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Post by Robert Braun on Oct 10, 2002 11:06:38 GMT -5
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Post by Howitzer on Oct 14, 2002 9:38:39 GMT -5
Bob,
I inquired about your'e observation to Mike Doyle from the Register Star and he confirmed that there is a movement afoot to put markers in the county (Doyle teaches just across the hall from me at Belvidere High school). One marker that they are discussing is one located on Genoa Road just before the turn off to Annie Glidden Road. Behind a farm located there is supposedly the graves of two U.S. Regulars who succumbed to the effects of cholera (Fort Dearborn was suffering from a major outbreak at the time of Scott's arrival there). They were part of a contingent heading northward to what would eventually be the site of the city of Beloit. I have the microfilm of the records of the Fifth from the National Archives which confirms the death of at least two Regulars en route into Wisconsin (actually I believe there were five who didn't make it). As you probably know, the route taken by the Regulars led out of Dearborn on Army Trail Road to roughly where Sycamore, IL is located today. From there the detachment swung northward following the path of roughly Genoa Road (old plat maps from that era, when laid across present-day plat maps are virtually identical-we have both). Journals mention leaving a campsite located adjoining the South branch of the Kishwaukee River (present-day Genoa, IL) and later crossing what is the North branch of the Kishwaukee (which flows through Belvidere) and then camping at the site of a "small. winding creek" north of that body of water. At that time the ford for the Kish was roughly the area behind Dean's Foods and the Green Giant Factory in Belvidere which would place it on the eastern end of town. The only such creek that fits the bivouack description is Beaver Creek, north of Belvidere running roughly northeast to southwest into the Kishwaukee. A mutual friend of ours drove the route from Genoa north to Beaver Creek and the general description (including mileage mentioned) fits. It would be great to find the exact location because, according to records, at least one of the Regulars reported losing his breastplate from his cartridge box somewhere at the campsite. Wouldn't that make a great BLW artifact!
Howitzer
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