Seek Info on James Patterson, J. Briggs' Company

[davel]

I just discovered this informative site and became a member from Maryland.
I am seeking information on James Patterson as part of a genealogy study of my wife's family who settled and lived in Southern Illinois.
I did a search on him at this site's message boards without any hits.
At the Illinois Trails website I located a roster that he appears in as part of Captain Briggs' Company in the 3rd Regt, 3rd Brigade of Illinois Mounted Volunteers.
It states that he was a private and that he was "sick, left at Praire du Chien".
The Database of Illinois Black Hawk War Veterans doesn't provide any more info.
I would appreciate any additional information that you can share on James patterson or his unit.
I noticed that Whitney's Black Hawk War is often referenced here but I'm not sure that I can find a copy unless I get down to the Library of Congress.
Are there other web sites that might also be useful?

[Greg Carter]

Sir,

If you cannot find a copy of Whitney's series at your local library, you might try www.ABEBooks.com. I found several volumes for sale on there.

I looked at my copy on Illinois Volunteers and observed exactly what you already know, that he was left at Fort Crawford, sick in hospital.

In looking at the rest of the muster roll, however, I notice that one of the men was killed at Wisconsin Heights and another wounded at Bad Axe, suggesting that your ancestor participated in these engagements at the end of the conflict.

I also noted that all the men in his company hailed from Randolph County, deep in southern Illinois below St. Louis. Their website is

www.randolphcountyillinois.net/

This may provide some help. Undoubtedly a county history or two has been written that might provide some details. Given the close association with Kaskaskia, I would almost guarantee that an historical society exists there that can help you.

Greg Carter

[davel]

Thanks Greg!

I'll check on the book dealer you mentioned.

I didn't know that Fort Crawford was at that site - I'm just starting to learn about the Black Hawk War - so that is another useful piece of info.

I'll look into the Wisconsin Heights and Bad Axe engagements.

Thanks also for the Randolph County link.

Dave

[Robert Braun]

Indeed, Captain Brigg's company formed part of Col. Gabriel Jones' 3rd Regiment, of General John D. Henry's 3rd Brigade... which at Wisconsin Heights suffered several wounded and one killed. Col. Jones himself had his horse shot out from under him.

The man killed was from Brigg's own company-- Thomas Jefferson Short. We know that Short was buried by his comrades on the field at WH... at a location as yet unknown.

Your ancestor may well have participated in the bayonet charge that swept any remaining Indian soldiers from the field in the waning daylight of July 21, 1832. Happily, the battlefiled is preserved, and you may walk the very ground trod by James Patterson!

For a preview, check out this virtual tour of Wisconsin Heights the Old Lead Region Historical Society's website www.geocities.com/old_lead/wisheights01.htm

Welcome to the discussion board!

Bob Braun
Moderator.

[davel]

Bob,

Thank you for the additional information.

I just took that virtual battlefield tour - it is well-done.

This is all relatively new history for me - I've been a long-time Civil War history buff and also studied the local War of 1812 in the Baltimore, MD area.

Dave

[Robert Braun]

davel said:

Bob,

Thank you for the additional information.

I just took that virtual battlefield tour - it is well-done.

This is all relatively new history for me - I've been a long-time Civil War history buff and also studied the local War of 1812 in the Baltimore, MD area.

Dave

Dave---

As it turns out, I lived in Maryland for several years... Joppa MD to be exact, when I was stationed at APG in the early 1980s. Our eldest son was born at St. Joseph's Hospital, in one of Baltimore's north side suburbs. I swear half of his protein molecules were constructed from all the Maryland hardshell crabs his mom ate! Heck, we STILL have "Old Bay Seasoning" in our spice cabinet!

I too have studied the ACW for many years, but never got into the War of 1812 until after we left Maryland-- too bad! I haven't done a War of 1812 event for 10 years... but will be back by invitation to one here in Wisconsin this weekend! www.wisconsinhistory.org/villalouis/events.asp?id=194 Yep... the only War of 1812 battle fought in present-day Wisconsin!

Feel free to explore the Old Lead Region Historical Society site a little more. Click the "Back" button on the virtual tour page, and you'll be at the "research articles" page of the site. Some of the articles and overviews may be helpful in learning about this small but important conflict called "Black Hawk's War"-- some twenty years after the War of 1812!

Enjoy!

Bob.