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Macon County in the Black Hawk
War
In 1831 a treaty was made by which Black Hawk and his tribes of Indians were
to remove to the west side of the Mississippi river, and release all claim
upon the east side. Emissaries of the British government, from Canada, induced
the Indians to disregard the treaty and return to their former homes in Illinois.
On the sixth day of April, 1832, Black Hawk, with his followers, crossed
the Mississippi, bringing with them their women, children and property. He
announced that his mission was peaceful — but no doubt his object
was to reclaim the territory he had released under the treaty of the year
before. Governor Reynolds, learning of the movement of Black Hawk, called
for volunteers to repel the invaders.
Eighteen hundred volunteers, under Whiteside and Reynolds, were mustered
into service, and General Atkinson dispatched them in pursuit of the Indians.
On the twelfth of May they reached Dixon's ferry, where they were joined
by Major Stillman with 275 men. Stillman considered his command independent
of Whiteside, and declined to join Whiteside's brigade. Stillman, with Major
Baily, received orders to go to "Old Man's creek," now
Stillman's
Run, to ascertain the movements of the Indians.
The two battalions camped about ten miles from the ferry on the evening of
the thirteenth, and on the morning of the fourteenth Stillman took command
of both battalions, and continued in pursuit until sunset, when they encamped
in "front of a small creek" (Stillman's run) about thirty miles from Dixon.
Black Hawk hearing of their approach, sent out three men to meet them and
take them to his camp, that a council might be held; but the men were taken
prisoners. Five others were sent out for the same purpose, but two of them
were killed. This aroused Black Hawk, and with about forty men he met the
assailants — the main body of his warriors being about ten miles
away — and routed them completely, and in great confusion. Some
of Stillman's men, it is said, did not stop until they reached Dixon. In
the fight, Major Perkins, Capt. Adams, and nine men, were killed, one of
whom, James Milton, was from Macon county.
William
Cox, and others from this county, had their horses shot.
The following is a complete copy of the muster roll of the company from Macon
county engaged in the war, showing the names of the volunteers, date of
enlistment, date of discharge, and status of company at the time of discharge:
"Muster roll of
Captain
Johnson's company of mounted volunteers, belonging to the Fifth regiment,
commanded by James Johnson, of the brigade of mounted volunteers of Illinois
militia, commanded by Brigadier General Samuel Whiteside. Mustered out of
service of United States at mouth of Fox River, the state of Illinois, on
the 27th day of May, 1832; distance, miles, 150 from place of enrollment.
[The date of enlistment of all was April 24, 1832; and the term was 35 days.]
| 1. Jas. Johnson |
Captain |
Promoted to Colonel 16 May, 1832. |
| 2. William
Warnick |
1st Lieutenant |
Absent with leave. |
| 3. I. C. Pugh |
2d Lieutenant |
Promoted to Captain 16 May, 1832. |
| 4. J. D. Wright |
18t Sergeant |
Absent on extra duty. |
| 5. James A.
Ward |
2d Sergeant |
Promoted to 2d Lieutenant. |
| 6. Walter Bowls |
3d Sergeant |
Absent with leave. |
| 7. Joseph Hanks |
4th Sergeant |
|
| 8. Henry M.
Gorin |
1st Corporal |
|
| 9. S. R.
Shepard |
2d Corporal |
|
| 10. G.
Coppenbarger |
3d Corporal |
Absent with leave. |
| 11. James
Milton |
4th Corporal |
Killed in battle. |
| 12. Asher
Simpson |
Private |
|
| 13. A.W. Bell [ed.,
Alexander W. Bell] |
Private |
|
| 14. Abram Black |
Private |
|
| 15. D. McCall [ed.,
Daniel McCall] |
Private |
|
| 16. D. H.
Stewart |
Private |
Absent on extra duty. |
| 17. Elisha
Butler |
Private |
Absent with leave. |
| 18. G. D.
Smallwood |
Private |
|
| 19. John Hanks |
Private |
|
| 20. Jacob Lane |
Private |
Absent on extra duty. |
| 21. John
Henderson |
Private |
Absent with leave. |
| 22. James
Querry |
Private, |
|
| 23. James
Miller |
Private |
|
| 24. John Manly |
Private |
|
| 25. James Ennis |
Private |
Absent with leave. |
| 26. John
Clifton |
Private |
Absent with leave. |
| 27. Jesse
Dickey |
Private |
Wounded in battle. |
| 28. John
Williams |
Private |
Absent with leave. |
| 29. John Murphy |
Private |
|
| 30. Jacob Black |
|
Absent with leave. |
| 31. James
Herrod |
Private |
Absent with leave. |
| 32. Kinian
Ingram |
Private |
Absent with leave. |
| 33. C. Hooper |
Private |
Absent with leave. |
| 34. Robert
Smith |
Private |
|
| 35. S. B.
Dewees |
Private |
Sick. |
| 36. S. Miller |
Private |
|
| 37. S. Troxel |
Private |
Absent with leave. |
| 38. Thos.
Devanport |
Private |
Absent with leave. |
| 39. William
Hanks |
Private |
Absent with leave. |
| 40. William
Adams |
Private |
Absent with leave. |
| 41. William Miller |
Private |
|
| 42. William
Hooper |
Private |
Absent with leave. |
| 43. William Cox |
Private |
Absent with leave. |
| 44. Joseph
Clifton |
Private |
Absent with leave. |
I certify, on honor, that the muster roll exhibits the true state of the
company of mounted volunteers under my command, of the Illinois militia,
of the brigade of mounted volunteers under the command of Brigadier General
Samuel Whiteside on this day, and that the remarks set opposite the names
of the men, are accurate and just.
Signed Fox River, Ill., this the 27th day of May, 1832.
I.
C. Pugh, Captain,
Commanding the Company
There was also a company of Rangers organized during the summer of 1832,
commanded by
Captain
William Warnick. This company was out in the vicinity of Kickapoo town
near the head of the Big Vermilion, but found no Indians and soon returned.
Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from
its organization to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House.
P. 59-60. Transcribed and annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards.
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