The Black Hawk War Including a Review of Black Hawk's LifeStevens, Frank Everett
History
The Black Hawk War Including a Review of Black Hawk's Life
Stevens, Frank Everett
Black Hawk War, 1832; Black Hawk, Sauk chief, 1767-1838
“When we got within fifteen miles of Galena, on Apple River, we found
a stockade filled with women and children and a few men, all terribly
frightened. The Indians had shot at and chased two men that afternoon,
who made their escape to the stockade. They insisted on our quartering
in the fort, but instead we camped one hundred yards outside, and
slept–what little sleep we did get–with our guns in our arms. General
Henry did not sleep, but drilled my men all night, so the moment they
were called they would bounce to their feet and stand in two lines,
the front ready to fire and fall back to reload while the others
stepped forward and took their places. They were called up a number of
times, and we got but little sleep. We arrived at Galena the next
day,[157] and found the citizens prepared to defend the place. They
were glad to see us, as it had been so long since they had heard from
the army. The few Indians prowling about Galena and murdering were
simply there as a ruse.
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[Illustration: LIEUT. GURDON S. HUBBARD.]
[Illustration: CAPT. ELIJAH ILES.]
[Illustration: CHARLES BRACKEN.]
[Illustration: KELLOGG’S GROVE MONUMENT.]
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“On our return from Galena,[158] near the forks of the Apple River and
Gratiot roads, we could see General Dodge on the Gratiot road on his
return from Rock River. His six scouts had discovered my two men that
I had allowed to drop to the rear. Having weak horses they had fallen
in the rear about two miles, and each took the other to be Indians,
and such an exciting race I never saw until they got sight of my
company; then they came to a sudden halt, and after looking at us for
a few moments wheeled their horses and gave up the chase. My two men
did not know but that they were Indians until they came up with us and
shouted ‘Indians!’ They had thrown away their wallets and guns and
used their ramrods as whips.
“The few houses on the road that usually accommodated the travel were
all standing, but vacant, as we went. On our return we found them all
burned by the Indians. On my return to the Illinois River I reported
to General Atkinson, saying that from all we could learn, the Indians
were aiming to escape by going north with the intention of crossing
the Mississippi River above Galena. The new troops had just arrived
and were being mustered into service. My company had only been
organized for twenty days, and as the time had now expired, were
mustered out. All but myself again volunteered for the third time.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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