Further alarming reports of danger to the frontier below Dixon’s prompted General Atkinson, on the 23d, to withdraw with the regulars to Dixon’s, from which point Stillman was ordered with his three companies to proceed to join the main army for scouting service, leaving Lieutenant Williams of Colonel James’ odd battalion in command of the volunteers remaining, while Major Bliss continued in charge of the regulars at that post, which was ordered to be fortified for better security. Accordingly Fort Dixon was erected on the north side of Rock River, opposite.
The special instructions mentioned in the foregoing order were as follows:
“Headquarters Right Wing, Western Department,
“Third Camp above Dixon’s Ferry, Rock River, 22d May, 1832.
“Special Order No. 11.
“It being ascertained that the hostile Indians have left Rock River and passed up Sycamore Creek, and probably across to Fox and DuPage rivers, General Whiteside will move with the Illinois volunteers up Sycamore Creek, scour the country in that direction for the enemy, pass from thence to Fox River of the Illinois, and be governed by circumstances as to a further pursuit of him, persevering, however, until he is subdued or driven from the country. As soon as this service is performed and Governor Reynolds may deem the frontier secure, or take other measures for its defense, the Illinois volunteers, in the United States service, will be mustered by the brigade major and discharged, he taking care to note on the muster rolls all delinquents.
“General Whiteside will, during his operations, inform the commanding general by express, at Dixon’s Ferry, which is established as general headquarters and the base of operations, of every occurrence that may require his attention.[[138]]
“By order of Brig. Gen. Atkinson,
“Alb. S. Johnston, A.D.C., A.A. General.”
After three days’ vain search, the army reached a Pottowatomie village on Sycamore Creek, where much of the plunder secured from Stillman was found cached, likewise many of the scalps taken from his men and the murdered victims of Indian Creek. All Indian property found there was confiscated by the men, who were becoming audacious. At that point the trail of the Indians lay to the north, while their homes lay to the south. Taylor urged pursuit with his accustomed vigor, but the undercurrent of dissatisfaction was so strong that Governor Reynolds called to his tent all the captains of his army for a conference. A tie vote resulted, whereupon General Whiteside, in his wrath at seeing the scalps of his friends and women and children ignored, declared he would no longer lead them except to be discharged. Therefore the army turned its course southward, a detour being made by some of the troops to rob Shabbona’s Paw Paw village of the little plunder remaining, thence over to Fox River, which was reached May 25th, and where the following order was promulgated: