“He came at the commencement of the Sauk and Fox war to Galena to counsel with us in relation to defense, with a number of officers, his superiors, for a day or so.
“At the same time the Governor of Illinois, by proclamation, called every able-bodied man into the field. Came to Galena on Saturday; all in commotion. Colonel Strode commanding.
“We held a council of war, yet had no arms. I urged them to have spontoons forged. He gave me the order to have 250 manufactured, I remember, and on Monday morning I brought them into quarters, when I then mounted my horse to go to the diggings, when I was accosted by the Colonel: ‘Where are you going, Gear?’ ‘To plant my potatoes.’ ‘What, leave us here to take care of your family?’ ‘No, I act as a picket guard,’ having my rifle on my shoulder.
“‘Gear, we cannot spare you.’ ‘Why?’ said I. He said, ‘The Governor had called every able-bodied man into the field.’ I looked along the crowd and he had a company of about sixty.[[296]] ‘Are these all?’ was my reply. ‘Yes,’ was his answer. ‘Why,’ said I, ‘I can raise more men at the sound of a whistle. Now there is but one to command and the balance to obey, Colonel, if we are in such danger. Now would you dare declare martial law, as General Jackson did at New Orleans?’ He then said as Nathan said to David, ‘Thou art the man; make out your order now and I will see it obeyed.’ I dismounted at once, armed and equipped, shortly reporting at his headquarters, where his order was handed me, countersigned by the adjutant. I, reading, replied, ‘It was a good order, but do you suppose a soul will obey me? No, not one, unless I have a force sufficient to carry it out. Will you give me a sergeant’s guard?’ ‘I will.’ ‘Will you give me that fife and drum?’ ‘I will.’ ‘I will see it carried to the extent of my life.’
“I that day raised 240 recruits, was appointed officer of the day, had sixty-four to mount for guard; got quarters for my men and rations and part of their blankets, and refused other blankets that would not pass muster by me as a soldier’s blanket; put the commissary in mud in the streets of Galena, for endeavoring to pass them on my men, and the next day received a pair of blankets for all. Well, the last round: I told the boys we would have some sport.
“Mrs. Barnes kept a bakery house on Brush street, which was the quarters of several officers of the United States Army.
“B. Miller, Esq., called the Chesterfield of the bar of Illinois, was there cracking jokes, and I halted at their quarters, requesting orders to report. He said to fall into line. ‘What are you going to do with us?’ ‘The army wants just such men as you. Now we will find a place for you.’ I then made my bow to Captain Kearney, or Major Harney, I do not know which. ‘Will you and your brother officers fall into line? We belong to the United States Army.’ ‘Well, then, read them the Governor’s proclamation and the order from Colonel Strode of the Twenty-seventh Regiment declaring martial law. Now, gentlemen, you know my duty, and if you hail General Jackson you will march. Now I cannot discharge my duty by leaving you behind, but the Colonel can dispose of you after you arrive in headquarters.’ So we all fell into line, and under double-quick marched to quarters.
“Now their names were as follows, to wit: Captain Harney, Captain Kearney, Lieutenant Anderson, Lieutenant Gardenier, Lieutenant Jeff Davis.”
Those companies were formed at Galena on the 19th day of May, and the presence of Lieut. J.R.B. Gardenier on that day, as mentioned by Captain Gear, is substantiated by reference to page 138 of a “Record of the Services of Illinois soldiers in the Black Hawk War,” published by the Adjutant-General of Illinois in 1882, where it will be found that Lieut. J.R.B. Gardinier acted as commandant of Nicholas Dowling’s company from May 19th to July 14th, “by request.”
Captain Gear takes considerable credit unto himself for the accomplishment of this muster, but that is a latitude allowed every person who narrates a statement of fact so prominent, and especially when so successful. He has the detail of Strode’s order a trifle confused, but that is of no consequence when the story is considered as a whole. He has given the days of the week with such accuracy that there remains no reason to doubt the statement of John Dixon, which it confirms.