973.562 
 
 Sm5e 
 
 cop. 4 SMITH 
 
 THE EXPEDITION AGAINST 
 THE SAUK AND FOX INDIANS, 
 1832
 
 LIB R.AFLY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 OF ILLINOIS 
 
 IlUNOtS WSTORICAL SURVEY
 
 The Expedition Against the 
 
 Sauk and Fox Indians 
 
 1832
 
 The Expedition Against the 
 Sauk and Fox Indians 
 
 1832 
 
 The following narrative of the Expedition against the Sauk and 
 
 Fox Indians, last year, has been kindly furnished to the 
 
 Military and Naval Magazine by an Officer 
 
 who served in General Atkinson's Brigade. 
 
 Reprinted from the 
 
 Military and Naval Magazine of the United States of August 1833. 
 New York, 1914 
 
 OF lUF.O'.S LIBRARY 
 ;$&. HUM*
 
 _ 
 -3jZ-^ 
 
 Indian Campaign of 1832 
 
 The Sauks and Foxes, forming one nation of Indians, occu- 
 pying, until 1831, more or less of the country on both banks of 
 the Mississippi, for about 150 miles above, and the same dis- 
 tance below, Rock Island, have always manifested, as a peo- 
 ple, a hostile feeling towards the people of the United States. 
 During the war with Great Britain, they were active and ex- 
 ceedingly useful allies of the English ; repeatedly, and ( as they 
 boast) always successfully engaged against us. Several detach- 
 ments of our army and militia were, previously to 1815, de- 
 feated by this warlike people. Since the latter date, the hostile 
 feeling has been openly shown, only by a portion of the com- 
 bined nation (Sauks and Foxes) called the "British Band," of 
 which a chief called Muck-ut-tay Mich-e-kaw-kaik (the cele- 
 brated Black Hawk) was the head. This band occupied the 
 territory on the east bank of the Mississippi, principally along 
 the Rock River, and ordinarily numbered about 400 warriors 
 
 By a treaty, duly signed and ratified, the Sauks and Foxes, 
 previously to 1831, conveyed that portion of their country ly- 
 ing east of the Mississippi, to the United States ; and our set- 
 tlers advanced to the shores of Rock river; the Indians so 
 far acknowledging the treaty as to abandon the country and 
 cross the Mississippi, where the majority (if not all) took up 
 their residence for a time. 
 
 In 1831 (the spring) Major General Gaines, commanding 
 the western department, learned, by express, that the Indians in 
 great numbers had re-crossed the river, commenced a system of 
 aggression on the whites, and, by threats, and in some instances 
 by violence, had driven off many families, and bade fair to suc- 
 ceed in their design of breaking up the settlements along the
 
 INDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1832 
 
 frontier of Illinois. The General promptly moved, with such 
 troops as he could find disposable, (the 6th regiment and a 
 small portion of the 3rd) to the scene of difficulty. Here he 
 found the tone of the Indians so high, and their deportment 
 so insufferably insolent, that, apprehending the necessity of an 
 immediate resort to blows, he called on the Governor of Illi- 
 nois for an auxiliary force of mounted militia, and made prep- 
 arations to enforce the demand he had already made of the In- 
 dians, to evacuate the ceded territory. After much delay, and 
 an unusual display of reckless audacity * on the part of the 
 Sauks and Foxes, they finally crossed again to the west side 
 of the river, and executed a treaty, one article of which sol- 
 emnly stipulated, that they never would land again on the east 
 bank of the Mississippi, without the consent of the President 
 of the United States and the Governor of Illinois. 
 
 Within four months after the signing of this treaty, a num- 
 erous war party of this very band ascended the Mississippi, 
 landed on the east bank, and within the limts of the American 
 village of Prairie des Chiens, attacked a body of Menominies, 
 (a nation distinguished for their unalterable friendship for the 
 United States) and murdered, it is believed, twenty-eight indi- 
 viduals. It was for the purpose of demanding and obtaining 
 the leaders in this outrage on our flag and laws, that Brigadier 
 General Atkinson was ordered with his regiment (the 6th) to 
 ascend the Mississippi, in the spring of 1832 ; and although cir- 
 cumstances have shown, that the Secretary of War, with the 
 acuteness of judgment for which he is distinguished, aided by 
 a thorough knowledge of the Indian character, clearly ^fore- 
 saw the result to which the disposition of the Indians would 
 
 *The Indians came openly armed into council with the General a proceeding, it is believed 
 without precedent among them. They used in speech the most violent and threatening lan- 
 guage and gestures. Had not the General felt compassion for their infatuation, he would 
 probably have chastised them on the spot.
 
 INDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1832 
 
 lead; yet very few others anticipated any occurrences more 
 bloody than those of the preceding spring. 
 
 On the 8th April, '32, the force under Gen. Atkinson, six 
 companies of the 6th regiment, with an aggregate of about 280, 
 embarked at Jefferson Barracks, and proceeded up the river, 
 in obedience to the orders before mentioned. At the Des 
 Moines Rapids ( 200 miles above) it was first learned by the de- 
 tachment, that the Indians meditated, not only resistance to 
 the demand for the surrender of the murderers, (which talks 
 with some of the frontier commanders had taught them to ex- 
 pect), but of the seizing and holding the territory, "the debate- 
 able land," which they had already twice or thrice ceded to the 
 United States. Accounts here gave the number of warriors at 
 between 600 and 800, who had already ascended the river to- 
 wards Rock Island. The detachment of General Atkinson ar- 
 rived at Rock Island about the 12th April, and there ascer- 
 tained that on that day, or the day before or after, the Indians 
 had entered the mouth of Rock River, and were ascending it. 
 
 The General also received correct and undoubted informa- 
 tion of their numbers and condition. Different traders and 
 others had carefully counted them, and reported the number of 
 efficient warriors to be about 650, consisting of the British 
 band (the Black Hawk's) the friends of the war party who had 
 committed the murders at Prairie des Chiens, and about 120 
 Kickapoos. They were subsequently joined, on Rock River, 
 by the Prophet's band. About 450 of this force was mounted : 
 and it is but doing them justice to say, that they were very ef- 
 ficient cavalry, armed with good guns, spears, and tomahawks, 
 on well trained horses ; they never, it is believed, came in con 
 tact with our mounted force (both parties mounted) that the 
 Indians did not come off the victors, whatever might be the dis- 
 parity of numbers. Under their intention of holding the coun- 
 try, the Indians had brought with them their families, and their
 
 INDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1832 
 
 moveables of every description. They had said to many trad- 
 ers, that they were "going to keep possession of their old hunt- 
 ing grounds, and would never turn their faces to the west again ; 
 that they would not strike the first blow, but that if the Amer- 
 icans attempted to drive them back, they were able and willing 
 to give the whites war to their hearts' content" Accordingly, 
 their course up the Mississippi and Rock River was, for some 
 time, marked with great forbearance and moderation. 
 
 General Atkinson immediately summoned such of the chiel. 
 of the nation as had not participated in the movement at the 
 head of whom was Pask-e-paw-ko, Waw-pel-to, and Ke-o-kuck> 
 demanded of them such of the murderers as were within their 
 power, and warned them of the consequences which would re- 
 sult to them on their joining or aiding the invading bands. The 
 murderers (three being all within the control of these chiefs) 
 were promptly surrendered, and the General was assured of 
 the fidelity of the chiefs towards the government of the United 
 States. The conference was ended by an order from the Gen- 
 eral for the friendly Indians to return to their homes west of 
 the Mississippi, and remain there. 
 
 Two messengers, one a friendly Sauk chief, the son of Tay- 
 e-mah, and the other a half-breed, whose father was a French- 
 man, and his mother a Sauk woman, were despatched to the 
 Black Hawk, by Gen. A. not only officially ordering him and 
 his people (in the name of the President) to return, but indi- 
 vidually advising him of the consequences of his persisting in 
 his present enterprise. The demand for the surrender of the 
 murderers was also made. 
 
 Up to this time it appeared to have been the general belief 
 among the officers of the army, as it certainly was the opinion 
 of the writer of this, that the Indians, almost always "more 
 sinned against than sinning," would, under the forbearing, dig- 
 nified and determined course pursued by the General, be brought 
 
 6
 
 INDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1832 
 
 to a sense of their conduct and situation, and induced to com- 
 ply with the demands of the government. But we were soon 
 undeceived; the messengers returned, greatly alarmed, after 
 having been abused and insulted, and compelled to escape at 
 the risk of their lives. They brought from the Indians the most 
 insolent and bullying replies to the General's message gener- 
 ally, in amount, ridiculing his demands, and challenging the 
 Americans to come against them. About this time, also, Hen- 
 ry Gratiot, Esq., the sub-agent for the Winnebagoes of the 
 mining country, obeying the impulse of his duty, intrepidly 
 proceeded to the Black Hawk's camp, (near the Prophet's vil- 
 lage) for the purpose of holding a council with the chiefs, to 
 ascertain their object, and to warn them to return. The Indi- 
 ans not only refused to hear him, but tore down his American 
 flag, erected the British flag, and took Mr. G. prisoner. There 
 is little doubt that his fate would have been sealed, but for the 
 interposition of the Winnebagoes, who purchased him of the 
 Sauks, and restored him to liberty. We also learned, that 
 the Sauks and Foxes had been instigated to their present course 
 by the Prophet, (Waw-be-ka-s chick) or the "white cloud," a 
 half Winnebagoe and half Sauk, and possessing much influence 
 with both nations from his assumption of the sacred character, 
 from his talents, his inveterate hostility to the Americans, and 
 his cold-blooded cruelty. 
 
 General Atkinson, an officer possessing all the requisites for 
 command military skill, undaunted courage and perseverance, 
 together with a knowledge of the Indian character, now com- 
 menced vigorous preparations for a campaign. He ordered 
 such troops as could, with safety, be called from Forts Craw- 
 ford and Leavenworth, to reinforce him; and was, in conse- 
 quence, joined at Rock Island by four companies of the 1st 
 Infantry, and subsequently at Dixon's Ferry, by two more com- 
 panies of the 6th regiment from Fort Leavenworth. He took
 
 INDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1832 
 
 measures for collecting provisions and stores, and means for 
 their transportation ; a work of exceeding difficulty under all 
 the circumstances, but in the execution of which he would doubt- 
 less have encountered greater delays, but for the efficient assis- 
 tance derived from the different branches of the general staff. 
 He notified the Governor of Illinois, (Reynolds) that the In- 
 dians had ascended Rock River, and entered the territories of 
 the State in a hostile attitude. Lastly, the General took meas- 
 ures to secure the neutrality of the adjoining Indian nations, 
 or should he deem it proper, their assistance. These prepara- 
 tions detained the troops at Rock Island three or four weeks, 
 during much of which period, the weather was unusually cold 
 and rainy, and our tents quite unfit for service, and useless as 
 u shelter. 
 
 About the 9th day of May, provisions and boats having been 
 collected, and a force of 1,800 militia (1,500 of whom were 
 mounted) arrived, who had been ordered by Governor Reynolds 
 to report themselves to the commander of the United States' 
 troops ; our force moved up Rock River ; the regulars and a 
 battalion of militia infantry under the command of Col. Tay- 
 lor, 1st infantry and the mounted force under Brigadier Gen. 
 Whitesides. Governor Reynolds accompanied this latter corps 
 in person. The mounted brigade was ordered to proceed to 
 the Prophet's village, about 30 or 40 miles by land, and 60 or 
 70 by water; while the regular force was charged with the se- 
 vere and unpleasant duty of dragging up the river the provi- 
 sions and stores for the whole, in boats, one a keel of 90 tons, 
 one of 30 tons, and a number of Mackinac boats. It is unneces- 
 sary to describe this duty, further than to say that the weather 
 was cold; and that for many days the troops, so employed, 
 had not a dry thread on them; compelled to wade against a 
 rapid stream, dragging or lifting the boats along, from day- 
 break until night. On our arrival at the Prophet's village, it 
 
 8
 
 INDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1832 
 
 was found that the mounted militia had advanced to Dixon's 
 Ferry. About 30 miles below the last named point, an ex- 
 press informed our commander of the defeat of a battalion of 
 the militia, under Major Stillman; and the troops were has- 
 tened forward with all possible despatch. At Dixon's Ferry, 
 about 120 miles from the Mississippi, (by water) we learned 
 the particulars of the first affair. 
 
 Major Stillman, commanding a volunteer battalion of Illinois 
 militia, who had joined Govemor Reynolds at Dixon's Ferry, 
 and never been for a moment under the orders of Gen. Atkin- 
 son, had been detached by the Governor, at his own solicitation, 
 to endeavour to ascertain the position of the Indians. De- 
 ceived by some individuals, who assured him that they had rec- 
 onnoitred the country for 45 miles above Whiteside's camp, 
 and that there were no Indians within that distance, Stillman 
 encamped an hour before sunset, at 25 miles from Dixon's, 
 in a well-chosen position, on a stream, since called Stillman' s 
 run. Very soon after pitching tents and unsaddling, some In- 
 dians were discovered on the open prairie, at a mile or two dis- 
 tance. The camp entirely filled a small open wood, which 
 was on every side surrounded by open and clear prairie, slight- 
 ly undulating; the strongest fortress could hardly have been 
 more efficiently defended against a savage force than the camp 
 in question, where an hundred men ought to have repulsed ten 
 times their numbers of an attacking force. On the discovery 
 of the Indians, ( only two or three in number) the militia sallied 
 out, as all agree, in great confusion some with saddles, and 
 some without, and pursued and captured these Indians. Some 
 one called out that three or four others were in sight ; on which 
 another pursuit occurred, in still greater disorder: the last In- 
 dians were overtaken, and two of them killed, it is said unre- 
 sistently and without provocation. In a few minutes others 
 were descried advancing; their numbers, no doubt, appeared 
 
 9
 
 INDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1832 
 
 in the dusk of the evening much greater than they really were, 
 and a panic seized the whites. "Sauva qui pent" was the word; 
 or, rendered into backwoods English, "the devil take the hind- 
 most !" and the whole corps fled, without firing a well-directed 
 shot. They passed, running directly through their camp, 
 plunged into the creek, and did not halt until they arrived at 
 Dixon's where they came straggling in for twenty hours. Twelve 
 of the whites and four of the Indians, including those first wan- 
 tonly slain, were killed. It is asserted by the enemy that this 
 rout was caused by less than one hundred Indians, and the pur- 
 suit continued through the night by less than thirty. There 
 were doubtless many gallant fellows in Stillman's corps, and it 
 is difficult to account for this, as well as other similar affairs, 
 between the whites and the Indians, save by attributing it to 
 want of discipline, and of mutual confidence among themselves. 
 The army continued their advance up Rock River to Still- 
 man s run, having left the defeated corps to guard the sick, 
 wounded and provisions at the depot at Dixon's. At Stillman's 
 run, Gen. Atkinson was overtaken by an express, with intelli- 
 gence that the corps left to guard the depot had determined to 
 abandon their charge and return home. He also ascertained 
 that the enemy had moved rapidly up Sycamore Creek (called 
 by the Indians "Kish-waw-kee") towards its head. The mount- 
 ed force (now about 2,000) was despatched in pursuit, and the 
 regular infantry ordered to occupy the depot at Dixon's Ferry. 
 Whitesides accordingly moved up Sycamore Creek with his com- 
 mand for two or three days pursuing, without, however, be- 
 ing able to get sight of the enemy. The next intelligence from 
 this corps, received by the General gave the information that 
 they had proceeded across the country to the Illinois River, 
 and disbanded themselves, or been discharged. This was said to 
 have been brought about from some cause connected with the 
 local political parties of the State. 
 
 10
 
 INDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1832 
 
 The General, with his staff, immediately proceeded across the 
 country, to the Illinois River, and by much exertion succeeded 
 in inducing a few companies of mounted men to volunteer to 
 assist in protecting the settlements. 
 
 Within a few hours after the General's departure, intelligence 
 arrived at the Ferry, by expresses, that the enemy had struck 
 the settlements at different points, 80 or 90 miles apart, and 
 committed butcheries with all the accustomed horrors of Indi- 
 an warfare. On the same da} 7 , the report of a few mounted men 
 of the disbanded militia, who arrived, induced the serious appre- 
 hension, that the General had been cut off in his journey across 
 the country. Fortunately our fears proved to be without foun- 
 dation. Among the sufferers, the fate of no one excited more 
 sympathy than that of Felix St. Vrain, Esq., Indian Agent for 
 the Sauks and Foxes, who had accompanied the arrny to Dix- 
 on's Ferry, where he had obtained leave to return and secure 
 his family at Rock Island. On his way to Galena, with a par- 
 ty of seven men, they were attacked by a large party of Indians 
 commanded by the Prophet, and Mr. St. Vrain and three others 
 most barbarously murdered ; the others made their escape. 
 
 By indefatigible exertions Gen. Atkinson succeeded, in less 
 than three weeks, in calling out a new militia mounted force, 
 (for it was already found that the war could not be successfully 
 prosecuted against a well-mounted enemy, by infantry alone), 
 in organizing it anew, and in procuring provisions and land 
 transportation for a new movement. 
 
 In the meantime, however, several little affairs occurred. 
 Two companies of regular troops, with a company of mounted 
 men, had been despatched to Kellogg's Grove, for the purpose 
 of occupying the country between Rock and Fever Rivers, and 
 dispersing a party of the enemy known to be lurking there- 
 in. While there, the Indians, who daily watched the move- 
 ments of this detachment and the different portions of it, in 
 
 11
 
 INDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1832 
 
 their various excursions, carefully avoided the regular troops ; 
 but, seizing their opportunity, they attacked the militia on their 
 return to the camp, and beat them, killing three of their num- 
 ber. The Indians lost four. After remaining at Kellogg's 
 Grove ten days, this party was ordered in, and it was replaced 
 by a battalion of militia 250 strong, commanded by Major De- 
 ment. This battalion, the day after their arrival at the posi- 
 tion, was attacked and defeated by 130 Indians under command 
 of the Black Hawk, who drove the whites into their stockade, 
 and besieged them, until relieved by Gen. Pozey with the residue 
 of the brigade, when the Indians leisurely withdrew. About 
 this time, also, Gen. Dodge, (now Col. Dodge of the United 
 States' Dragoons) with a party of 28 mounted men, learned 
 that certain murders ha.d been committed in the neighborhood 
 of Fort Hamilton, and pursued the murderers. Dodge and his 
 party overtook the enemy, (who they found to be a party of 
 fifteen Sauks), and after a sharp conflict, killed every one of 
 them with loss of three whites. 
 
 On the 28th of June, the army again advanced on the enemy. 
 Our force consisted of upwards of 400 regular infantry, and 
 Henry's brigade of 1,000 mounted militia. Brig. Gen. Brady, 
 of the United States Army, had in the meantime joined, and 
 by order of Gen. A. assumed command of this division of regu- 
 lars and militia. A company of regulars were left to guard the 
 depot at Dixon's Ferry, and Pozey's and Alexander's brigades 
 detached and disposed so as to protect the settlements. On 
 the third of July we found ourselves in the neighborhood of the 
 enemy, who, however, occupied an inaccessible position, in a 
 swamp a few miles from us. They had retired before us, and 
 in several instances we found in their camps scalps and heads 
 previously taken and left in triumph. They also for several 
 days, left in their camps a sort of guide-post, with a wisp of 
 hay done up, and so fixed as to indicate their direction. This 
 
 12
 
 INDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1832 
 
 however, was mere bravado, as they avoided a conflict, though 
 it was eagerly sought by the army. The force of the enemy, 
 at this time, could not have been far from 1,000 efficient war- 
 riors, nearly all mounted. 
 
 Our marching had became exceedingly disagreeable and dif- 
 ficult ; wading through swamps and morasses ; our provisions 
 and baggage on pack-horses, frequently damaged and falling 
 short by the horses sinking in the swamps. Every exertion 
 h#d been made to procure guides, but in vain. Such Winne- 
 bagoes or Pottawattomies as joined us or could be taken were 
 either ignorant or treacherous. 
 
 On the 6th of July we reached a deep and muddy stream, 
 called, most inaptly, white water, beyond which, we were in- 
 formed by the Winnebagoes, we should find the enemy. With 
 much difficulty we forded or swam this stream, or rather the 
 first of its three branches ; and after a perplexing march of 
 twelve or fifteen miles, we arrived where the friendly Indians 
 assured the General with one voice, that further advance was 
 impossible, having arrived, as they said, and as it appeared, at 
 a wilderness of that description of morass called by the French 
 terre tremblante. We had no resource but to retrace our march, 
 for the purpose of reaching and crossing Rock River, to reach 
 the enemy by moving up the other bank. Arrived again at the 
 mouth of White water, the mounted force under Generals Henry 
 and Dodge was despatched with the pack horses to Fort Win- 
 nebago for provisions. 
 
 Under these vexations and disappointments, we had the sat- 
 isfaction of knowing that our enemy were completely besieged; 
 cut off from all their resources. Gen. Atkinson knew that they 
 must soon be driven by famine to give us battle or to retreat 
 from their present position, when he had little doubt of over- 
 taking them. He therefore took such measures as prevented 
 their escape. To enable a company to guard our provisions 
 
 13
 
 INDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1832 
 
 and sick, when we should again advance, a stockade was erected, 
 which was called Fort Kosh-ko-nong. Here we learned by des- 
 patches from Major Gen. Scott to our commander, of the ar- 
 rival of that officer with his troops at Chicago, and that the 
 "Asiatic cholera" was raging among them this was the first 
 intimation any individual of our command had received of the 
 existence of this disease on this continent. We also received 
 other disagreeable and mortifying intelligence through the pub- 
 lic prints and from other sources the censure conveyed in in- 
 sinuations and inuendoes by certain prints ; the information 
 from private letters ; and perhaps the tone of official despatches, 
 all gave us too clearly to understand, that thus far for our 
 toil, exposure, and exertions, we had received nothing but cen- 
 sure; how unjustly, every individual of the army knew and felt. 
 
 On the arrival of the provisions, a new guide (an Indian 
 chief), was procured, who promised to conduct the army to the 
 enemy's camp ; his services were gladly accepted, and the army 
 once more advanced, through the swamps, in the direction of 
 the enemy. When again within a few hours march of them, the 
 night set in with the most tremendous storm of rain and wind, 
 thunder and lightning, that the writer ever witnessed. Before 
 morning, an officer overtook us with information from Gen. Hen- 
 ry, that the enemy had retreated, by crossing Rock River, and 
 that the mounted corps of Henry and Dodge, having fallen on 
 the fresh trail of the retreating Indian army, had taken that 
 trail in pursuit, after despatching the express to Gen. Atkin- 
 son. Instantly we commenced our retrograde movement again ; 
 that evening arrived at Fort Kosh-ko-nong: the next day passed 
 round Lake Kosh-ko-nong, and forded Rock River below the 
 lake. 
 
 Our marches were now forced and severe. One day we 
 marched, it is believed, near twenty miles, during a hot day, 
 without water. Before the arrival of the army at the Wiscon- 
 
 14
 
 INDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1832 
 
 sin, we were met by the intelligence that Henry and Dodge had 
 come up with and attacked the rear of the enemy near the river, 
 and defeated it. Rafts were forthwith constructed at the Wis- 
 consin, and the army crossed that river, at a small place called 
 Helena, on the 27th of July; and within two hours afterwards 
 struck the trail of the enemy. Their trail gave evidence that 
 their numbers must be considerable. Their order of march was 
 in three parallel columns. Over the dry prairie, the route of 
 each column was worn from two to six inches in the earth ; and 
 where the ground was such as for a moment to interrupt their 
 reguler order of march, their trail appeared like an ordinary 
 road which had been travelled for years, wanting only the tracks 
 of wheels. 
 
 From this time until we reached the Mississippi, we contin- 
 ued without deviation to follow the trail of the enemy, having 
 no other guide ; and it led, doubtless with a view of baffling the 
 army, over such a country as, I venture to say, has seldom been 
 marched over: at one moment ascending hills, which appeared 
 almost perpendicular; through the thickest forest; then plung- 
 ing through morasses ; fording to our necks, creeks and rivers ; 
 passing defiles, where a hundred resolute men might repulse 
 thousands, whatever their courage or capacity ; next clambering 
 up and down mountains perfectly bald, without so much as a 
 bush to sustain a man. It was in this march that our infantry 
 regained their confidence in their own powers, which (lacking 
 the powers of rapid locomotion to make a dash against the 
 enemy) had been somewhat impaired early in the campaign. 
 They far outmarched the horsemen, nearly all of whose horses 
 were broken down. 
 
 The enemy were under the impression that it was impossible 
 for us to follow them ; and to that error we probably owe our 
 ultimate success in overtaking them, or at least in bringing 
 them to action, on grounds of equality. We, each day, made 
 
 15
 
 INDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1832 
 
 two of their day's marches, and passed one or two of their 
 camps. We frequently passed their dead, who, exhausted by 
 wounds or fatigue, had expired, and fallen from their horses: 
 on the 1st of August we passed the bodies of eleven. A little be- 
 fore sunset that day, we learned from a prisoner that the enemy 
 were but a few miles in advance of us. Up to this time, not 
 a man of the army knew where we were, save that we were north 
 of the Wisconsin, and on the enemy's track. We marched until 
 after dark, hastily encamped, slept two or three hours, when 
 reveillee beat, and we were again in march before daybreak on 
 the 2nd of August. 
 
 At a little after sunrise, we discovered the curtain of mist 
 hanging over the Mississippi, and the scouts in advance (a de- 
 tachment of Dodge's corps) announced the vicinity of the en- 
 emy. We were halted for an instant, our knapsacks and bag- 
 guge thrown off, and our pack horses left. We then advanced 
 rapidly into the timbered land ; and the occasional shots in ad- 
 vance confirmed the report of the scouts. This firing was from 
 a select rear-guard of the enemy, about seventy in number. 
 
 Our order of battle was promptly arranged, under the per- 
 sonal supervision of Gen. Atkinson ; the centre composed of the 
 regular troops, about 380 in number, and Dodge's corps, about 
 150; the right, of the remains of Pozey's and Alexander's bri- 
 gades, probably in all 250 men; the left, of Henry's brigade, in 
 number not far from 400 men. This last was, throughout the 
 campaign, a most excellent militia brigade, and well commanded. 
 The army advanced by heads of companies, over a space of two 
 or three miles. At length, after descending a bluff, almost per- 
 pendicular, we entered a bottom thickly and heavily wooded, cov- 
 ered also with much underbrush and fallen timber, and over- 
 grown with rank weeds and grass ; plunged through a bayou of 
 stagnant water, our men as usual holding up their arms and 
 cartridge boxes. A moment after, we heard the yells of the 
 enemy ; closed with them, and the action commenced. 
 
 16
 
 INDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1832 
 
 As I have already been more prolix than I had intended, I 
 refer your readers to the official account of the battle. Suffice 
 it to say, that quarters were in no instance asked or granted. 
 The official reports give the number of killed of the enemy, at 
 150; though doubtless many were killed in the river and else- 
 where, whose bodies were never seen afterwards. Our loss was 
 but 27, among whom was one officer, Lieut. Bowman, a gallant 
 fellow of Henry's brigade. This disparity of loss was probablv 
 owing to the rapid charge made by our troops on the enemy, 
 giving them time to deliver but one confused fire. About 150 
 horses were taken or killed. The Black Hawk, the Prophet, and 
 some other chiefs escaped from the action, but were bi ought in 
 by the Winnebagoes, and the friendly portion of the Sauks, and 
 ultimately delivered to the commanding general. 
 
 After the action, 100 Sioux warriors presented themselves, 
 and asked leave to pursue on the trail of such of the enemy as 
 had escaped. This was granted, and the Sioux, after two days' 
 pursuit, overtook and killed 50 or 60, mostly, it is feared, women 
 or children. 
 
 The afternoon previous to the action, the steamboat Warrior, 
 on her return from the Sioux villages above, Avith some officers 
 and 20 or 30 soldiers of the United States Army, discovered the 
 Indian army on the bank of the Mississippi, (exactly where 
 General Atkinson subsequently attacked them) engaged in con- 
 structing rafts and other means of crossing the river. The 
 enemy for some time endeavoured to decoy the steamboat to the 
 shore, assuring those on board that they (the Indians) were 
 Winnebagoes, &c. A sharp skirmish was finally the result, in 
 which several of the Indians were killed, and one soldier wounded. 
 The Indian loss is differently reported by themselves at from 
 7 to 23. The steamboat returned to Prairie des Chiens, and 
 arrived again opportunely at the close of the action the follow- 
 ing day. 
 
 17
 
 INDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1832 
 
 The troops moved down the river to Prairie des Chiens, where 
 they were met by Maj. Gen. Scott, who with his staff had left 
 the brigade at Chicago, prostrated by an enemy far more ter- 
 rible than the savages the cholera and was hastening to take 
 part in the campaign. The wounded were left at this place, and 
 the army descended to Rock Island, where they arrived in fine 
 health and spirits on the 9th of August. Indeed, it is astonish- 
 ing how perfectly healthy the troops had been during much and 
 great exposure to the ordinary causes of disease; up to this 
 time, not a death from disease had occurred during the cam- 
 paign, among the regular troops. They had borne, without the 
 slightest murmur, their fatigues and privations, and scarcely an 
 occasion for the most trifling punishment had been given, from 
 the time the army took the field. It has never been the fortune 
 of the writer, during a service of twenty years, to witness for a 
 length of time, the conduct of any command so perfectly ex- 
 emplary. 
 
 About the 20th of August the troops from Chicago arrived 
 under the command of Col. Eustis, and were encamped about 
 four miles from the command of General Atkinson. Poor fel- 
 lows ! we listened with sincere condolence to the tale of their 
 wretched sufferings from disease; few of us imagining that we 
 should call on them, so soon, to reciprocate our sympathy. 
 
 About the 26th of August, a case of cholera exhibited itself ; 
 this was followed by several others, and the ravages of this 
 shocking disease then became truly dreadful. The troops were 
 encamped in wretched tents, in close order of encampment, and 
 for several days of continued cold rain, the pestilence raged. 
 Every man in camp could hear the groans and screams of each 
 individual attacked by spasms, which added greatly to the hor- 
 rors of the scene. During a very few days, four officers and 
 upwards of fifty rank and file, out of about three hundred in- 
 fantry, became its victims. The rangers, also (encamped near 
 
 18
 
 INDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1832 
 
 them) suffered severely. It is but rendering justice to Major- 
 General Scott (then our commander) to say, that his conduct at 
 Rock Island during the period of horrors, was worthy the hero 
 of Chippewa, Fort George and Niagara, By his example, ex- 
 citing confidence and courage; fearlessly exposing himself to 
 disease and death, in its most terrible form, in his attentions 
 alike to the officer and the private soldier; while he enforced, 
 with the most vigilant care, the strictest sanitary regulations. 
 At length the troops were moved across the Mississippi (not out 
 of sight of their late camp), and the pestilence ceased. 
 
 The Indians sued for peace. A treaty was held at Rock Is- 
 land, by which the whole country east of the Mississippi, called 
 the mining district, and a large tract on the west bank (prob- 
 ably in the whole about 8,000,000 acres), was ceded to the 
 United States, and all the surviving insurgent chiefs of note 
 were to remain in confinement, as hostages, during the pleasure 
 of the President. 
 
 And thus ended the Sauk War ! 
 
 About the 28th of September, the troops were ordered to their 
 respective stations. 
 
 In the foregoing narrative, the writer is aware that he might 
 have more interested his readers by details of individual scenes ; 
 but the fear of being insufferably prolix, has induced him to 
 confine himself to a general account of the campaign, leaving 
 the minutiae to some future opportunity. He is aware, that in 
 his views of causes and results, he must necessarily differ from 
 some, but he believes this narrative will be acknowledged to be 
 in the main correct. H. 
 
 19
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBAN* 
 
 973.562SMSE C004 
 
 THE EXPEDITION AGAINST THE SAUK AND FOX 
 
 30112025365914