Sangamon County, Illinois - City of Springfield 563, 1881 (part 6 of 25)

About noon that day the officers, who had gone to arrest William Trayler, returned with him in custody, accompanied by a gentleman who called himself Dr. Gilmore. Then it was ascertained that William Trayler had been arrested at his own house, on Thursriay the sixteenth of the month, and started for Springfield, stopping at Lewiston, Fulton county, for the night. Late in the night Dr. Gilmore arrived there and told the officers that Fisher was alive and at his house; that he had followed them to give the information so that the prisoner might be released without further trouble. The deputy sheriff - James Maxcy - very properly refused to release him on the word of an entire stranger, and they continued their journey to Springfield.

Dr. Gilmore told the officers that when he heard of the arrest of William Trayler for the murder of Fisher, he w^as a few miles from home; that when he returned to his own house he found Hisher there; that he would have taken Fisher with him in pursuit of the officers with the prisoner, but that the state of Fisher's health would not admit of it. The doctor fur- ther said that lie had known Fisher for several years, and that he was subject to fits of temporary derangement of mind, in consequence of an injury to his head, received in early life. The doctor still further stated that Fisher told him that the first he knew after visiting Springfield, he found himself in the vicinity of Peoria. Being nearer to his home than to Springfield, he proceeded at once to Warren county, without the slightest thought of his acts leading to the injury of any other person.

On their arrival at Springfield, Dr. Gilmore's statement was made public, and at first the people seemed to be struck dumb with astonishment. When the news was communicated to Henry Trayler, in the jail, he, without faltering, re-attirmed his own story about the murder of Fisher. The idea was at once taken up by the crowd that Dr. Gil more was in collusion with the murderers, and that he had invented that story as a ruse to secure their release and escape. While the doctor was permitted to remain at liberty, he was regarded with strong suspicion. About 3 o'clock that afternoon, Mr. Myers, the partner of Archibald Trayler, started with a two-horse carriage, accompanied by Egbert M. Mallory, to ascertain whether Fisher was alive or not, and if so, to bring him back to Springfield.

Without waiting for the return of Myers and Mallory, the Traylers were brought before the proper officers for preliminary examination, on the charge of the murder of Archibald Fisher. Henry Trayler was introduced on the part of the State, and on oath testified that his brothers, William and Arichibald, had murdered Archibald Fisher, re-affirming all the minutia of his former statements, and at the close bore a rigid cross-examination without faltering or exposure. It was also proven by a respectable lady, who was well acquainted with Archibald, that on the Monday afternoon of Fisher's disappearance, she saw Archibald Trayler and another man, who she identified as William Trayler, - then present - and still another, answering the description of Fisher, all enter the timber at the northwest of town, and an hour or two later, saw the two former return alone. Many other witnesses were examined, giving a combination of testimony that seemed to weave a net-work of circumstances about the prisoners, from which it would appear to any other than a legal mind, to be utterly impossible to extricate them. It was also proven that Archibald Trayler had passed an unusual number of pieces of gold coin. The buggy tracks in the mill pond were unexplained, as the prisoners were the only persons who could give any light upon that subject. The evidence of a struggle in the thicket, under the bending tree, where the hanging was supposed to have taken place, was unexplained, although it was afterwards proven that school children had been using the tree as a support to a swing. These and many other points of evidence, the intricacies of which space forbids that I should follow out, were before the courts.

When the prosecution had introduced all their evidence and rested the case, one of the attorneys for the defense, Hon. Stej^hen T. Logan, arose, and with every eye turned toward him, said that on the part of the defendants, he would introduce a single witness only.

Archibald Fisher, in full life and proper person, was then conducted slowly into the presence of the court. Messrs. Myers and Mallory had returned late in the evening before - June 21st - with Fisher, and the friends of the prisoners kept him secreted until the proper time. The effect may be imagined, but can not be described. A gentleman who was cognizant of the proceedings from beginning to end, and who is now a Judge of one of the courts of Illinois, describing the appearance of one of the prisoners in the court room, says: "Archibald Trayler was as fine looking a man as I ever saw. When his own brother was testifying that he was a murderer, he stared at him with a look of astonishment, settling into an appearance of stoical indifference, that seemed to say, 'there is no hope of relief, therefore I must calmly endure the worst;' but when the man he was accused of having murdered, was lead into his presence, he broke down and gave vent to his feelings in a flood of tears, followed by uncontrollable fits of sobbing and moaning."

By this time it began to dawn on the minds of the people that the threats of death to all three of the brothers had so wrought on the mind of Henry Trayler as to destroy his competency as a witness. A feeling of indignation immediately sprang up against May and Lamborn, who had led in the prosecution, and it only lacked a bold leader to mob and hang them. The feeling was so intense that Judge Logan, who had defended the prisoners, felt it his duty to come to the rescue of their prosecutors. He made a pacific speech, in which he exhorted all to abide by the laws. It had the desired effect, and all dispersed without violence.

passed through that fiery ordeal, and particularly with their fellow citizen, Archibald Trayler, whose character had never been tarnished with the slightest shadow of reproach. That sympathy was of little avail. His line, manly countenance was never again lighted up with a smile. He made some feeble attempt at business, but generally wandered about, avoiding all society, pined away, and died in less than two years. One who knew him well said: "If ever a man died of a broken heart it was Archibald Trayler." William Trayler died in less than a year after the trial. Henry Trayler lived several years after the death of his brother, but was never known to speak of the mournful event after his departure from Springfield at the close of the trial. He died in Menard county. It is said that the three brothers never met after they passed out of the court room.

If the unhappy and afflicted being who was the innocent cause of all the trouble, had wandered away and died on the open prairie, much of which had not then been trod by the foot of man, William and Archibald Taylor would, beyond a reasonable doubt, have been executed as his murderers, and that upon the force of surrounding circumstances and the testimony of their own brother, who would doubtlessly have become hopelessly insane, caused by threats to make him confess a crime never committed, and afterwards by the appalling effects of his own testimony. The world would probably have looked on and called it retributive justice. Such may, and doubtless has been, the effect of circumstantial evidence in cases where the truth was never known.

Sangamon county is traversed by one hundred and fifty-four miles of railroad, represented by six lines. The citizens of no county in the State have manifested more interest in the subject, from the beginning of the agitation to the present time. The news of a successful construction of a road in the East had no sooner become known in this section of country, before it was boldly advocated by Jonathan H. Pugh and others, as the only means of solving the transportation problem. Of course the advocates of such a scheme were I'egarded by some, as possessing an unbalanced mind, still they did not waver, and as the opportunity presented itself, it was foi'ced upon the attention of the people.

As early as 1833, the subject of railroad building was introduced into the General Assembly, but no laws were enacted at that time. In the winter of 1835-G acts were passed incorporating a large number of railroads, as well as for the building of canals and other internal improvements. Capital stock amounting to -tl 2,450,000 was authorized, chiefly to railroad companies. The internal improvement act of 1837,appro2jriated 110,200,000 directly from the State Treasury. More than 19,000,000 of this sum was for railroads. At this same session, jjrivate laws were enacted, chartering joint stock comj^anies with authorized capital stock to the amount of nearly 18,000,000, making an aggregate of about $30,000,000, involved in efi^orts to legislate railroads into existence in the State of Illinois at that early day. This gigantic system of internal improvement was inaugurated when the country was but sparsely settled, and before it was in a condition to export anything that would command money. The people imagined themselves rich, because the whole United States, east, west, north and south, M^as flooded with irredeemable j)aper currency. It was thought there would be no difticulty in negotiating loans to carry forward the public works.

Soon after the law was enacted, certificates of internal improvement stock was readily taken, contracts let, and work commenced at various points in all parts of the State. Millions of dollars were squandered in this way before the autumn of 1837, when the great financial crash, which commenced in the eastern cities, swept over the whole United States, and the internal improvement system of Illinois went down, leaving the State in what was thought at the time, to be hopeless bankruptcy.

Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad

Among the first lines upon which work was commenced under the internal improvement system, was the Northern Cross Railroad. The first ground was broken between Jacksonville and Meredosia, on what was called Wolf Run. It was about six miles east of the Illinois river. This was early in the spring of 1837. James Dunlap and T. T. January were the contractors. In the spring of 1838, the first locomotive ever brought to the State, came up the Illinois river on a steamboat, and was landed at Meredosia. It was used for running construction trains from that time forward. This engine was built by Rogers, Ketchum & Grosvenor, of Patterson, New .Jersey, and was called the "Superior." The road was so far advanced that the locamotive run into Jacksonville in the latter part of 1838, or early in 1339.

The work on the Northern Cross Railroad struggled along, after the internal improvement system had ceased in nearly every other part of the State. After it was put in running order from Meredosia to Jacksonville, some work was done between the latter place and Springfield, but for a year or two it moved slowly. In some way the canal fund became indebted to the internal improvement fund. On the 26th day of February, 1841, an act of the General Assembly was approved, providing for the completion of the Northern Cross Railroad from Springfield to Jacksonville. To liquidate the indebtedness of the canal fund to the internal improvement fund, $100,000 of canal bonds were appropriated to defray the expense of completing that part of the road. The Fund Commissioner was authorized and instructed to enter into contracts for the work, to be paid for with the canal bonds, and to be completed in one year. On the day following - February 27, 1841 - a law was enacted requiring the Fund Commissioner to advertise for proposals to do the work. He was, by the same law, directed to take charge of all the work between Springfield and the Illinois river.

First Locomotive In Springfield

Before the road was completed to Springfield, another locomotive was brought on, from the works of M. W. Baldwin, of Philadelphia. It was called the "Illinois." The track was so far completed that on the 15th of February, 1842, it entered Springfield, being the first one to arrive in the city. George Gregory was the engineer, and T. M. Averitt the fireman. The track was laid along Tenth street to the crossing of Adams. The last half or three-fourths of a mile of the track was only the wooden stringers, the iron not yet having been spiked. The newspapers were not very enterprising, with reference to the latest news, especially when it is considered how wild they were on the subject of railroads only two or three years before.

" The railroad is so far finished that the locomotive occasionally runs upon it, and has drawn at least one heavy load of produce to the river. Under the circumstances of the times, the contractors, Messrs. Dutf, Calhoun & Company have done well to complete it thus early. We anticipate that much business Avill be done on this road in the spring."

'- Northern Cross Railroad. - We have neglected to notice that the railroad from this place to Meredosia, on the Illinois river, has been completed for a couple of weeks so far as to permit the passage of trains of cars through the whole line. The locomotive has now commenced trips between this city and the Illinois river; and, for the present, we understand it is arranged that the locomotive will leare this city every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and Meredosia every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. We also learn that the steamer "Mungo Park" will run regularly between Meredosia and St. Louis, going and returning three times a week, so as to connect regularly with the train of cars. This arrangement will be of immense utility to our citizens and the traveling community, and will furnish the easy means of conveying to market the

"On Saturday last, March 11, the ears ran from .Jacksonville, thirty three and ^i-half miles, in two hours and eight; minutes, including stoppages. It is believed that the distance can be passed over in one hour and a half. Trii)s continue to be made three times per week."

"Pleasure trip. - On Monday, March 21, a large party left this city for Jacksonville, filling two pa.ssenger cars and another fitted up temporarily for the band of music. They speak in high terms of the hospitality and kindness of the citizens of Jacksonville, of the party there, and the pleasure of the trip."

" During the few days the Springfield and Meredosia railroad has been in operation, and before the public generally were aware of the running of the cars, the receipts from passengers alone have amounted to about seven hundred dollars. "

This road was all made by laying long pieces of timber lengthwise with the track - cross pieces were placed six or eight feet apart, to keep the stringers from spreading - flat iron rails were spiked on to the pieces of timber, and then it was ready to receive the locomotive and cars.

After running awhile the engines needed repairing, and the track became uneven, so that the cars ceased to be run by steam. The road was then leased, and mule teams took the place of the locomotives. William D. Baxter <fe Co. were the lessees.

Northern Cross Railroad Prom Meredosia To Jacksonville And Springfield

the above mentioned places, on terms as reasonable as can be desired, and by the employment of faithful and experienced agents, and the occupancy of safe and commodious depots, can insure all requisite care and attention to whatever may be entrusted to their commission WM. D. BAXTER & CO.,

After becoming quite dilapidated, a law was enacted authorizing the sale of the entire road. The sale was effected for a mere trifle, with the stipulation that the parties coming in possession of it, sl:ould put it in running, order, for the accommodation of the public. The road was sold in 1847, and was afterwards known as the Sangamon & Morgan Railroad. Other changes followed until it became part of the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railroad, and as such, many improvements were made by the company in the operation of the road. In 1858 the company located their repair shops in Springfield, thus giving employment to a large number of employes, who made here their home, and consequently added much to the trade of the city. In ]869 new buildings were erected for their rapidly increasing machine works, at a cost of $7.^,000.

In 1870 a fine passenger depot was erected in Springfield, at a cost of 136,000. In this building are the offices of the Division Superintendent and other ofiicers of the road located here. A freight house was also erected the same year.

In 1879, the Toledo, Wabash & Western, the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw and several other roads were consolidated under the name of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway Company. Although the details of the consolidation were agreed upon by the stockholders in November, 1879, the business of the new company did not begin until January 1, 1880. The company now own, in 1881, 3,000 miles of railway, and expect to secure other roads, having entered into contracts by which they will soon come into their jjosses^ion.

Chicago, Alton & St. Louis

The present Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad was built from Alton to Springfield under an act of the legislature, passed in 1847. By this act, and an amendment to it, the line of the road was intended to run by way of Waverly, in Morgan county, and New Berlin, in Sangamon county. John T. Stuart, while a member of the State Senate, feeling it for the best interest of the road, as well as for the general public, introduced an amendment, which became a law January 29, 1851, by which the company was authorized to build direct from Carlinville to Springfield.

During the session of the legislature in 1848 and 1849, Mr. Stuart introduced the first bill to build a road from Springfield to Chicago, and which passed ihe Senate and was then sent to the House. The morning after its passage, Mr. Smith, representing Macon in the Senate, moved to recall the bill from the House, assigning as a reason that it was passed in his absence and was interfering Avith the building of the Great Western and the proposed Illinois Central Railroad. The aiotion of Mr Smith prevailed and the bill was recalled and laid upon the table.

At the next session of the Senate in 1850-51, it was thought prudent to pass the measure, not as a whole, but in sections, owing to the opposition manifested the previous session; therefore, Mr. Stuart introduced "An act to extend the Alton & Sangamon Railroad Company, incorporated February 27, 1847, which was passed and became a law February 11, 1851, and by which, authority was given to extend the road from Springfield to Bloomington. and under which that part of the road was built.

At the session of the Senate in 1852, Mr. Gridley, representing McLean county in that body, introduced a bill, the object of which was to further extend the road from Bloomington to Joliet, and which became a law on the 19th of June, 1852, and under which that part of the road was built. By further legislation it was afterwards extended from Joliet to Chicago. By still another act, authority was given to extend the road from Alton to East St. Louis, which, in due time, was built, and which different sections now compose the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad.

The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis, or the Alton & Sangamon Railroad, by which it was then known, was completed to Springfield in 1853, and an entertainment was given in that city by the railroad company, to a party of excursionists from St. Louis and Alton. The steamboat Cornelia left St. Louis for Alton with the excursionists from that city, at six o'clock on the morning of Thursday, October 6, and being joined by the Alton people, proceeded by rail to Springfield, arriving at two o'clock p. m., where a sumptuous dinner awaited them, in a building erected for a machine shop. Benjamin Godfrey, of Alton, was introduced by Virgil Hickox,as one through whose exertions the road was chiefly built. After a brief address from Mr*. Godfrey, and speeches from some others of the party, and dinner had been partaken of by all, the train moved away with its four hundred passengers on the return trip. This w^as an important event in the history of Springfield, as it opened direct communications with Springfield and the South.

the Illinois Central, by which passengers could go to La Salle, and from there to Chicago by the Chicago & Rock Island Road. This opened up the first communication from New York city to the Mississippi river. On the 4th of August, 1854, the present road was completed through to Joliet.

By an act of the General Assembly, approved February 14, 1855, the name of the company was changed to Chicago, Alton & St. Louis, and on the 21st of January, 1857, another act was passed, changing it to the St. Louis, Alton & Chicago Railroad Company. February 19, 1859, the name was changed from St. Louis, Alton & Chicago, to Alton, Chicago & St. Louis. On the 18th of February, 1861, it was again changed, making it the Chicago & Alton.

Coming from Chicago to St. Louis, the road enters Sangamon cuunty on section 34, township 18, range 4 west, Williams township, and taking nearly a southwestern course, passing through the townships of Williams, Springfield, Woodside, Ball, Chatham, and Auburn, passes into Macoupin county from section 34, the latter township. The company have seven stations in this county - Williamsville, Sherman, Springfield, lies Junction, Woodside, Chatham, and Auburn.

Ohio & Mississippi

A charter was granted to the Springfield and Pana Railroad Company, February 16, 1857, but no road was ever built under that charter. The hard times, beginning in 1857, followed closely by the war, prevented the prosecution of the work. On the 16th of February, 1865, another charter was granted to cover the same ground, but extending further, under the title of the Pana, Springfield and Northwestern Railroad Company. Forty miles of this road - from Springfield to Pana - was completed and opened for business in March, 1870. During the summer of 1870, it was put under contract to Pjeardstown, with the intention of extending it to Keokuk, Iowa. The extension was never undertaken.

By an act of the General Assembly, approved March 5, 1867, a charter was granted to the Illinois and Southeastern Railroad Company. This company became possessed of the Pana, Springfield and Northwestern Railroad, giving it a line from Shawneetown, on the Ohio, to Beardstown, on the Illinois river. On the 28th day of March, 1872, through trains commenced running from Shawneetown to Beardstown. Subsequently, the road came into possession of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad Company, as the Springfield, Division of the Ohio and Mississipp^by which it is now operated. The headquarters of' the company are at Cincinnati, but having a Division office at Springfield, with C. M. Stanton, Division Superintendent.

The Ohio and Mississippi enters Sangamon county on section 4, township 14, north of" range 3 west, Cooper township, and passes through the townships of Cooper, Rochester, Springfield, Gardner and Cartwright, passing into Cass county from section 27, township 17, range 8 west, Cartwright township. The road has eight stations in the county - Breckenridge, lierry, Rochester, Springfield, Bradford, Farmingdale, Richland, and Pleasant Plains.

Illinois Central

The Oilman, Clinton & Springfield Railroad Company was incorporated by an act of the General Assembly, March 4, 1807. An organization was effected at Clinton, April 21, 1869. Grading was commenced near Clinton, July 4, 1870, and from that time until the close of the working season, from fifteen to eighteen hundred men were employed along the line. Track laying was commenced at Oilman, February 19, 1871. The entire line was completed, and an excursion train, extemporized at Springfield, visited the ruins of Chicago, starting from Springfield, Saturday evening, October 21, but the road was not regularly opened for business until December 3, 1871. Subsequently the road passed into the hands of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, and is now operated by them under the name of the Springfield Division of the Illinois Central.

Entering the county on section fifteen, Buffalo Hart township, the road runs southwest through the townships of Buffalo Hart, Williams, Clear Lake and Springfield. It has bu*, two stations in the county outside of Springfield, in Buffalo Hart township and Barclay.

Springfield & Northwestern

In 1869 a charter was secured for a new road, under the name of the Springfield & Northwestern, running from Springfield to Rock Island. A contract was let early in the year 1871 from Havana to Springfield, and work was immediately commenced, and continued until some time duringthe following year, completing a track from Havana to Petersburg, Menard county, a distance of twenty-five miles. The contractors then failed, and other parties entered into contract to continue and complete the woi'k to Springfield. This last party, in consequence of the hard times, also failed in the fall of 1873, having completed the road to Cantrall. John Williams, of Springfield, then took charge of the road, and in 1874 had the cars running into the city of Springfield. In 1875 the road was placed in the hands of a Receiver and subsequently sold under mortgage, and purchased by Colonel Williams for the benefit of the bondholders. In 1878 a new company was formed which jjurchascd the road from Williams and electing new otticers, undertook its management. John Williams was the first President of the new company and was succeeded by John T. Stuart. Subsequently Charles Ridgely became the owner of the principal part of the stock, and in August, 1881, he sold to the Wabash Company, and it is now a part of that system.

Contemplated Roads

The Peoria & Springfield railroad was chartered in 1871, and the entire line was let under contract for grading of the road, in 1872. Grading was commenced at the Peoria end of the road and it was completed to Pekin in 1873. The hard times of that year caused the suspension of all work, and it has since been entirely

The Springfield & St. Louis Railroad was projected about the same time of the Peoria & Springfield road. The same cause is given for the failure of both enterprises - hard times.

The Springfield, Carrollton & St. Louis Railroad Company, and the St. Louis, Jerseyville & Springfield Railroad Company were each organized March 1, 1872. Befoi-e work was commenced on either road the hard times of 1873 set in, and all efforts to build the road were abandoned. In 1880 a new company was organized, taking the old name of St. Louis, Jerseyville & Springfield Railroad Company, and began the construction of a line upon the old route. In 1881 the road fell into the hands of the Wabash Company, and was made a part of their system.

The Springfield Southern Railroad Company was organized March 25, 1872, and the Springfield, Macon & Wabash Railroad Company, March 1, to take effect April 4, 1872. No effort was made to build the roads in consequence of the depression in money matters.

Since the organization of the county, its citizens have been called upon, and promptly responded, in two Indian wars, the Mormon and Mexican wars, and the war for the Union.

The Winnebago War

When lead was discovered in the region of Galena, and it was found profitable to mine it, the white people flocked there in large numbers. For some years previous, the different Indian tribes inhabiting the northern part of Illinois and Wisconsin had been at war among themselves, and in the spring of 1827, a small party of Winnebagoes surprised a party of twenty-four Ohippewas, and killed eight of them. The United States commander at Fort Snelling caused four of the offending Winnebagoes to be arrested, and delivered to the Chippewas, by whom they were punished. Red Bird, the Chief of the Sioux, while acting with the Winnebagoes, in an attempt to obtain revenge for the killing of the four members of their tribe, was defeated by the Chippewas. He then determined to wreak his vengeance on the white people, who had assisted his enemies and invaded his country. On the 27th of June, 1827, two white men were killed near Prairie DuChien, and on the 30th of July, two keel boats, carrying supplies to Fort Snelling, were attacked, and two of the crew killed. The news soon spread among the settlers, and upon a call from Governor Edwards, four companies of infantry and one of cavalry were made up in Sangamon county. The cavalry company was commanded by Edward Mitchell, and the four infantry companies by Captains Thomas Constant, Reuben Brown, Achilles Morris and Bowling Green. The whole, under command of Colonel Thomas M. Neale, with James D. Henry, as Adjutant, marched to Peoria, where the regiment was more fully organized, and continued on to Galena. Before their arrival in the Indian country. Red Bird, with six of his warriors, voluntarily gave themselves up to the United States forces, under General Atkinson, to save their tribe from the miseries of war. Thus ended the campaign, and the troops from Sangamon county were ordered home.

The Black Hawk War

In 1804, a treaty was made with certain of the Sac and Fox Indians by General Harrison, at St. Louis, by which they ceded to the United States all their lands on Rock river, and much more elsewhere. This treaty was confirmed by a part of the tribe, in a treaty with Governor Edwards and Augustus Chouteau, in September, 1815, and by another part, in a treaty with the same commissioners, in May, 1816. These treaties were never considered binding by Black Hawk and other chiefs of his tribe In this connection it will be well to give an account of Black Hawk, and what he says of the treaty of 1804. From a work published by J. B. Patterson, of Oquawka, on the Black Hawk war the following extract is taken:

" Black Hawk, whose Indian name was Mucka-tan-wish-e-ke-ack-ke-ak (meaning a black hawk) was born at the Sac village ( the site of this village was at the present village of Camden, at the Rock river crossing of the Peoria and Rock Island Railroad), on Rock river, in Illinois, in the year of 1767. His father's name was Py-esa. His great-grandfather, Na-na-ma-kee (Thunder) was born near Montreal, Canada, and was placed at the head of the Sac nation by a Frenchman who claimed to be the son of the King of France.

"He gave them many presents, such as guns, powder, lead, spears, and lances, and showed them how to use them in peace and war; and also cooking utensils, and many other presents of different kinds. He afterwards sailed for

" They continued to trade with the French for a long time, and until the latter were overpowered by the British. After that event several tribes united and drove the Sacs from Montreal to Mackinac, and thence to Green I^ay, where they formed an alliance with the Fox nation, and then retreated to the Wisconsin, and finally to Rock river, from which they drove the Kaskaskias and commenced the erection of their village.

" Py-e-sa succeeded Na-na-ma-kee as war chief, and was killed in an engagement with the Cherokees, who largely out-numbered the Sacs and Foxes. On seeing him fall. Black Hawk assumed command and fought desperately until the enemy retreated. In this battle, he killed three men and wounded several with his own hand, the enemies loss being twenty-eight and Black Hawk's being only seven. After this engagement, he fell heir to the great medicine bag of his tribe, and, after a season of five years mourning, with blackened faces, they determined on avenging the death of Py-e-sa, by the annihilation if possible of the whole Cherokee tribe, and took out a strong army for that purpose.

"His next movement v\ as against the Chippewas, Kaskaskias and Osages, with whom he had seven regular engagements, with a loss of two or three hundred. The enemy retired and Black Hawk and his band returned to their village.

"Spain was then in possession of St. Louisand all the country south and west. The Indians congregated at St. Louis every spring for many years to do their trading. After the Louisiana purchase, the Spanish withdrew from St. Louis and the Americans took possession. Soon after Lieutenant (subsequently Genoal) Zebulon JM. Pike, with an escort of soldiers, went up the Mississi})pi river, calling on the chiefs of the various tribes that dwelt along the banks of the Father of Waters, and made them many presents in the name of their Great Father, the President of the United States, who he told them would always treat them well if they would listen to his advice. A few moons later a Sac Indian killed an American, for which offence he was arrested and confined in the prison at St Louis. As soon as intelligence of the murderer's arrest and imprisonment reached Black Hawk, be called a council of the head men of his tribe at the Sac village

"They resolved to send four of their braves to St. Louis to compromise with the authorities by paying the relatives for the man killed - the only way with them for saving one person who had killed another. Quash-qua-me and three other men of the tribe were chosen to go on this mission, the result of which was thus related by Black Hawk.

"Quash-qua-me and his party remained a long time absent. They finally returned dressed in fine coats and wearing medals and encamped near the village.

"On their arrival at St. Louis, they reported to the American chief and urged the release of their friend. The American chief said his government wanted more land, and if the Sacs and Foxes would give him some in Illinois, opposite Jefferson (barracks), they would release the imprisoned Sac.

"Quash-qua-me and his party assented to this, and signed a paper by making their marks. When they were ready to leave, their friend was released, but as he was let out of the prison he was shot dead. This was the treaty of 1804, in which all their country in Illinois was ceded to the United States, for one thousand dollars a year, and was the cause of the Black Hawk war, as the chiefs claimed that no one but themselves and head men had authority to make a treaty."

Black Hawk and his people remained in peaceful possession of the country along Rook river, until 1830, when they were notified that they must move across the Mississippi river. They complied with the "notice to quit," and crossed over the Father of Waters and took up their abode on the eastern slope of Iowa, in what came in after years to be known as the Black Hawk purchase, or forty-mile strip.

Rankling under what Black Hawk believed to be a wrongful dispossession of their homes along Rock river, and hunger and want coming to his people in their new homes, they re-crossed the Mississippi in the spring of 1831, and took possession of the site of their old village and corn fields. This movement of Black Hawk excited alarm among the white people who had settled in that part of Illinois, and complaint was made to Governor Reynolds, of Illinois, against their presence. The comphimts lepresented that the Indians were insolent, and had committed many acts of violence. Governor Ford says the Indians ordered the white settlers away, threw down their fences, unroofed their houses, cut up their grain, drove oft" and killed their cattle, and threatened the people with death if tliey remained. 'Ihese acts of the Indians were considered by Governor Reynolds to bean invasion of the State. He immediately addressed letters to General Gaines, of the United States army, and to General Clark, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, calling upon them to use the influence of the Government to procure the peaceful removal of the Indians, if possible: at all events, to protect the American citizens who had purchased those lands from the United States, and were now about to be ejected by the Indians. General Gaines repaired to Rock Island, and becoming convinced the Indians were intent upon war, he called upon Governor Reynolds for seven hundred mounted volunteers. The Governor obeyed the requisition, and issued a call upon the northern and central counties, in obedience to which fifteen hundred volunteers rushed to his standard at Beardstown, and about the 1 0th of June were organized and ready to be marched to the seat of war. The whole force was divided into two regiments, an odd battalion, and a spy battalion. The First Regiment was commanded by Colonel James D. Henry, of Springfield.

Black Hawk, becoming convinced that he could do nothing against the force sent against liim, retreated across the river, and fearing pursuit from General Gaines, returned with his chiefs and braves to Fort Armstrong, and sued for peace. A treaty was here formed with them, by which they agreed forever to remain on the west side of the river, and never to re-cross it without the permission of the President or the Governor of the State. The treaty of 1804 was thus at last ratified by these Indians. Notwithstanding this treaty, early in the spring of 1832, Black Hawk and the disaffected Indians prepared to re-assert their right to the disputed territory.

Governor Reynolds, as soon as informed of the action of Black Hawk, issued another call for volunteers. General Thomas M. Neale, of the State militia, received the following order:

To General T. M. Neale: - You are hereby commanded to cause six hundred men of your command to meet at Beardstown, on the 22d inst., without fail. I have ordered the Colonels of your brigade to furnish their proportion of men out of their respective regiments, for fear you might not be at home. You will call on the militia nearest the rendezvous. Each company to be composed of fifty men and to elect its own officers. Mounted volunteers are preferred. If none such will offer their services, then you are to draft, which I hope will not be the case. John Reynolds,

The Sangamo Journal of this period contained many articles recounting the atrocities commits ted by the Indians. The excitement ran high and every able-bodied man was ready to volunteer. The quota of this county was easily raised. As a specimen of the war poetry of the period we quote the following, appearing as original in the Journal:

Song

Our answer is the rolling drum - We come! we come! we come! Forward! our course is to the West - The war-path is no place of rest! Away! away! away!

The Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and the few "Yankee boys" then living here, nobly responded, causing grief to some loving wives, whose husbands were thus to be taken from them, probably never to return. Some one whose wife was thus grieving, relates his experience through the columns of his weekly paper, as follows:

"The united Sacs and Fox nations were divided into two parties. Black Hawk commanded the warlike band, and Keokuk, another chief, headed the band which was in favor of peace.

"Keokuk was a bold, sagacious leader of his people; was gifted with a wild and stirring eloquence, sure to be found, even among Indians, by means of which he retained a greater part of his nation in amity with the white people.

"But nearly all the bold, turbulent spirits, who delighted in mischief, arranged themselves nnder the banner of his rival. Black Hawk had wath him the chivalry of his nation, with which he re-crossed the Mississippi in the spring of 1832.

"He directed his march to the Rock country, and this time aimed, by marching up the river into the countries of the Pottawottomies and Winnebagoes, to make them his allies. Governor Reynolds, upon being informed of the facts, made another call for volunteers. In a few days eighteen hundred men rallied under his banner at Beardstown. This force was organized into four regiments and a spy battalion. Colonel

Dewit commanded the First Regiment, Colonel Fry the Second, Colonel Thompson the Fourth, and Colonel James D. Henry commanded the spy battalion. The whole brigade was put under the command of Brigadier General Samuel Whiteside, of the State militia, who had commanded the spy battalion in the first campaign.

"On the a'Zth of April, General Whiteside, accompanied by Governor Reynolds, took up his line of march. The army proceeded by the way of Oquawka,onthe Mississippi, to the mouth of Rock river, and here it was agreed between General Whiteside and General Atkinson, of the regulars, that the volunteers should march up Rock river about fifty miles, to the Prophet's town, and there encamp, to feed tind rest their horses, and await the arrival of the regular troops in keel boats, with their provisions. Judge William Thomas, who again acttd as quartermaster to the volunteers, made an estimate of the amount of provisions required until the boats could arrive, which were supplied, and then General Whiteside took up his line of march.

"But when he arrived at the Prophet's town, instead of remaining there, his men set fire to the village, which was entirely consumed, and the brigade marched on in the direction of Dixon, forty miles higher up the river.

" When the volunteers had arrived within a short distance of Dixon, orders were given to leave the baggage wagons behind, so as to reach there by a forced march. And for the relief of the horses, the men left large quantities of provisions behind with the wagons.

"At Dixon,]General Whiteside came to a halt, to await a junction with General Atkinson, with provisions and the regular forces; and from here parties were sent out to reconnoitre the enemy and ascertain his position. The army here found upon its arrival, two battalions of mounted volunteers, consisting of 275 men, from the counties of McLean, Tazewell, Peoria, and Fulton, under the command of Majors Stillman and Bailey. 'J he oflicers of this force begged to be put forward upon some dangerous service in which they could distinguish themselves.

"To gratify them they were ordered up Rock river to spy out the Indians. Major Stillraan began his march on the 12fh of May, and pursuing his way on the southeast side, he came to ''Old Man's" creek, since called "Stillman's Run," a small stream which rises in White Rock Grove, in Ogle county, and falls into the river near Bloomingville. Here he encamped just before night; and in a short time a party of Indians on horseback were discovered on a rising ground about a mile distant from the encampment. A party of Stillman's men mounted tlieir horses without orders or commander, and were soon followed by others, stringing along for a cpxarter of a mile, to pursue the Indians and attack them.

"Here Major Hackelton, being dismounted in the engagement, distinguished himself by a combat with one of the Indians in which the Indian was killed, and Major Hackelton afterwards made his way on foot to the camp of General Whiteside.

'-Black Hawk was nearby with his main force, and being prompt to repel an assault, soon rallied his men, amounting then to about seven hundred warriors, and moved down upon Major Stillman's camp, driving the disorderly rabble, the lecent pursuers before him. These valorous gentlemen, lately so hot in pursuit, when the enemy were few, were no less hasty in their i-etreat, when coming in contact with superior numbers. They came with their horses in a full run, and in this manner broke through the camp of Major Stillman, spreading dismay and terror among the rest of his men, who immediately began to join in the flight, so that no effort to rally them could possibly have succeeded. Major Stillman, now too late to remedy the evils of insubordination and disorder in his command, did all that was practicable, by ordering his men to fall back in order, and form on higher ground ; but as the praii'ie rose behind them for more than a mile, the ground for a rally was never discovered ; and besides this, when the men once got their backs to the enemy, they commenced a retreat, without one thought of making a further stand.

"A retreat of undisciplined militia from the attack of a superior, is apt to be a disorderly and inglorious flight ; and so it was here, each man sought his own individual safety, and in the twinkling of an eye the whole detachment was in utter confusion. They were pursued in their flight by thirty or forty Indians, for ten or twelve miles, the fugitives in the rear keeping up a flying fire as they ran, until the Indians ceased pursuing.

" But there were some good soldiers and brave men in Stillman's detachment, whose individual efforts succeeded in checking the career of the

"The party came straggling into camp all night long, four or five at a time, each fresh arrival confident that all who had been left behind had been massacred by the Indians.

"The enemy was stated to be just behind in full pursuit, and their arrival was looked for every moment. Eleven of Stillman's men were killed, and it is only astonishing that the number was so few.

" It is said that a big, tall Kentuckian, with a loud voice, who was a colonel of the militia, but a private with Stillman, upon his arrival in camp, gave to General Whiteside and the wonder struck multitude, the following glowing and bombastic account of the battle: 'Sirs,' said he, ' our detachment was encamped among some scattering timber on the north side of Old Man's creek, with the prairie from the north gently sloping down toward our encampment. It was just after twilight, in the gloaming of the evening, when we discovered Black Hawk's army coming down upon us in solid column; they displayed in the form of a crescent upon the brow of the prairie, and such accuracy and precision of military movements were never witnessed by man; they were equal to the best troops of Wellington, in Spain. I have said that the Indians came down in solid columns, and displayed in the form of a crescent; and what was most wonderful, there were large squares of cavalry resting upon the points of the curve, which squares were supported agsin by other columns fifteen deep, extending back through the woods and over a swamp three-quarters of a mile, which again rested on the main body of Black Hawk's army, bivouacked upon the banks of the Kishwakee. It was a terrible and a glorious sight to see the tawny warriors as they rode along our flanks attempting to outflank us, with the glittering moonbeams glistening from their polished blades and burnished spears. It was a sight well calculated to strike consternation in the stoutest and boldest heart; and accordingly our men soon began to break in small scpiads, for tall timber. In a very little time the rout became general, the Indians were soon upon our flanks and threatened the- destruction of our entire detachment. About this time, Major Stillman, Colonel Stephenson, Major Perkins, Captain Adams, Mr. Hackleton, and myself, with some others, threw ourselves into the rear to rally the fugitives and protect the retreat. But in a short time all my companions fell bravely, lighting hand-to-hand with the savage enemy, and I alone was left upon the field of battle. About this time I discovered not far to the left, a corps of horsemen which seemed to be in tolerable order. I immediately deployed to the left, when, leaning down and placing my body in a recumbent posture upon the mane of my horse, so as to bring the heads of the horsemen between my eye and the horizon, I discovered by the light, of the moon that they were gentlemen who did not wear hats, by which token I knew tliey were no friends of mine. I therefore made a retrograde movement and recovered my position, where I remained some time meditating what further I could do in the service of my country, when a random ball came whistling by my ear and plainly Avhispered to me. ' Stranger, you have no further business here.' Upon hearing this I followed the example of my companion in arms, and broke for the tall timber, and the way I ran was not a lit'le'."

On the arrival of Major Stillman's command, at Dixon, a council of war was held, in which it was agreed to march early the next morning to tlie fatal field of that evening's disaster. For some time the soldiers had been living without any regular supplies, but Quartermaster Thomas, anticipating the action of the council, went out in search of cattle and hogs, and before daylight the next morning the army was supplied with some fresh beef, which they ate without bread. When the volunteers arrived upon the battle field they found the Indians gone, a party of seventy of them soon being heard of as having made a descent upon a small settlement on Indian creek, a tributary of Fox river, and within fifteen miles of Ottawa, they massacred fifteen persons, taking two young ladies - Sylvia and Rachel Hall - prisoners. The young prisoners were hurried by forced marches, beyond the reach of pursuit. 'J'hey were afterwards purchased from their captors.

Returning to Dixon, General Whiteside, the next day, was joined by General Atkinson, biat the time of many of the volunteers having expired, no further advance could then be made. The Governor had previously issued orders for raising two thousand additional volunteers, to rendezvous at Beardstown and Hennepin. A volunteer regiment of those just discharged, was

On the ] 5th of June, the new levies had arrived at the place of rendezvous, and were formed into three brigades - General Alexander Posey commanding the first, General Milton K. Alexander the second, and General James D. Henry the third. On the march each brigade was preceded by a battalion of spies, commanded by a major. The whole volunteer force at this time amounted to three thousand two hundred men, besides three companies of rangers, under the command of Major Bogart, left behind to guard the frontier settlements. The object in calling out so large a force was to overawe the Pottawatamie and Winnebago Indians, who were hostile in their feelings towards the whites, and much disposed to join Black Hawk's party.

Before the new army could be brought into the field the Indians had committed several murders. One man was killed on Bureau creek, some seven or eight miles above Princeton; one in Buffalo Grove; one between the Fox river and the Illinois; two about six miles northwest of Oltawa. On the 22d of. May, General Atwater had dispatched Mr. St. Vrain, the Indian agent for the Sacs and Foxes, at Rock Island, with a few men as an express, to Fort Armstrong, On their way thither, they fell in with a party of Indians, led by a chief well known to the agent. This chief was called "The Little Bear." He had been a particular friend of the agent, and had adopted him as a brother. Mr. St. Vrain felt no fear of one who was his friend, and who had been an inmate of his house, and who had adopted him as a brother, and therefore approached the Indian with the greatest confidence and security. The treacherous Indian, untrue in war to the claims of gratitude, friendshij) and brotherhood, no sooner got him in his power than he murdered and scalped him and all his party, with as little compassion as though he had never known him or professed to be his friend.

Not long after the new forces were organized on the Illinois river. Black Hawk, with a hundred and fifty warriors, made an attack on Apple River Fort, within twelve miles of Galena, and defended by about twenty-five men, under command of Captain Stone. This fort was a stockade of logs stuck in the ground, with blockhouses at the corners of the square, by way of towers and bastions. It was made for the protection of a scattering village of miners, who lived in their houses in the vicinity during the day, and retired into the fort for protection at night. The women and children, as usual in the day-time, were abroad in the village, when three men, on an express from Galena to Dixon, were tired upon by the Indians, lurking in ambush within half a mile of the village, and retreated into the fort. One of them was wounded, but his companions stood by him nobly, retreating behind him, and keeping the Indians at bay by pointing their guns first at one and then at anotlier of those who were readiest to advance. The alarm was heard at the fort in time to rally the scattered inhabitants.

The Indians soon came up within firing distance, and then commenced a fearful struggle between the small party in the fort, against six times their number of the enemy. The Indians took possession of the log houses, knocked holes in the walls, through which to fire at the fort Avith greater security to themselves; and while some were firing at the fort, others broke the fui'niture, destroyed the provisions, and cut open the beds and scattered the feathers found in the houses. The men in the fort were excited to the highest pitch of desperation. They believed that they were contending with an enemy who never made a prisoner, and that the result of the contest must be victory or death to them and their families. The women and children moulded the bullets and loaded the guns for the men, who fought with a fury caused by desperation itself. The loss in the fort was one man killed and one wounded. Owe of the men who first retreated to the fort, immediately passed on to Galena, and there gave the alarm. Colonel Strode, who commanded in Galena, lost no time in marching to the assistance of the fort, but before his arrival the Indians had raised the siege and departed.

About the time of the siege of the fort, a party of Indians made an attack on three men near Fort Hamilton, in the lead mines. Two of the men were killed, while the other escaped. General Dodge, of Wisconsin, Avho happened to arrive at the fort soon after wnth twenty men under his command, made quick pursuit after these Indians, who w ere chased to the Pekatonica, and there took shelter under the high bank of the river. General Dodge and his party charged upon tKem in their place of concealment, and killed the whole party, eleven in number, with the loss of three of his own men, mortally wounded, and one who afterwards recovered.

North, from Chicago to Galena, and from the Illinois river into the Territory of Wisconsin. They occupied every grove, waylaid every road, hung around every settlement, and attacked every party of white men that attempted to penetrate the country. Their supremacy in the field, however, was of short duration, for on the 20th, 21st, and 22d of June, the new forces assembled on the Illinois river, were put in motion by General Atkinson, of the regular army, who now assumed command of the whole.

General Atkinson, having heard that Black Hawk had concentrated his forces at the four lakes in Wisconsin, and fortified his position, with the intention of deciding the fate of war by a general battle, marched with as much haste as prudence would warrant, when invading a hostile and wilderness country with undisciplined forces, where there was no means of procuring intelligence of the numbers or whereabouts of the enemy.

Eight weeks were now spent in a fruitsearch of the enemy, by which time the volunteer force through one cause or another, had been reduced nearly one-half, and such was the wastefulness of the volunteers, that they were frequently one or two days short of provisions before new supplies could be obtained. At this time there were not more than four days' rations in the hands of the commissary; the enemy might be weeks in advance; the volunteers were fast melting away; and General Atkinson found it necessary to disperse his command for the purpose of procuring supplies. Colonel Ewing's regiment was sent back to Dixon; General Posey marched to Fort Hamilton as a guard to the frontier country; Henry, Alexander and Dodge, with their commands were sent to Fort Winnebago; while (-Jeneral Atkinson himself fell back with the regular forces to Lake Koshkenong, where he proposed to remain until the volunteer generals could return Avith supplies. Henry and Alexander made Fort Winnebago in three days. Major Dodge having preceded them a few hours by a forced march, which so crippled his horses that many of them were unable to continue the campaign.

Two days were occupied at the fort in getting provisions, on the last of which the Winnebago chiefs there reported that Black Hawk and his forces were encamped at the Manitou village, thirty-five miles above General Atkinson, on the Rock river. In a council held between Henry, Alexander and Dodge, it was determined to violate orders by marching directly to the enemy, with the hope of taking him by surprise.

Twelve o'clock, on the ]5tli of July, was appointed as the hour to march. General Henry proceeded at once to re-organize his brigade, with a view to dis-encumber himself of his sick and dismounted men, that he might have as little as possible to impede the celerity of his march. General Alexander soon announced that his men were unwilling and had refused to follow, while Major Dodge reported his horses so much disabled by their late march that he could not muster a force worth taking along. General Henry was justly indignant at the insubordination and defection of his coml^anions in arms, and announced his purpose of marching in pursuit of the enemy alone, if he could prevail upon but fifty men to follow him. Directly after this a company of mounted volunteers, with fresh horses arrived to^ join Major Dodge, then making his force of men and horses one hundred and twenty in number. General Henry's brigade, exclusive of Dodge's battalion, numbered between five and six hundred, but not more than four hundred and fifty had horses fit for service. On returning to his own brigade, General Henry discovered that his own men, infected by association with those of General Alexander, were on the point of open mutiny.

Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, of Fry's regiment, presented to General Henry a written protest, signed by all the officers of the regiment, except the Colonel, against the intended expedition; but these officers had to deal with an officer of rare abilities as a commander of militia. General Henry was a complete soldier; he was gifted with uncommon talent of commanding with sternness, without giving offense; of forcing men to obey without degrading them in their own estimation. He was brave without rashness, and gave his orders with firmness and authority, without any appearance of bluster. In his mere person he looked the commander. In a word, he was one of those very rare men who are gifted by nature with the power to command militia - to be at the same time loved and feared, and with the capacity of inspiring the soldiery with the ardor, impetuosity, and honorable impulses of their commander. General Henry made no other reply to this protest than to order the officers under arrest for mutiny, appointing at the same time Collins' regiment as a guard to escort them to General Atkinson. Colonel Smith, in great trepidation, protested that he did not know what the paper contained when he signed it, and implored the General's permission to consult a few moments with the officers before further steps were taken. This being accorded, in less than ten minutes they were all collected at the General's quarters, manifesting the utmost contrition, and pledging themselves, if forgiven, to return to their duty, and never be guilty of the like offense again. The General, than whom none better understood human nature, made them a few remarks, tempered with dignity and kindness. The officers returned to their duty, and it is but just to say, that from that hour no men ever behaved better.

General Henry took up his line of march on the 15th of July, accompanied by Poquette, a half-breed, and the "White Pa-vnee," a Winnebago chief, as guides, in hunt of the Indians. After three days' hard marching, the troops reached the Rock river, and on the morning of the ]9th, everything was placed in readiness for a forced march. The fresh trail of the enemy had been struck, and the men now felt in better spirits, and were inspired with a lively hope of bringing the war to a speedy close. In the afternoon of the 19th, the command was overtaken with one of those storms common on the prairies, which lasted until two o'clock the next morning. The men, exhausted with fatigue, threw themselves, supperless, upon the muddy earth, covered with water, for a little rest. The rain made it impossible to kindle a fire or to cook, so that both officers and men contented themselves with eating some raw meat and some wet flour, which was converted into a soft dough by the drenching rain.

All were on the march by daylight on the morning of the 20th, and after a hard march, encamped at nigh": upon one of the banks of the four lakes, near where the Indians had encamped the previous night. At this place the men were able to make fires and cook their suppers, and this they did with a hearty good will, having traveled about one hundred miles without tasting anything but raw food, and without having seen a spark of fire. That night they lay upon the ground, many of them with nothing but the sky for a covering, and slept soundly and sweetly. All were in tine spirits and high expectations of overtaking the enemy the next day, and putting an end to the war by a general battle. The march was continued on the morning of the 21st. Major William Lee D. Ewing commanded the spy battalion, and with him was joined the battalion of Major Dodge, of Wisconsin. These two oflicers, with their commands, were in advance, but with all their ardor, were never able to get out of sight of the main body. About noon of this day the advance guard was close upon the rear guard of the retreating enemy. For many miles before they were overtaken their broad trail was strewn with camp kettles and baggage of various kinds, which they had thrown away in the hurrj' uf their flight. By faint attacks the Indians kept their pursuei's in check until they reached the broken grounds on the bluffs of the Wisconsin river.

^ About four o'clock on the afternoon of the 21st, while the advance guard was passing over some uneven ground, through the high grass and low timber, they were suddenly fired upon by a body of Indians, who had here secreted themselves. In an instant Major Ewing's battalion dismounted and formed in front, their horses being removed to the rear. The Indians kept up a fire from behind fallen trees, and none of them could be discovered except by the flash and report of their guns. In a few minutes General Henry arrived with the main body, when the order of battle was formed. Colonel Jones' regiment was placed on the right. Colonel Collins' on the left, and Colonel Fry's in the rear, to acta s a reserve. Major Ewing's battalion was placed in front of the line, and Major Dodge on the extreme right. In this order the forces marched into battle. An order was given to charge upon the enemy, which M^as promptly obeyed by Ewing's battalion and by Jones' and Collins' regiments.

The Indians retreated before this charge obliquely to the right, and concentrated their main force in front of Dodge's battalion, showing a design to turn his flank. General Henry sent an order by Major McConnell to INIajor Dodge, to advance to the charge; but this officer being of the opinion that the foe was too strong for him, requested a reinforcement. Colonel Fry's regiment was ordered to his aid, and formed on his right, when a vigorous charge was made from one end of the line to the other.

Colonel Fry's regiment made a charge into the bush and high grass, where the Indians were concealed, and received the fire of the whole body. This fire was briskly returned by the forces under Fry and Dodge, Avho continiied to advance, the Indians standing their ground until the men came within reach of them, then fell back to the west, along the high, broken bluffs of the Wisconsin, only to take a new position amongst the thickest timber and tall grass in the head of a hollow, leading to the Wisconsin river bottom. Here it seemed they were determined to make a firm stand; but, l)eing charged upon in their new position, by Ewing's battalion, and by Collins' and Jones' regiments, they were driven out of it, some of them being pursued down the hollow, and others again to the west, along the Wisconsin heights, until they descended the bluffs to the Wisconsin bottom, which was here about a mile wide and very swampy, covered with a thick, tall grass, above the men on horseback. It now being dark, further pursuit was stopped, and General Henry and his forces lay upon the field of battle.

Early next morning, General Henry advanced to the W^isconsin river, and ascertained that the Indians had all crossed it,and made their escape into the mountains between that and the Mississippi. The Indian loss in this battle of the Wisconsin, as it is known in histoiy, was sixtyeight left dead on the field, and a large number wounded, of whom twenty-five were afterwards found dead along the Indian ti'ail leading to the Mississippi. General Henry lost one man killed and eight wounded. The small loss of General Henry is accounted for from the fact that the Indians had been trained to fire at an elevation to hit men on horseback, but as General Henry had dismounted his forces, the Indians overshot them.

In the various histories of this campaign, Major Dodge is given all credit for the success attained, being spoken of as General Dodge, when it is well known that he only commanded a battalion, and was ranked by several officers, the whole force being under command of General Henry. The reason of this is that all the war news was first published in the Galenian, then the only newspaper published north of Springfield, either in Illinois or Wisconsin, the editor of which, Dr. Philleo, was a member of Dodge's battalion. When he wrote home the news to be published in his paper, he never mentioned Henry, except as a subordinate, or any other officer excejst Dodge. His letters chronicled the deeds of Major Dodge only, and by calling him General Dodge it was made to appear that he was the commander of the whole brigade, instead of a single battalion attached to it. These letters were copied into every newspaper throughout the Union, and have formed the basis of all the histories of the war, the people abroad being thus deluded into the belief that Dodge was the great hero of the war. Henry was lost sight of, and now in some histories. Dodge is spoken of as the commander in that war, thus throwing out of sight both General Henry and Atkinson, as well as General Zachary Taylor, who, as Colonel, commanded the regular forces.

The day after the battle of the Wisconsin, for want of provisions, it was determined to fall back to the Blue Mounds. Here General Henry Avas joined by General Atkinson and the regulars, and General Alexander's and Posey's brigades.

After spending two days in jireparation the whole force, now under command of General Atkinson, was again on the march in pursuit of the Indians. About ten o'clock the morning of the fourth day after crossing the Wisconsin, General Atkinson's advance reached the b uffs on the east side of the Mississippi. The Indians had reached the bank of the river some time before. Some had crossed, and others weie making preparations to cross it. The steamboat Warrior, Captain Throckmorton, descended to the place the day before. As the steamboat neared the camp of the Indians, they raised a white Hag, but Captain Throckmorton, believing this to be treacherously intended, ordered them to send a boat on board, which they declined doing. Allowing them iifteen minutes time in which to remove their squaws and children, he fired upon tiiem with a six-pounder, and continued the "fight" about one hour, with a loss to the Indians of twenty-three killed and a large number wounded. The boat then fell down the river to Prairie DuChien, and before it could return the next morning, the land forces, under General Atkinson, had come up and commenced a general battle.

The Indians were encamped on the banks of the Mississippi, some distance below the mouth of Bad-Axe river. Being aware that General Atkinson was in close pursuit, and to gain time for crossing into the Indian country, west of the Mississippi, they sent back about twenty men to meet him, with instructions to commence an attack, and then to retreat to the river, three miles above this camp. Accordingly, when General Atkinson came within three or four miles of the river, he was suddenly fired upon from behind trees and logs, the very tall grass aiding the concealment of the attacking party. General Atkinson rode immediately to the scene of action, and in person formed his lines and directed a charge. The Indians gave way, and were pursued by General Atkinson and all the army, except Henry's brigade, which was in the rear, and in the hurry of jjursuit left without orders. When Henry came up to the place where the attack had been made, he saw clearly that the wily stratagem of the untutored savage had triumphed over the science of a veteran General. The main trail of the Indians was plainly to be seen leading to the river lower down. He called a hasty council of his principal officers, and by tbeir advice, marched right forward upon the main trail. At the foot of the high bluff bordering the river valley, on the edge of a swamp, densely covered with timber, driftwood and underbrush, through which the trail led fresh and broad, he halted his command and left his horses. The men were formed on foot and thus advanced to the attack. They were preceded by an advance guard of eight men, who were sent forward as a forlorn hope, and were intended to draw the first fire of the Indians, and to disclose thereby to the main body where the enemy was to be found, preparatory to' a general charge. These eight men boldly advanced some distance, until they came within sight of the river, where they were fired upon by about fifty Indians, and five of the eight instantly fell dead or wounded. The other three, protected behind trees, stood their ground until the arrival of the main body under General Henry, which deployed to the right and left from the centre. Immediately the bugle sounded a charge, every man rushed forward, and the battle became general along the whole line. These fifty Indians had retreated upon the main body, amounting to about three hundred warriors, a force equal, if not superior, to those contending against them. It was soon apparent that they had been taken by surjjrise. They fought bravely and desperately, but seemed without any plan or concert of action. The bugle again sounded a charge. The Indians were driven from tree to tree, and from one hiding place to another. In this manner they receded step by step, driven by the advancing foe, until they reached the bank of the river. Here a desperate struggle ensued, but it was of short duration. The bloody bayonet, in the hands of excited and daring men, drove them into the river, some of them trying to swim it, while others took shelter on a small willow island near the shore.

About this time General Atkinson, with the regulars, and Dodge's battalion, arrived, followed by Posey's and Alexander's men, but the main work had been accomplished before they came up. It had been determined that Henry's men should have no share in this day's glory, but the fates taking advantage of a blunder of General Atkinson, had otherwise directed. After the Indians had retreated into the river and on the island, Henry dispatched Majcr McConnell to give intelligence of his movements to his commander, who, while pursuing twenty Indians in another direction, had heard the firing where

Henry was engaged. General Atkin.sun left the pursuit of the twenty Indians, and hastened to share in the engagement. He was met by Henry's messenger near the scene of action, in passing through which, the dead and dying Indians lying around bore frightful evidence of the stern work which had been done before his arrival. However, he lost no time in forming his regulars and Dodge's battalion for a descent upon the island. These forces, together with Ewing's battalion and Fry's regiment, made a charge through the water up to their arm-pits on to the island, where most of the Indians had taken their last refuge. All the Indians who attempted to swim the river were picked off with riflew, or found a watery grave before they reached the opposite shore. Those upon the island kept up a severe fire from behind logs and driftwood upon the men, as they advanced to the charge, but most of them there secreted were either killed, captured or driven into the water, where they perished miserably, either by drowning, or the still more fatal rifle. The Indian loss in this battle, known as the battle of Bad-Axe, is estimated at one hundred and fifty killed, as many more drowned in the river, and fifty prisoners taken, mostly squaws and children. The loss of the whites were seventeen killed and twelve wounded.

The twenty men who led General Atkinson astray, were led by Black Hawk in person, and as soon as Atkinson ceased his pursuit, they retreated to the Dells on the Wisconsin river. A number of Sioux and Winnebagoes went in pursuit of him, headed by Decorah, a Winnebago chief, and captured them on the upper Wisconsin river. The prisoners were brought down to Prairie DuChien and delivered up to General Street, the United States Indian Agent. Airong the number captured was a son of Black Hawk, and also the Prophet, a noted chief, who formerly resided at Prophet's town, in Whiteside county, and who was one of the principal instigators of the war. Thus ended the Black Hawk war. The militia were sent to Dixon and discharged. Black Hawk and the Prophet were taken east and confined in Fortress Monroe for a time. On the 4th day of June they were set free. Before leaving the fort. Black Hawk delivered the following farewell speech to the commander:

'' Brother, I have come on my own part, and in behalf of my companions, to bid you farewell. Our great father has at length been pleased to permit us to return to our hunting grounds. We have buried the tomahawk, and the sound of the rifle hereafter will only bring death to the deer and the buffalo. Brothers, you have treated the red man very kindly. Your squaws have made them presents; you have given them plenty to eat and drink The memory of your friendship will remain till the Gieat Spirit says it is time for Black Hawk to sing his death song. Brother, your houses are as numerous as the leaves on the trees, and your young warriors like the sands upon the shore of the big lake that rolls before us. The red man has but few houses and few warriors, but the red man has a heart which throbs as warmly as the heart of his white brother. The Great Spirit has given us our hunting grounds, and the skin of the deer which we kill there is his favorite, for its color is whi'.e, and this is the emblem of j^eace. This hunting dress and these feathers of the eagle are white. Accept them, my brother. I have given one like this to the White Otter. Accept it as a memorial of Black Hawk. When he is far away this will serve to remind you of him. May the Great Spirit bless you and your children. Farewell."

After their release from prison they were conducted, in charge of Major Garland, through some of the principal cities, that they might witness the power of the United States and learn their own inability to cope with them in war. Great multitudes flocked to see them wherever they were taken, and the attention paid them rendered their progress through the country a triumphal procession, instead of the transportation of prisoners by an ofiicer. At Rock Island the prisoners were given their liberty, amid great and impressive ceremony. In 1838 Black Hawk built him a dwelling near Des Moines, Iowa, and furnished it after the manner of the whites, and engaged in agricultural pursuits and hunting and fishing. Here, with his wife, to whom he was greatly attached, he passed the few remaining days of his life. To his credit, it may be said, that Black Hawk remained true to his wife, and served her with a devotion uncommon among Indians, living with her more than forty years.

After the close of the Black Hawk war Congress voted the munificent sum of twenty-one cents a day to the volunteers. The Sani^amo Journal protested vigorously against such injustice, urging that a Congress that voted each member of that body $8 per day for their services, could afford to be a little more liberal with those who periled their lives in a contest with the savage Indians.

Forty-nine years have now passed since the events of the Black Hawk war, and yet justice has never been done the brave men who participated in it, by the United States Congress. A few of the men participating in tlie war yet live - ci very few. Some of them are in need of the necessaries of life, and yet nothing is done for them by representatives who annually squander millions of the people's money. Surely, the time has come when something should be done.

Upon the return of the Sangamon county soldiers, a ball was given in Miller's hotel in Springfield, "in honor of General James D. Henry and the brave soldiers lately under his command." The local papers chronicle it as "a pleasant affair."

Captain Abraham Lincoln'S Company

The compauy commanded by Abraham Lincoln, afterwards President of the United States, was mustered into service April 21, 1832, and mustered out May 27, 1832.

Keminiscence Of The Black Hawk War

In the fall of 1881, the Sangamon Monitor published the names of the company commanded by Captain lies, which drew out the following from the pen of Major John T.Stuart, and which was written for and printed in the Monitor :

"Having published a list of the names of Major lies' company in the Black Hawk war of 1832, you would, doubtless, be pleased to know something of the history of that company. The volunteer force assembled in the spring of that year, under the orders of Governor Reynolds, and commanded by General Whitesides ; marched to Rock Island, and finding that the Indians had crossed the Mississippi and gone up Rock river, followed them up that stream without any incident worthy of note, until they arrived at Dixon's ferry, (now Dixon).

"Captain Snyder's comj^any had been detached across Rock river, to protect Galena and its neighborhood, but no news had reached the camp at Ottawa of his movements, or of the condition of things in the neighborhood of Galena. The commanding officers at Ottawa were very uneasy and anxious to communicate wdth Galena. While in camp at Dixon, at midnight the army was aroused by the news of the defeat at Stillman, brought first by one and then another flying from the battle ground. The army of General Whitesides in the early morning, took up the line of march for the battle ground, and arrived there in the early afternoon and found that the Indians had marched up Rock river, leaving their dead on the ground, as well as the killed of the whites, and many slaughtered horses, making a sad sight to behold. Whitesides' army buried the dead and marched bnck to Dixon.

"The term of service of the volunteers of that army was about to expire and they were anxious to return home. A council of war was held at Dixon, in which it was debated whether to pursue the enemy or march to the Illinois, disband the army and wait tor the new levies. After an angry debate, it was decided to march to Ottawa, on the Illinois river, and disband the army. Whitesides' army was then marched to Ottawa and disbanded, burying on the route Mr. Katty and others, murdered by the Indians on Fox river.

"At Ottawa a call was made for volunteers to form a regiment for twenty days, to protect the northern frontier of the State from the Indians during the time that would elapse before the assembling of the new forces. Among those who volunteered were the men whose names you published as composing lies' company, and who, by common consent, elected Elijah lies captain - a man then in the prime of life, and popular as a man and a soldier.

"After the disbandment of the array of General Whitesides, the condition of the scattered settlements in northern Illinois was sad indeed. Universal terror prevailed. The Indians, victorious over Stillman, and elated by their victory, had fallen upon the settlements on Fox river, and at other places, and had murdered and scalped some and carried others into captivity. It was understood they were scattered in small parties from the neighborhood of Ciiicago to the Mississippi river, along the entire line of frontier. Where would they strike next V Would they attack Chicago, or fall upon the defenceless settlers on the borders of the Illinois river and the military tract ? Would they aim to cut off Galena from support and attempt to captiu-e it ? These questions may seem idle now. They were momentous then.

"It soon became known that a large force of Indians, under the command of Black Hawk, were between Rock river and Galena, and threatening that town, then having about four hundred inhabitants.

" It was believed to be an expedition of much danger and hazard, and therefore it was determined to call for volunteers. Major lies' company volunteered and was accepted. After due preparation, that company began its march, the bearer of important dispatches. It camped the first night at a grove south of Dixon, believed to be Chalong's. The next day it swam Rock river at Dixon, thirsted for adventure and was ready, anxious for the fight. They had confidence in each other, and in their modest, but brave, prudent captain. They were accoml^anied by General James D. Henry, going as a private, but also acting as aid to the Captain, then believed and afterwards proved to be.

"It was splendidly armed; it was composed of first-class material of men, who, if not brave, dare not be cowards. My Captain was one of the best Captains of his time. They were also accompanied, as a volunteer, by a Captain in the regular army, whose name the writer has forgotten, and thus armed, composed, and ofticered, it is believed no better company of A'olunteer militia ever marched to what it believed a post of danger and })atriotic duty.

" It camped the second night at Buffalo grove. During that night the company expected an attack from the Indians. There were many signs that they were around and about them, and once an alarm was given, and the company mustered under arms. The next morning the company marched towards Galena, and entered the timbers of Apple creek about noon. Here an Indian pony was seen running at large, and some of the boys thought to capture it; but the Captain, believing that it had been let loose as a decoy to induce the breaking of ranks, and to give the enemy an opportunity to make an attack, sternly forbade the effort, and commanded to close the ranks and be ready.

"The company pursued its march, and encamped for the night in the timbers of Apple creek, about twelve or fifteen miles from Galena, and there were many signs that they were watched and followed, but the company was ever ready for an attack. They camped that night near where a fight had taken place between the Indians and Sneyder's company that day or the preceding night. During that night not a man doubted but that the Indians would make an attack before morning. The company was kept under arms all night, and constantly drilled by Henry and others, and picket guards placed all around the encampment. That the Indians were all around the encampment was very manifest, and the writer of this, who stood on picket guard during most of that night, did not doubt but that he heard them more than once; but they made no attack, because the company was too well prepared to receive them. Next morning the company marched into Galena, delivered its dispatches, procured all desired information, and then, in the same good order, marched back to Ottawa, and was disbanded. Most of its members enlisted in the new army, and in Early's spy company.

"That the Indians were in Apple creek timbers, during the march of the company to and from Galena, admits of no doubt. They attacked, and came very near defeating" Sneyder's company, or part of it, a short time before the company marched through to Galena. They attacked Stephenson's company a short time after its return from Galena, and not long after attacked Dement. These attacks were made when these commands were at a disadvantage. Why did they not attack lies' company? No one of that company doubted but that they were watched and followed by Indians, from the time the company crossed Rock river until its arrival at Galena, and on its return, seeking an opportunity to make an attack. The answer is that the company was handled, armed, and kept such perfect order and readiness for an attack that the Indians were afraid to make it.

"The publication of the muster roll of lies' company has induced this hurried notice of one of the almost forgotten incidents in the early history of Illinois. Most of lies' company, after well spent lives, have gone to the grave, and a few still linger on its brink. They were a part of the hardy, brave and adventurous early settlers of Illinois, who fought and drove off the Indians, relieved it of wolves and wild beasts, built its first bridges, school houses and churches, and prepared it for that higher civilization it now enjoys."

The Mexican War

Texas, under Spanish rule, was a nearly uninhabited part of Mexico, lying between Louisiana and the Rio Grande river. It was a fertile region, with a fine climate. The Spanish possessors of Mexico, in the bigoted and bitter spirit that was traditional with the Spaniards toward Protestants, and deeply hostile in feeling from the rather high-handed and vigorous proceedings of General Jackson before and after the cession of Florida, did not encourage the settlement of Texas, preferring to be separated by a Avilderness from the United States. In 1821, the Mexicans finally threw off the Spanish yoke, and established an independent government.

About this time the Americans, and especially those of the South, foreseeing the probable spread of the northern part of the Republic to the Pacific, began to look with covetous eyes upon the fine savannas of Texas, as an excellent field for land speculations, and also for extending the southern area, so as to keep its balance in the number of slave States, equal to the free States of the North. It was believed to be the plan of Mr. Calhoun, an able and far-seeing statesman, thoroughly in earnest in the maintenance of slavery, and the political equality of the slave with the free States. Settlements were made by people from the United States. Ina few years they grew to be numerous, and came in contact with the rigid Spanish laws, still maintained by the Mexicans. The United States Government made advances toward purchasing Texas, but the Mexicans were resolute in their purpose to hold it, and bring its jDeople under the dominion of strict Mexican law. The Americans resisted this with the settled determination of ultimate separation from Mexico, and probable annexation to the United States.

The Mexicans undertook to reduce them to submission. The Texans, supported by bold and fearless adventurers from the southern States, resisted. The war commenced October 2, 1835, by a battle at Gonzalez, followed by various others. On the 2d of March, 1836, the Texans formally declared independence, which they maintained by force of arms. On the 3d of March, 1837, the United States Government recognized the independence of Texas. England did the same in 1842. Propositions of annexation had been made to Presidents Jackson, Van Buren, and Tyler, successively, by the Texas government, but as often rejected by them, as tending necessarily to a war with Mexico, that power having distinctly and repeatedly declared that she should regard such a step as a declaration of war.

The Democratic party regaining the ascendency in the election of 1844, made this annexation one of the issues of the Presidential campaign. A majority of the peoi)le were in favor of it. The Southern view, however, was not alone in its influence on this decision. Indignities and injuries, had been inflicted by the Mexicans on American citizens in that country ; its haughty, exclusive and unfriendly spirit awakened strong indignation; and the Pacific coast of California, with the mining regions of the northern interior of Mexico, both nearly uninhabited, were objects of desire to the American people. Thus a wish to extend the bounds of the Republic, and to chastise an insolent neighbor, combined with the ardent wishes of the pro-slavery interest, to lead the nation to determine on a war, somewhat ungenerously, with a neighbor, notoriously too weak and disorganized for effectual resistance to the whole strength of the United States.

$10,000,000, to cany on the war. A requisition being made upon the Governor of this State for three thousand men, a call was issued by Governor Ford upon the militia of the State, to volunteer for the war. John J. Hardin, commander of the Third Brigade of the Third Division of Illinois Militia, also issued an adviress to those who had served under him, urging them to respond to the call. He closed his address by saying "The General asks no one to go where he is not willing to lead. Let volunteers respond by enrolling their names in the service of their country."

On Saturday, May 29, 1846, a public meeting was held in Springfield addressed by Governor Ford, Dr. Merryman, D. L. Gregg, T. Campbell and Abraham Lincoln, on the condition of the country, and the necessity of prompt and united action of her citizen soldiery to sustain her national character, secure our national lights, as well as an everlasting peace. The speeches were in the right spirit - warm, thrilling and effective. Some seventy men responded to the call and volunteered for the war, A glance at the names of those from this county will reveal some who greatly distinguished themselves and reflected honor upon that county in which they resided.

A treaty of peace was signed between representatives of the two governments, February 2, 1848, and formally ratified by the United States government, March 10th, and the Mexican government, March 20th, The Mexicans relinquished all claims to Texas and ceded Upper California and New Mexico to the United States, In return the United States gave them 118,500,000, of which $3,500,000 was due by a former treaty to citizens of this country, and paid them by our government.

Colonel E. D. Baker, who wielded the pen equally as well as the sword, and who commanded the regiment, largely made up from Sangamon county, contributed to the press of that day, the following poem:

To The Memory Of The Bead Of The Fourth Illinois Regiment

The following is a copy of the roster as furnished by the War Department, to the Governor of this State, of those participating in the war from Sangamon county:

Dead

In the following chapter is presented a few pioneer reminiscences, in most cases written bypioneers or their descendants. In no case has the compiler of this work attempted to change the diction of the writers, thus giving variety to the style of the reminiscences given.

Cotton Picking

Previous to the winter of the deep snow, cotton was raised 'to some extent in Sangamon county, and it was once thought that it would be a profitable article to raise in the State. Ex- Governor John Reynolds, the " Old Ranger," as he was familiarly known, contributed the following to the State Journal, in 185Y, as part of a series of articles on " Pioneer Times."

"Cotton, at as early a day as 1800, and for many years after, was cultivated to a considerable extent in Illinois. My father had resided in Tennessee previous to his emigration to Illinois, in the year above named, and we were tolerably well acquainted with the culture of cotton in that State. At that time I had often heard it computed, that an acre of good cotton land in Illinois, would yield in the seeds, ten or twelve hundred pounds. This was then considered such a crop as would justify cultivation. We cultivated the crop in Randolph county, where the climate is more congenial to its growth than the north of the State.