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Post by majmchenry on Mar 27, 2010 1:40:31 GMT -5
Thank you Sir! And if you have anything your would like to contribute, please let me know. Gene Stevens
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Post by majmchenry on Mar 25, 2010 20:42:27 GMT -5
I have decided that it was time for the Black Hawk War society to eveolve somewhat, so I am creating a new page, it can be viewed at blackhawkwar.webs.com/ I am looking for articles and other material for the site, so take a look if you like.
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Post by majmchenry on Feb 24, 2010 0:03:21 GMT -5
WILL THE LAST ONE ON THIS SITE PLEASE TURN OUT THE LIGHTS?Cliff Krainik Yes all things considered, and theres a lot to consider, it seems that interest in the Black Hawk War has dropped off. I wonder what happened? Too many real world problems? Post 9-11? Too much Afghanistan and Iraq? I went back into the military myself, and puled me away. I wonder what happened to other folks?
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Post by majmchenry on Dec 3, 2009 20:47:09 GMT -5
I am also the author of "Last Stand at Old man's Creek" which is about the battle of Stillmans Run and I mention Indian Creek in the aftermath of Stillmans Run. I always felt that the Indian Creek Story would make a great screen play. The story says a lot about white and Indian relations. The war of 1812 and the Black Hawk War were pivitol in American history and seriously overlooked.
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Post by majmchenry on Dec 3, 2009 17:09:53 GMT -5
Have you read the book on the Indian Creek Massacre by Scanlan? I also have a copy of a publication (somewhere in my books) that was sent to me by one of your relatives. There is also a lot of information on the Indian Creek incident to be found on the Lincoln Net web site.
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Post by majmchenry on Dec 1, 2009 15:35:17 GMT -5
. I'm happy that I had the opportunity to set the record straight, Eugene C Stevens Author Last Stand at Old Man's Creek The True and Correct Story of The Battle of Stillman's Run I read the book, but, briefly explain what record was set straight. Thank you and best regards, Larry Koschkee In the book, I set out to dispell the popular myth that a wayward and intoxicated band of militiamen were routed by a small contigent of Sac indians who were actually trying to surrender. The facts do not support this poor theory, and the truth is that Stillman's command was acting under proper authority, had a line of communication with his own chain of command, being that of his commander (Whiteside), who in turned failed to properly support Stillman and his troops and wrongly laid the blame at Stillmans door step and smeared Stillmans name, as well as the reputation of the men under Stillmans command. I tried to show Stillman and his men for what they were, and not what for what they were perceived to be. The record shows very clearly that the failure for Stillman's defeat was not whiskey or even Stillman's lack of command. After all Stillman was with his men, Whiteside however was not with Stillman, and refused to move his troops even when directed to do so by higher authority. I said in the book and I will say it here, I find Whiteside's actions a severe failure of leadership and an act of cowardice. The other varibles were things such as lack of training and lack discipline. But clearly if Whiteside had deployed the situation would have been much different. In addition to this, I have read many accounts in which arbitrary numbers of indians who were present at the battle have been thrown out without any facts to support them, so I went through the record and looked at reports that were coming in from various sources, and that intelligence provided a much clearer picture of what was going on and the movements and actions of various indian tribes in the region and it appears that the numbers may have been far greater than popular myth portrays. G Stevens
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Post by majmchenry on Nov 25, 2009 18:14:52 GMT -5
That's great! Thanks Larry. I am thrilled with any leads. I did some more digging on the Cholera plague and found that on July 4 1832 a steamer "arrived in Detriot with several companies of soldiers under the command of General Winfield Scott ". They were on route to the war but the Asiatic cholera had broken out on board and then the disease was spread onshore. Another site said the Irish immigrants brought the disease to New York City where it was passed to the troops. Also that "federal soldiers from the east were recruited " to fight in the Black Hawk war. So it is entirely possible that my Philadelphia Palmer was fighting or attempting to fight in this war. I would greatly appreciate anything you find on any Palmers in the war. I did run across a Capt Palmer but I doubt that was my Palmer. I have been unable to find his wifes' name or their marriage in the Philadelphia area , so I am really drawing straws with this soldier. Thanks again for the reply- Diane General Atkinson with the regulars had gone down to Prairie Du Chien in the steamboat Warrior; the volunteers had marched down by land. Here they met Gen. Scott, who had been ordered from the East to take the chief command in this war. In eighteen days Gen. Scott had transported a regular force from Fortress Monroe on the Chesapeake Bay to Chicago. On their route up the lakes they were dreadfully afflicted with the Asiatic cholera, then a new and strange disease making its first appearance on the continent of America. It suddenly broke out among his troops at Detroit, about forty miles from which place two hundred and eight men were landed under the command of Colonel (now General) Twiggs, of whom it is said only nine survived. The main body under Gen. Scott came on to Chicago, but were attacked with the same disease at Mackinaw and by the time they arrived at Chicago the contagion was general; and within thirty days, ninety more were carried to their graves. Gen. Scott stayed at Chicago about a month, and reached the Mississippi at Rock Island some time in August 1832; but not until the decisive affair at the Bad Axe had terminated the war.GStevens
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Post by majmchenry on Nov 25, 2009 18:09:03 GMT -5
My guess is that is the soldier died of Cholera, he may have with Scotts troops and not militia, the records (to be found in Whitneys Black Hawk War) contain a lot of information on this subject.
GStevens
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Post by majmchenry on Nov 25, 2009 18:03:15 GMT -5
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Post by majmchenry on Nov 25, 2009 17:59:44 GMT -5
Illinois Militia Muster Rolls digitized...OK. Just as recent as last month I talked to the Northern Illinois Library and Illinois State Historical Society and they advised the rolls are not digitized. The Illinois Militia muster rolls are available through the Illinois Secretary of States Office web site
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Post by majmchenry on Nov 25, 2009 17:55:09 GMT -5
I have a signed copy of this book from the author. I find it to be a really good guide for anyone who has an interest in the Black Hawk War. It has maps, locations, desriptions and other photos. This book would be great for someone who was following the Black Hawk Trail and doing research.
Gene.S
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Post by majmchenry on Nov 25, 2009 17:49:31 GMT -5
Well being the author, it would be unfair of me to post an honest review. But what I will say is that it is not the first thing that Ive had published, but it is the first book and I would have done it differently and I learned a lot working with the publisher. I'm happy that I had the opportunity to set the record straight, on the down side, the publisher gave me a limited window to make corrections and that resulted in some typos which upset me, but the context remained in tact. My next step in the process was to approach the Adjudants Office of the Illinois National Guard in an attempt to properly recognize those who died there. The bottom line is that they were members of the Illinois Militia who were activated by the governor and under command of federal authority when they were attacked.
Eugene C Stevens Author Last Stand at Old Man's Creek The True and Correct Story of The Battle of Stillman's Run
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Post by majmchenry on Aug 14, 2009 1:59:11 GMT -5
Sorry Larry, its me Gene..I re-registered on the board due to being unable gain access, Major McHenry is one and the same Maj. McHenry who served in the BHW. I live in Mchenry, which was named for him. And I also portray him. Gene
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Post by majmchenry on Aug 9, 2009 23:57:28 GMT -5
We need to add here that the historic record(s) make direct mention of the type of gun that was used at Bad Axe.This gun does not fit the description as given, and Whitneys has several references to this weapon the orginal cannon, this information is readily available.
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Post by majmchenry on Aug 9, 2009 19:18:51 GMT -5
Actually, the Illinois Militia Rolls have been digitized and they are available online via the secretary of states of states office. You are correct, Whitneys Black Hawk War, have not been digitized, this is unfortunate, because it holds a plethora of information on the war that is extremely valuble to the serious researcher. I purchased a copy a few years back and paid $130.00 dollars for the set, it has assisted me greatly.
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