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
“In this position the commanding officer thought proper to remain
until the wind abated; sentries were placed at proper intervals, and
the men were occupied in cooking, when the report of several guns
announced an attack. At the first fire all the sentries were killed,
and before those on shore could reach the barge, 10 or 15 out of 30
were killed and wounded. At this time the force and intentions of the
Indians were fully developed. On each shore the savages were observed
in quick motion; some in canoes crossing to the battleground; others
were observed running from above and below to the scene of attack; in
a few minutes from five to seven hundred were assembled on the bank
and among the willows within a few yards of the bow and stern of the
barge; the Indians gave the whoop, and commenced a tremendous fire;
the brave men in the barge cheered, and returned the fire from a
swivel and small arms. At this critical juncture, Lieuts. Riggs and
Rector of the rangers, who commanded the two barges ahead, did not
hear the guns, but saw the smoke, and, concluding an attack was made,
dropped down. Riggs’ boat stranded about 100 yards below Campbell’s,
and Rector, to avoid a like misfortune and preserve himself from a
raking fire, anchored above; both barges opened a brisk fire on the
Indians, but as the enemy fired from coverts, it is thought little
execution was done.
“About one hour was spent in this unequal contest, when Campbell’s
barge was discovered on fire, to relieve which Rector cut his cable
and fell to windward of him, and took out the survivors. Finding he
could not assist Riggs, having a number of wounded on board, and in
danger of running on a lee shore, he made the best of his way to this
place, where he arrived on Sunday evening last.
KILLED AND WOUNDED.
“There were 3 regulars killed and 14 wounded; 2 died on their passage
to this place; 1 ranger killed and 4 wounded on board Lieut. Rector’s
barge. Brig.-Maj. Campbell and Dr. Stewart are severely wounded. Two
women and a child were severely wounded–one of the women and the child
are since dead. Just as we had finished detailing the above
unfortunate affair, we received the glad tidings of the arrival of
Lieut. Riggs at Cap au Gray; he lost 3 men killed and 4 wounded. Would
to Heaven we could account for the remaining 2 barges.
CONSOLATORY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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