CHAPTER XVIII.
Roster–Movement up Rock River Begun–The Prophet’s Village Burned–Forced March to Dixon’s Ferry.
Prior to that time, several officers had been granted furloughs, and when Black Hawk crossed the river were far away from their regiments, but immediately upon hearing of the hostile intention of the Indians, every officer returned to this point and rejoined his regiment. Among the number were Capt. W.S. Harney and Lieut. Jefferson Davis.
All being now in readiness to march, it may be well to repeat the names of all officers elected and appointed up to the morning of May 9th, when the last change in the personnel of the staff was made.
CYRUS EDWARDS.
JAMES T.B. STAPP.
DAVID PRICKETT.
COL. JOHN THOMAS.
MAJ. ALEXANDER BEALL.
GEORGE OREAR.
CAPT. W.G. FLOOD.
SAMUEL HORNEY.
Governor John Reynolds, the commander-in-chief of the militia, who for many reasons was desired to march with the volunteers, named as his staff:
James Turney, Paymaster General.[[107]]
Cyrus Edwards, Quartermaster General.
Vital Jarrot, Adjutant General.
Joseph M. Chadwick, Aid-de-Camp, with rank as Colonel.
James T.B. Stapp, Aid-de-Camp, with rank as Colonel.
Reddick Horn, Chaplain.
Brigade Officers.
Samuel Whiteside, Brigade General.
Nathaniel Buckmaster, Brigade Major.
William Ross, First Aid.
James Semple, Second Aid.[[108]]
David Prickett, Third Aid.
William E. Starr, Brigade Paymaster.
William Thomas, Brigade Quartermaster.
First Regiment.
John Thomas (then signed Junior), Colonel.
Solomon Preuitt, Lieutenant Colonel.
John Starkey, Major.
A.W. Snyder, Adjutant.
J.A. Blackwell, Quartermaster.
William G. Brown, Paymaster.
Richard Roman, Surgeon.
J.M. McTyre Cornelius, Surgeon’s Mate.
Samuel Sybold, Quartermaster’s Sergeant.
Alexander Shields, Sergeant-Major.
Second Regiment.
Jacob Fry, Colonel.
Charles Gregory, Lieutenant-Colonel.
Philip W. Martin, Major.
Elam S. Freeman, Adjutant.
Hiram C. Bennett, Quartermaster.
James Durley, Quartermaster’s Sergeant.
E.L.R. Wheelock, Paymaster.
William H. Dulaney, Surgeon.
John F. Foster, Surgeon’s Mate.
Calvin Roberts, Sergeant-Major.
Third Regiment.
Abraham B. DeWitt, Colonel.
William Weatherford, Lieutenant-Colonel.
Alexander Beall, Major.
Murray McConnel, Adjutant.
George Orear, Quartermaster.
Andrew Mackitee, Paymaster.
Samuel M. Prosper, Surgeon.
James Morrison, Surgeon’s Mate.
Levin N. English, Quartermaster’s Sergeant.
Robert Davis, Sergeant-Major.
Fourth Regiment.
Samuel M. Thompson, Colonel.
Achilles Morris, Lieutenant-Colonel.
Moses G. Wilson, Major.
John B. Watson, Adjutant.
Samuel Horney, Quartermaster.
William Carpenter, Paymaster.
Jacob M. Eddy, Surgeon.
Adams Dunlap, First Surgeon’s Mate.
William Constant, Second Surgeon’s Mate.
Edward Doyle, Sergeant-Major.
A. McHatton, Sergeant-Major (Successor).
William Fitzpatrick, Quartermaster’s Sergeant.
William Sprouce, Gunsmith.
Richard Jones, Color Bearer.
James Baker, Wagon Master.
Spy Battalion.
James D. Henry, Major.
William L.E. Morrison, Adjutant.
Montgomery Warrick, Quartermaster.
Robert Blackwell, Paymaster.
Joseph C. Woodson, Surgeon.
Peter Randall, First Surgeon’s Mate.
Benjamin Birch, Second Surgeon’s Mate.
M.E. Rattan, Sergeant-Major.
John F. Posey, Quartermaster’s Sergeant.
Jesse M. Harrison, Paymaster’s “Sergeant.”
William Cook, Color Bearer.
Spy Battalion.
Thomas James, Major.
James Moore, Adjutant.
James Whitlock, Quartermaster to May 15th. Resigned.
Scipio Baird, Quartermaster.
Michael Horine, Paymaster.
William Headen, Surgeon.
George Gordon, Surgeon’s Mate.
N.C. Johnston, Sergeant-Major. Resigned May 5th.
John James, Sergeant-Major.
James W. Vaughan, Armorer.
Moses Haskins, Bugleman.
J. Milton Moore, Color Bearer.
Foot Battalion.
Thomas Long, Major.
John Summers, Adjutant.
Vawter Henderson, Quartermaster.
J.L. Thompson, Paymaster.
Matthew Duncan, Surgeon.
Jonathan Leighton, Surgeon’s Mate.
Sion R. Green, Sergeant-Major.
Thomas J. (or I.) Marshall, Quartermaster’s Sergeant.
Benjamin Howard, Fife Major.
Thomas Burton, Drum Major.
The First Regiment consisted of six companies, commanded by the following captains: Julius L. Barnsback and Josiah Little of Madison County and Gideon Simpson, William Moore,[[109]] John Winstanley and John Tate of St. Clair County. Thomas was first elected Captain of Simpson’s company, but on being promoted to Colonel, Simpson was elected to succeed him. Preuitt was elected Captain of Little’s company, but upon his promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel, Little was elected.
The Second Regiment was composed of nine companies, commanded, respectively, by Captains Thomas Chapman, Samuel Smith,
Thomas McDow and Jeremiah Smith of Greene County, Levi D. Boone of Montgomery County, Benjamin James of Bond County, William G. Flood and David Crow of Adams County, and James White of Hancock County. Gregory was first elected Captain of Chapman’s company and Fry of Samuel Smith’s company, but both were promoted.
WILLIAM HEADEN.
WILLIAM CARPENTER.
ROBERT BLACKWELL.
JAMES WHITLOCK.
JAMES W. VAUGHAN.
CAPT. J.L. BARNSBACK.
CAPT. GIDEON SIMPSON.
LIEUT. STARKEY R. POWELL.
The Third Regiment consisted of six companies, commanded, respectively, by Captains Benjamin Barney and Elisha Petty of Pike County, John Harris of Macoupin, and William B. Smith, William T. Givens and Nathan or Nathaniel Winters of Morgan County. William Ross was first elected Captain of Barney’s company, but upon his promotion to the staff Barney was elected.
The Fourth Regiment consisted of four companies, commanded by Captains Samuel Hollingsworth and William C. Ralls of Schuyler County and Abraham Lincoln and Levi W. Goodan of Sangamon County. Moses G. Wilson was first elected Captain of Hollingsworth’s company, but upon his promotion to Major, Hollingsworth was elected.
Henry’s Spy Battalion was composed of four companies, commanded by Captain John Dawson of Sangamon, Captain Thomas Carlin of Greene, Captain John Dement of Fayette and Erastus Wheeler of Madison.
James’ Spy Battalion was composed of three companies, commanded by Captains Daniel Price and Peter Warren of Shelby County and Thomas Harrison of Monroe.
Long’s Foot Battalion was composed of three companies, commanded by Captains Jacob Ebey, Japhet A. Ball and Seth Pratt of Sangamon.[[110]]
In addition to these troops, the battalions of Stillman and Bailey, ordered to range the country and concentrate at Dixon’s Ferry, which they did on the 10th, were considered, of course, a part of the army, though not then sworn in.
The battalion of Major Isaiah Stillman was composed of three companies, commanded by Captains David W. Barnes and Asel F. Ball of Fulton County and Abner Eads of Peoria County.
Major David Bailey’s Battalion was composed of four companies, commanded by Captains M.L. Covell and Robert McClure of McLean County, Captain John G. Adams of Tazewell and Captain James Johnson of Macon County. On the 16th, however, after Stillman’s defeat, the new Fifth Regiment was organized from these two commands, and I.C. Pugh was elected captain of the company commanded by Captain James Johnson, who was elected Colonel. No staff officers were appointed for the two battalions prior to their merger into the Fifth Regiment.
While dwelling on the composition of the Fifth Regiment, it may be well to name its officers as I find them on the original roster in my possession:
James Johnson, Colonel.
Isaiah Stillman, Lieutenant-Colonel.
David Bailey, Major.
James W. Crain, Adjutant.
Hugh Woodrow, Quartermaster.
David C. Alexander, Paymaster.
Samuel Pillsbury, Surgeon.
Daniel McCall, Sergeant-Major.
Joshua C. Morgan, Quartermaster’s Sergeant.
On the 9th of May, with not a man on the sick list, General Atkinson issued the following orders:
“Headquarters, Right Wing, West. Dept.
“Mouth of Rock River, 9th May, 1832.
“Order No. 12.
“The mounted volunteers will move in the morning under Brig.-Gen. Whiteside, by the route of Winnebago Prophet’s village, with a view of reaching the hostile band of Indians assembled on Rock River, near or above Dixon’s Ferry. The regular troops will move by water and meet the mounted troops at Prophet’s village. Should General Whiteside, however, on reaching Prophet’s village, be of opinion that it would be prudent to come up with the enemy with as little delay as possible, he will move upon him, and either make him surrender at discretion, or coerce him into submission.
“Order No. 13.
“Colonel Taylor, First Regiment, will assume the command of the Infantry of Illinois at this place. They will move by water in conjunction with the U.S. Infantry now under his orders, and will be assigned to the charge of transporting a portion of the munitions, supplies, etc., for the troops.
“Order No. 14.
“Lieut. Robert Anderson, Third Regiment Artillery, will, till further orders, perform the duties of Assistant Inspector General of the troops now in the field.”
CAPT. LEVI D. BOONE.
CAPT. W.T. GIVENS.
CAPT. NATHAN WINTERS.
CAPT. PETER WARREN.
CAPT. DANIEL PRICE.
CAPT. ISAAC C. PUGH.
ARCHIBALD WILLIAMS.
W.A. RICHARDSON.
By order No. 9 Colonel Taylor was also given command of the regular troops under orders for active service, viz.: Six companies of the Sixth Regiment Infantry, under the command of Major Riley, and the companies of the First Regiment Infantry from Fort Crawford, and Captain Harney’s Company of the First Infantry of the garrison of Fort Armstrong. Lieutenant Burbank,[[111]] Acting Quartermaster of the post, was ordered to store such clothing, provisions and stores as should be left by the troops under marching orders. Major Beall[[112]] was further charged with the safe-keeping of the three Indian prisoners then in confinement, which completed all arrangements for marching.
The volunteer army set out on the 10th and reached the Prophet’s village in the afternoon. Near that place the spies which Governor Reynolds had sent out on the 8th to reconnoiter and locate the enemy[[113]] met the army and reported that they had captured an Indian, who had truly informed them that Black Hawk was on Rock River, above Dixon’s Ferry, as had been previously reported. Disappointed at such a delay as the march to Black Hawk’s camp would incur, the men fired the Prophet’s village and burned every vestige of it–an act wholly unwarranted and useless. About twelve miles above the Prophet’s village the army camped, and, for reasons utterly inconceivable at this late day, decided to abandon all the cumbersome baggage and provisions and force a march to overtake the Indians. Whether the troops, who considered it part of their duty to dictate policies to their superior officers, clamored for such a move, or whether it emanated from the officer in command, has never been explained to this day, either in books or personal interviews had by the writer. Whiteside got all the blame for it, but I believe that his action was governed by pressure from the headstrong militia, who desired to accomplish too much in a limited time, and the passion of Governor Reynolds to manage the campaign to a rapid and glorious finish. It was an unfortunate act at best. Perishable property was piled up to waste, unprotected and regardless of future needs. With scarcely enough to last them in a forced march to another base, where abundance might await them, these impatient men marched into a wilderness where defeat might overtake them, with only rations enough to last for a period of three or four days. This criminal indiscretion was the first cause of dissatisfaction among the men. The commander should have known that those who urge the most haste have for all time been first to find fault when the first evidence of its indiscretion appears and at once vetoed the foolhardy move.
Whiteside was a famous old Indian fighter; brave as a lion and ready and eager at all times to meet an enemy; but he had never before handled a large body of men, and in this case at least it may be said that bravery alone was not an indisputable qualification for leadership. It rarely is. It later remained for James D. Henry, in a case almost forlorn, to terminate further moves like this injudicious one, and thereby end the war, as he did. After writing General Atkinson of the action, Governor Reynolds, with the troops, moved rapidly for Dixon’s Ferry, which was reached on the 12th, where James W. Stephenson, James M. Strode and others were found, all of whom stated that from scouts just returned it was ascertained beyond doubt that the Indians, who had fixed upon a point of rendezvous about thirty miles up the river, were at that time scattered over a large area, securing food, and in all probability recruits, and that an attempt to march against them would be useless at that moment. Governor Reynolds at once realized the force of the point and abandoned his projected attack and agreed to rest until Atkinson appeared, which he hoped would be very soon. The scouts sent out, and hereafter noticed, were sent to Shabbona’s village, and had it not been for the unfortunate action of Stillman, there probably had been no trouble in ending the campaign without loss of time or blood. But the country was covered with water, the ground was swampy and almost impassable to footmen, the river was high, and only by the most heroic efforts was it made possible to navigate the keel boats and Mackinaw boats upstream.[[114]] Men waded up to their middle to pull them along, and then only a snail pace could be accomplished. A change to the other side of the river was attempted, with no better results, and finally Atkinson was compelled to issue the following order:
“Headquarters, Right Wing, West. Dept.,
“Near Marie de Ogee, Rock River, 11th May, 1832.
“Order No. 15.
“The troops on foot will move in ascending the river, in the following order: The First Infantry will march in front, the Sixth Infantry in the center and the Illinois Infantry in the rear. An advance guard from the First Infantry will precede the column from 400 to 1,000 yards; a flank guard from the Sixth Infantry will be thrown out from 200 to 400 yards, and more, if necessary, according to the ground. The Illinois Infantry will march in the rear and furnish the rear guard, which is not at any time to leave any of the boats in the rear. The river will be crossed to avail the troops of the best ground for navigation and marching; the troops will encamp in the order of march. In case of attack the troops will form to the front, the rear or upon the flank as circumstances may demand.”
The march was slow and toilsome, but made with decency and, considering the surface of the country, dispatch. But it was necessarily so difficult to make progress that Atkinson did not reach Dixon’s Ferry until the 17th, when all was confusion and the men loud in their demands to be discharged. So utterly unmanageable had they become that it became necessary on that day to issue the following order, and which, by the by, was rigidly enforced by Col. Zachary Taylor:
“Headquarters, Right Wing, West. Dept.,
“Dixon’s Ferry, Rock River, 17th May, 1832.
“Order No. 16.
“The frequent unauthorized firing of arms in and about the vicinity of the encampments of the different corps of the army, composed of the U.S. Infantry and the State troops now in the field, compels the Commanding General to forbid a practice so dangerous to the individual members of the different corps and derogatory to the military character of well-organized troops. No officer or private, therefore, will fire again in camp or on the march without permission or an order from the commanding officer of his regiment or company.”
From the mouth of the river the soldiers had indulged this boisterous pastime, with no restraint whatever, and it is said that this abridgment of their pioneer prerogative provoked much indignation, but firing at once ceased.
CAPT. GIDEON LOWE, U.S.A.
LIEUT. COL. ZACHARY TAYLOR’S HEADQUARTERS AT FORT CRAWFORD.
JOHN DIXON.
DIXON’S FERRY.