Tazewell County, Illinois - Chapter 3: Black Hawk War Black Ha"\vk Crosses the Mississippi, 1879

Chapter 3: Black Hawk War Black Ha"\vk Crosses the Mississippi

IN 1831, Black Hawk and his band had crossed to their old homes on Eock river, but had negotiated a treaty and returned to the west side of the Mississippi, promising never to return. But on April 6th, 1832, he again crossed the Mississippi Avith his entire band. It was not on a war raid that brought him over in 1832^ but as there are diversity of opinions in regard to his motives we will briefly give a few of those of most credibility. It is claimed that he was invited by the Prophet to a tract of land about forty miles up Rock river. Others say he crossed with no hostile intentions but to accept an invitation of a friendly chief, Pit-ta-wak, to spend the summer with him. Still others who agree that he did not come to fight, sav when he retired to the west side of the Mississippi the previous year he received a large quantity of corn and other provision, but in the spring his provisions were gone, his followers were starving and he came back expecting to negotiate another treaty and get a new supply of provisions.

There is still another explanation that may enable the reader to harmonize the preceding statements and to understand why Black Hawk returned in 1832, It is well known that in nearly all the treaties ever made with the Indians, the Indian traders dictated the terms for their allies and customers, and, of course, received a large share of the annuities, etc., in payment for debts due to them. Each tribe had certain traders who supplied them. George Davenport had a trading post at Fort Armstrong. His customers were largely the Sacs and Foxes and he was held in high esteem by them; in fact, his word was hnv. It is said that Black Hawk's band became indebted to him for a large amount and were unable to pay. They did not have good luck hunting during the winter and he was likely to lose heavily. If Black Hawk, therefore, could be induced to come to this side of the river again and the people so greatly alarmed that a military force would be sent in pursuit of him another treaty could be made ; he might assist in making terms and get his pay out of the payments the Government would make, and all would be well. Mr. Amos Farrar, who was Davenport's partner for some years, and who died in Galena during the war, is said to have declared while on his death-bed, that the " Indians were not to be blamed, that if they had been let alone there would have been no trouble - that the band was owing Mr. Davenport and he M'anted to get his pay and would, if another treaty had been made. "

Although Black Hawk's movement across the Mississippi was at once construed as a hostile demonstration, and Davenport skillfully cultivated the idea, he was accompanied by his old men, women and children. No Indian Avarrior ever went on the war-path incumbered in that way. More than this, it does not appear, from the 6th of April until the battle of Stillman's Run on the 12th of May, that a single settler was murdered, or suffered any material injury at the hands of Black Hawk or his band. In truth, Hon. H. S. Townsend, of Warren, Jo Daviess county, states that in one instance, at least, when they took corn from a settler they paid him for it. Capt. W. B. Green, of Chicago, writes : " I never heard of Black Hawk's band, while passing up Rock river, committing any depredations whatever, not even petty theft." Frederick Stahl, Esq., of Galena, states that he was informed by the veteran John Dixon that " when Black Hawk's band passed his post, before the arrival of the troops, they were at his house. Ne-o-pope had the young braves well in hand, and informed him that they intended to commit no depredations, and should not fight unless they were attacked. " W. S. Rankin, of Pekin, who was in the northern part of the State at the breaking out of the war, and participated in it, says he has no idea that Black Hawk Avould have molested the whites had the military not attacked them ; that his coming was purely peaceable.

We do not wish to uphold Black Hawk in the depredations he committed upon the whites. We do, however, desire to record events impartially. We believe Black Hawk's motives were greatly misunderstood, and it is due him and due to posterity to record the facts of this war as nearly impartial as it is in our power to do. Whatever his motives might have been, it is the unanimous testimony of the survivors now residing on the old battle-fields of that day, that except the violation of treaty stipulations and an arrogance of manner natural to the Indian who wanted to make a new trade with the " Great Father, " the Sacs and Foxes at first committed no serious acts of hostility, and intended none, until the alternative of war or extermination was presented to them by the whites.

Forts Built

In the meantime the settlers all along the frontier had been making active preparations to defend themselves. Forts and stockades were built in every settlement. At Pekin, around the court-house, or the Snell school-house, in June, a picket fort was built. This was called Fort Doolittle. A singular oversight in the construction of this stockade, and one that caused a great deal of merriment when the danger was over was, that Fort Doolittle was so constructed that in case of a siege the occupants would have been entirely destitute of water. A fort or rather a palisade was constructed around Perkins' mill, near Circleville. A fort was also constructed at Washington. Happily, however, none of these were ever besieged by the Indians. Often the settlers would receive a big scare and they would all seek protection yet no depredations were committed here.

Troops Raised

No sooner had volunteers been called for than recruiting began in Tazewell county. Capt. Adams began to muster his men at Pekin and ere long was oiF to the seat of war with a company. Capt. Adams was in command with Lieutenants B. Briggs and Alexander McNaughton, and J. M. Roberts, musician. They were accompanied by Col. Daniel Bailey and Major Isaac Perkins. Col. Bailey induced men to go that the full quota might be raised, which was 75, by promising those who had no horses to press into service horses for them. One volunteer after being out a few days began to grow timid, and soon became so badly scared at the prospects of meeting the Indians that he went to Capt. Adams and told him he must go home as he was so badly frightened that he could do nothing but run if they got ii^to a battle. The Captain told him he was glad he had thus informed him, for if they had got into a fight he might have stampeded all his men. He got permission to go home. He had a good horse and there was a volunteer who had none, so the soldiers took his horse from him and gave it to the other man, and sent the timid ranger home afoot, and it is said the way he come was a caution. He came nearly running himself to death, coming almost all the way back .to Tazewell county on the run.

They soon joined companies from McLean, Peoria and Fulton counties. There was a question now who should have command of these battalions, Col. Bailey or Major kStillman. Col. Bailey claimed it on the ground of seniority, but as they were old friends this contention did not last long. It was agreed that both should command, take turn about. On reaching Dixon Gen. Gaines found them both jolly good fellows, and the men all liked them, so decided that they should hold equal rank and both command.

Col. Bailey lived at Pekin and died several years ago in that city. Major Isaiah Stillman, afterwards pi'omoted to General, died at Kingston, Peoria county, Monday, April 15th, 1861, in about the 67th year of his age. He was one of the early settlers of the State and for a number of years resided in this county.

We have made the greatest endeavor to get the names of Tazewell county volunteers but have failed. We have made inquiries from everybody who was supposed to know and even made a trip to Springfield, thinking to find them on the records in the Adjutant-General's office, but all in vain.

Dixon was the point where the regular and volunteer troops were to meet. Major Stillman with his men reached Dixon, May 10th. The steady, careful movements of the regulars made the volunteers very impatient, and the latter were also exceedingly anxious to obtain the laurels to be won. The men under command of Major Stillman were particularly anxious to "ketch the Indians" before the latter could get away. They said the regulars would come crawling along stuffing themselves with beef, and the Indians would never be "ketched." The officers yielded to the impatience and jealousy of the men and requested Governor Reynolds to let them go out and reconnoitre the country and find the Indians. Captain Eads, from Peoria, insisted very strongly that they should be allowed to go. The other captains all volunteered for they did not wish to be termed cowards. The question Avith them was not whether the matter was prudent and necessary, but whether they dared to go.

Major Stillman consented to go against his better judgment. He asked Mr. John Dixon's opinion, and the latter told him very decidedly that the business of " ketching the Indians " would prove very disastrous for a little force of less than three hundred men. Major Stillman then said that as all of his officers and men were determined to go, he must lead them if it cost him his life. Stillman's force started, and just before night on the 12th of May, 1832, they encamped at White Rock Grove, in the eastern part of Marion township. Ogle county, near what is now called Stillman's creek. He was in close proximity to Black Hawk's encampment, but did not know it. Soon after becoming aware of the immediate presence of an armed force Black Hawk sent a small party of his braves to Stillman's camp with a flag of truce. On their approach they were soon discovered by some of the men, who, without reporting to their commander, and without orders, hastily mounted and dashed down upon the approaching Indians. These not understanding this sudden movement and apparently suspicious, all, save two who claimed to be Pottawatomies, retreated toward the camp of their chief. The whites killed two as they further pursued the retreating Indians. The two Indians who refused to run were brought into camp. They said : " Me good Pottawatomie," but pointed over the hill and said, " Heap of Sac." John W. Caldwell claimed that they were spies from the Sacs and Foxes. Mr. Caldwell and Joseph Landes of Groveland township, J. M. Roberts of Morton and Elmore Shumaker of Washington, are the only Black Hawk M^ar soldiers who went from this county now living. W. S. Rankin of Pekin was in the war but he did not enlist from this county, although his home was here. The two captured Indians proposed to trade for a gun belonging to David Alexander, of Pekin. While they were poking their fingers into the barrel, some of the men who chased the retreating foe returned and said: "Parade, parade." They declared the Indians were thick over the hill. When Black Hawk and his war chief, Ne-o-pope, saw the volunteers dashing down upon their camp, their flag of truce disregarded, and believing their overtures for peace had been rejected, they raised the terrible war-whoop and prepared for the fray.

At this juncture the volunteers formed and moved forward. Before going far an Indian prisoner was brought into the camp and sent to the rear. The men moved on and made a halt near a slough. Here the officers went ahead and some kind of a parley was held with the Indians. The latter swung a red flag in defiance. Orders were then given to march forward, when Capt. Eads of Peoria came riding back, and said he was not easily fooled, and that there was not less than a thousand Indians coming. The men were then marched back in some confusion across the slough to high ground. There they formed, or tried to form, but were in bad order. The Indians then poured out of the timber, to the front, right and left, and both parties commenced firing. But the whites were in such bad order that those in the rear were in danger of shooting those in front. The Indians came on whooping, yelling and firing, and encircled around on both sides. Major Stillman ordered his men to mount and retreat and form a line across the creek, and also ordered them to break the line of the Indians on the left. Here was confusion, and one veteran says they did not go to the right or to the left but right straight for home. When they arrived at the creek great effort was made by the officers to halt their men and fight. The brave Capt. Adams cried out to his men " Come back, you cowards, and we will whip them." With eight men he made a stand and repulsed a squad of Indians each time, who made eight separate and distinct charges upon them. At last, seeing that with that little force he could do nothing, he told his men they would have to look out for themselves. Elmore Shumaker and Jonathan Haines were with him at this time and soon saw him fall. He sold his life dearly though. He had his horse shot from under him when the retreat began. He bore a deadly hatred towards the Indians as they had killed many of his relations. Major Perkins was overtaken and killed about a mile and a half from the creek, and his body terribly mangled. The loss at this disastrous engagement fell most heavily upon this county. Of thirteen sturdy pioneers who fell at this, the battle of the Sycamore, nine were from Tazewell county.

The main force scampered off to Dixon as fast as they could. David Wright, in speaking of the hardships incident to this retreat would often say, he " was three days and nights in the howling wilderness with nothing to eat and nothing to cook it in."

Horrible Massacre

After the fatal engagement which has since been known as " Stillman's defeat " or " Stillman's run," the Indians began to commit great depredations upon the whites. Among other fiendish and murderous raids was one made upon a little settlement on Indian creek. Three families by the names of Davis, Hall and Pettigrew lived there. The Indians appeared in the day-time and massacred them in cold blood, taking a savage delight in their infernal deeds. Some of the inmates were immediately shot down, olhers were pierced through with spears or dispatched with the tomahawk. The Indians afterwards related with an infernal glee, how the women had squeaked like geese when they were run through the body with spears, or felt the tomahawk entering their heads. All the victims were carefully scalped; the children were chopped to pieces with axes; and the women were tied up by the heels to the walls of the house. There were two young ladies, daughters of Mr. Hall who formerly lived in this county, who tried to conceal themselves by crawling into bed. They were discovered by two young braves who determined to have them for wives. Their names were Rachel and Silvia Hall, aged fifteen and seventeen. They were hurried by forced marches beyond pursuit. After a long and fatiguing journey with their captors, through a wilderness country, with but little to eat, and being subjected to a variety of fortune, they were at last rescued, $2,000 being given as a ransom. It is said that the Indians exacted by far the largest ransom for the elder sister, as she was more quiet and gave less trouble, but they let the younger sister go pretty cheap, as she was so saucy and impudent that she made her captors much trouble. The women are still living and have relations in this county. Mrs. Ellen Studyvin, of Dillon township, whose husband was in the Black Hawk war, tells us she very distinctly remembers this massacre. Many of the troops as they were passing stopped at her house for water. The Misses Hall just after their release took dinner with her. They related very fully all the details of the horrible murder of their father, mother and little sister, and their neighbors. They said they could see the scalp of their little sister every day in the wigwam. Each of these young ladies were given a section of land, after their rescue from the Indians, by the United States. W. S. Rankin, of Pekin, who was in the Black Hawk war, was well acquainted with the two Indians that found these girls and took them from their captors. They were White Crow and Little Priest, Winnebagoes ; both smart, well-behaved Indians. The former had great love for Mr. Rankin, who lived at the Galena lead mines before the war. White Crow heard that he had been killed and mourned greatly, but when he saw him unharmed he threw his arms around him and came near hugging him to death for joy.

The war went on resulting in the defeat of the Indians and the capture of their leader. The rangers came home and were dismissed from service. They received therefor the remunerative sura of 86 cents per day for self and horse. Afterwards the General Govrenment was kind enough to give each participant 80 acres of land.

Joseph Landes, of Groveland township, who was in the Black Hawk war, participated in the engagement at Old Man's Creek, or since known as Stillman's creek, and the battle is known as Stillman's defeat. Mr. Landes said they made the Indians run at this battle, but the whites led them in the race towards Dixon, most of their company making the best time. The horse Mr. Landes rode never forgot this race and the firing in the rear. Always afterward when "hog-killing" time came and the first hog was shot, "Old Mike" would start oif as though another race with the Indians was to be had. Mr. Landes' boys often joke their father about making the Indians run.

The war did not .extend to this county, but a man by the name of Johnson was greatly frightened and fortified his house. He was easily scared, and one of his neighbors who was fond of a good joke told him one day that the Indians were coming. Johnson ran to his cabin, bolted the door and stood ready with his gun for any emergency, and not a hostile Indian withing fifty miles of him.

We cannot close this sketch until we speak of that true and generous hearted chief, Shaubena, and the part he took in the conflict. At the time the war broke out he, with his band of Pottawatomies, had their wigwams and camps on the Illinois within the present limits of the city of Pekin. Shaubena was a friend of the white man, and living in this county during those perilous times, andknown by so many of the early settlers, that we think he deserves more than a passing mention. Although not so conspicuous as Tecumseh or Black Hawk, yet in point of merit he was superior to either of them. Shaubena was born at an Indian village on the Kankakee river, now in \Yill county, about the year 1775. While young he was made chief of the band, and went to Shaubena Grove (now in De Kalb county), where they were found in the early settlement of that section. In the war of 1812 Shaubena, with his warriors, joined Tecuraseh, was aid to that great chief, and stood by his side when he fell at the battle of the Thames. At the time of the Winnebago war, in 1827, he visited almost everj" village among the Pottawatomies, and by his persuasive arguments prevented them from taking part in the war. By request of the citizens of Chicago, Shaubcna, accompanied by Billy Caldwell (Sauganash), visited Big Foot's village at Geneva Lake, in order to pacify the warriors, as fears were entertained that they were about to raise the tomahawk against the whites. Here Shaubena was taken prisoner by Big Foot, and his life threatened, but on the following day was set at liberty. From that time the Indians (through reproach) styled him the "white man's friend," and many times his life was endangered.

Before the Black Hawk war Shaubena met with his men in council at two different times, and by his influence prevented his people from taking part with the Sacs and Foxes. After the death of Black Partridge and Senachwine, no chief among the Pottawatomies exerted so much influence as Shaubena. Black Hawk, aware of this influence, visited him at two difl^erent times, in order to enlist him in his cause, but was unsuccessful. On one, of these occasions when Black Hawk was trying to induce him and his band to join them and together make war upon the whites, when with their forces combined they would be an army that would outnumber the trees in the forest, Shaubena wisely replied " Aye ; but the army of the palefaces would outnumber the leaves upon the trees in the forest," While Black Hawk was a prisoner at Jeiferson Barracks he said, had it not been for Shaubena the whole Pottawatomie nation would have joined his standard, and he could have continued the war for years.

Shaubena, by saving the lives of the whites endangered his own, for the Sacs and Foxes threatened to kill him, and made two attempts to execute their threats. They killed Pypeogee, his son, and Pyps, his nephew, and hunted him down as though he was a wild beast.

Shaubena had a reservation of two sections of land at his grove, but by leaving it and going west for a short time the Government declared the reservation forfeited, and sold it the same as other vacant land. Shaubena finding on his return his possessions gone.

was very sad and broken down in spirit, and left the grove for ever. The citizens of Ottawa raised money and bought him a tract of land on the Illinois river above Seneca, in Grundy county, on which they built a house and supplied him with means to live on. He lived here until his death, which occurred on the 17th of July, 1859, in the 84th year of his age. He was buried with great pomp in the cemetery at Morris. His squaw Pokanoka was drowned in Mazen creek, Grundy county, on the 30th of November, 1864, and was buried by his side. In 1861 subscriptions were taken up in many of the river towns to erect a monument over the remains of Shaubena, but, the war breaking out, the enterprise was abandoned. Only a plain marble slab marks the resting-place of this friend of the white man.

Pott Aw Atomies

The Pottawatomies who lived here were afterwards given a reservation thirty miles square near Topeka, Kansas, where many of the same families who lived here are living and tilling the soil. J. C. Thompson and his brother William, who lived in Tazewell county and were accounted fine, bright young men, went among these Indians in 1854, and each of them married a squaw. J. C. died there three years ago, and in 1878, while Mr. W. S. Rankin was in Kansas, he saw William who still had his Indian wife.

Chief Walker And His Daughter

Mr. Joshua Wagenseller tells us an amusing story connected with the Indians who camped on Dillon creek. An Indian, familiar to many of the early settlers, by name of Chief Walker, often came to Pekin. On one occasion he offered a barrel full of dollars to any young white man who would marry his daughter. Six young men, from Pekin, thought they would go out and see the young Indian and perchance could strike a bargain with Chief Walker, A barrel of Nsilver dollars was an inducement to take most anything in the shape of a woman for a wife. The boys all posted off to Chief Walker's wigwam. On arriving the old chief met them and led them into his cabin to see the daughter. The boys filed in, took seats around the room and saw the object of their visit sitting silently therein. The boys sat and gazed upon the maiden for a few moments, not a word was spoken, supreme silence reigned. The situation began to grow more embarrassing, the boys looked at one another, at the Chief and then at the girl. Soon one of them sneaked out, another followed, and one by one they all slipped away, leaving the Chief and his loved daughter alone. Each one of the wife hunters told the others, " any of you can have her and the dollars, I don't want her." So Chief Walker failed to marry oif his daughter, and none of the boys got the proffered barrel of dollars.