjamin F. Hickman and Alex. F. Grant as aids, James Turney as adjutant general, E. C. March as quartermaster general. Besides the main army 4 battalions were organized for special purposes, and commanded-severally by Majors Bogart and Baily, and Colonels Buckmaster and Dement.

In view of the disasters which threatened the northern frontier of the State, the governor ordered a chain of forts to be erected and garrisoned from the Mississippi to Chicago. Indian war parties lurked in every defile, beset every solitary road, hovered about every settlement, and woe to the traveler or unprotected party of white men who attempted to pass through the country. Despite their vigilance their supremacy in the field was soon to end; beaten, humbled and bleeding they were to be driven before the conquerers, and their hunting grounds were to know them no

more.

On the 17th of June, Col. Dement and his force were ordered to report themselves to Col. Taylor at Dixon, while the main army was to follow. Here Col. Dement was ordered to take a position in Kellog's Grove, where on the 25th of June he was visited by Mr. Funk of McLean county, who came during the night from the lead mines and informed him that the trail of about 300 Indians leading southward, had been seen the previous day, and that there was perhaps a large body of them in the neighborhood. A coun. cil of war was held the same night, which decided that ColDement and 50 picked men should reconnoitre the surrounding country the next day, while the remainder were to remain in the fort near the grove prepared for any emergency that might happen. This rude block house was an oblong building constructed of logs, contained 3 rooms, and was furnished with doors of strong material. At daylight on the following morning the party sallied forth, but the more advanced portion of it had not proceeded more than 300 yards, when several Indian spies were discovered on the adjacent prairies. Col. Dement and Lieut. Gov. Zadock Casey were mounting their horses preparatory to leaving the fort, when a messenger returned to make known the discovery. The news was soon communicated to the whole battalion; a phrenzy to fight the redskins took possession of the men, and contrary to orders they mounted their horses and started after them. At their approach the Indians fled, but Col. Dement sus pecting that their intent was to decoy the whites into an ambuscade, galloped after them to induce them to return and thus prevent the occurrence of such a catastrophe. The excited volun teers, however, mistook his intentions, supposing he also was pursuing the Indians to kill them, and the chase was continned till they came near a bushy ravine in which Black Hawk and his men were