Post by Larry Koschkee on Jul 24, 2005 20:24:38 GMT -5
General Henry Atkinson called up three Indian volunteer companies to serve in the United States Army. Two companies were formed in the Michigan Territory and one from the state of Illinois
1) Colonel William Hamilton lead a company made up of Sioux, Menomonie and Winnebago Indians.
2) Colonel Samuel Stambaugh lead a company of Menomonie Indians.
3) The Illinois company of Potawatomi Indians was commanded by George Elmore Walker. Walker was a private in Captain George McFadden's company that was "Enrolled 24th. May for 30 days." In research it is not clear to me when Walker became a Captain of the Potawatomi company. Perhaps others on this message board could assist me on this point.
I became curious about this company when I came across a reference to it in an old newspaper article titled "Black Hawk's War" wrote by John T. Kingston. The article was found on the Wisconsin State Historical Society website. It was published near the turn of the 20th century. Kingston was an antagonist of Reuben G. Thwaites who had a tendency to romanticize the frontier and specifically in regards to the BHW -- blame the white men first.
Kingston was upset with a Thwaites lecture where he talked about the militia chasing Black Hawk and followers through the Four Lake, killing the sick and infirm Indians. A quote from Thwaites lecture. "The chase was hot, and the old Indians were unable to keep up with the younger bucks. The stragglers were cruelly murdered, one old man was killed and scalped on university hill."
To this statement Kingston replies: "Now, as to the facts of the killing of the old man mentioned on university hill. At the time Black Hawk and his band were on the march up Rock river and around by the lakes pursued by the whites Alexander Robinson was chief of the Potawatomi Indians, and George E. Walker, captain in the Illinois state militia, enlisted a band of about eighty Pottawatomie braves at Chicago and started for the Four Lakes to join Gen. Atkinson, whom they expected to meet near that locality, and offer their services to the government.
I knew both those men intimately and will give the occurrence as told me by Capt. Walker and subsequently coroborated by Robinson in every particular, I heard Robinson relate the same occurrence as late as 1842.
"We made directly for the four lakes, expecting to find the whites at or near that locality. Arriving on the height of ground between the third and fourth lakes we saw a large collection of tents down near the shore of third lake, which we supposed to belong to Black Hawk and his band. After a few moments consultation between Robinson and his Indians, he gave the Indian war whoop and charged down on the collection of tents, followed by the whole band. I considered this a rather rash proceeding but under the circumstances my own saftey was to follow. Arriving at the encampment we found the tents all deserted, except by one old Indian who had been left to his fate. Being in the rear, when I arrived I found the old blind Indian, sitting on the ground singing his death song, surrounded by Robinson's Indians. I tried to have them spare his life on the grounds that he was old and blind and could do no harm. The reply was, he has done harm. I turned and rode away and shortly after saw an Indian with the old man's scalp."
It is apparent that Kingston was countering Thwaites reference to "ruthless characters" (militia), but is there truth to Walker's account of the shooting?
Many questions arise placing the Potawatomi company at the four lakes and more specifically between the third and fourth lake.
Research in Whitney's and Crawford Thayer's books do not place the company at the four lakes. Thayer does not make reference to the company at all. As stated in Whitney - Atkinson letter to Thomas Owen dated June 16th 1832. - "...it will not be necessary for the Pottowattowatomie war party under Mr Caldwell & Robenson to set out earlier than will enable them to join us in eight days near the mouth Pikatollica." In addition,Whitney places the company with General Atkinson on the 27th of June found in the dairy of Albert S. Johnston.
"27th June 1832 Dixon's Ferry Young Walker a resident of the mouth of Fox river and some Pottawatamies arrived, he reported the arrival of Chaboni & 75 warriors at Sycamore Creek."
The muster roll on page 560-562, Whitney Vol I, Illinois Volunteers, shows enrollment of the company from June 29th to July 22, 1832. "Discharged July 22nd. 1832 - except Caldwell - Way-bon-esee-Chamblee & Perish Le Clair - at the Quisconsin"
Atkinson left the Koshkonong on the 21st headed for Fort Blue Mounds. The most practical route would have skirted the four lakes to the south. Albert S. Johnston's dairy accounts indicated this to be the case.
"21st July...The troops crossed Rock river at the Ford below Fort Cosonong & encamped this was a hard day's march it having rained all day.
22d July. Marched 8 miles south of the River of the Four Lakes & encamped
23rd July. Marched to 2 miles west of Devits
24th July. Marched to the Blue Mounds troops suffered much for Water today"
Assuming the Potawatomi were with him it is conceivable that they were out ahead of Atkinson's column in a spy capacity and may have travelled through the four lakes and came upon Black Hawk's camp prior to or after Henry and Dodge went through on the 21st.
I guess I am just talking out loud here in reaction to the Walker/Robinson claim they were between the third and fourth lake. As with many of the accounts pertaining to the BHW something does not appear correct.
Larry
Post Script - modern mileage calculation estimates for Atkinson's march from Fort Koshkonong to the Blue Mounds...
Fort Koshkonong via Exeter to Fort Blue Mounds - 92 miles
Info on Potawatomi Chief Alexander Robinson ( Che Che Pin Qua) of Scothish and Indian decent may be found on the following website:
www.franklinparklibrary.org/localhistory/images/people/robinson.htm
1) Colonel William Hamilton lead a company made up of Sioux, Menomonie and Winnebago Indians.
2) Colonel Samuel Stambaugh lead a company of Menomonie Indians.
3) The Illinois company of Potawatomi Indians was commanded by George Elmore Walker. Walker was a private in Captain George McFadden's company that was "Enrolled 24th. May for 30 days." In research it is not clear to me when Walker became a Captain of the Potawatomi company. Perhaps others on this message board could assist me on this point.
I became curious about this company when I came across a reference to it in an old newspaper article titled "Black Hawk's War" wrote by John T. Kingston. The article was found on the Wisconsin State Historical Society website. It was published near the turn of the 20th century. Kingston was an antagonist of Reuben G. Thwaites who had a tendency to romanticize the frontier and specifically in regards to the BHW -- blame the white men first.
Kingston was upset with a Thwaites lecture where he talked about the militia chasing Black Hawk and followers through the Four Lake, killing the sick and infirm Indians. A quote from Thwaites lecture. "The chase was hot, and the old Indians were unable to keep up with the younger bucks. The stragglers were cruelly murdered, one old man was killed and scalped on university hill."
To this statement Kingston replies: "Now, as to the facts of the killing of the old man mentioned on university hill. At the time Black Hawk and his band were on the march up Rock river and around by the lakes pursued by the whites Alexander Robinson was chief of the Potawatomi Indians, and George E. Walker, captain in the Illinois state militia, enlisted a band of about eighty Pottawatomie braves at Chicago and started for the Four Lakes to join Gen. Atkinson, whom they expected to meet near that locality, and offer their services to the government.
I knew both those men intimately and will give the occurrence as told me by Capt. Walker and subsequently coroborated by Robinson in every particular, I heard Robinson relate the same occurrence as late as 1842.
"We made directly for the four lakes, expecting to find the whites at or near that locality. Arriving on the height of ground between the third and fourth lakes we saw a large collection of tents down near the shore of third lake, which we supposed to belong to Black Hawk and his band. After a few moments consultation between Robinson and his Indians, he gave the Indian war whoop and charged down on the collection of tents, followed by the whole band. I considered this a rather rash proceeding but under the circumstances my own saftey was to follow. Arriving at the encampment we found the tents all deserted, except by one old Indian who had been left to his fate. Being in the rear, when I arrived I found the old blind Indian, sitting on the ground singing his death song, surrounded by Robinson's Indians. I tried to have them spare his life on the grounds that he was old and blind and could do no harm. The reply was, he has done harm. I turned and rode away and shortly after saw an Indian with the old man's scalp."
It is apparent that Kingston was countering Thwaites reference to "ruthless characters" (militia), but is there truth to Walker's account of the shooting?
Many questions arise placing the Potawatomi company at the four lakes and more specifically between the third and fourth lake.
Research in Whitney's and Crawford Thayer's books do not place the company at the four lakes. Thayer does not make reference to the company at all. As stated in Whitney - Atkinson letter to Thomas Owen dated June 16th 1832. - "...it will not be necessary for the Pottowattowatomie war party under Mr Caldwell & Robenson to set out earlier than will enable them to join us in eight days near the mouth Pikatollica." In addition,Whitney places the company with General Atkinson on the 27th of June found in the dairy of Albert S. Johnston.
"27th June 1832 Dixon's Ferry Young Walker a resident of the mouth of Fox river and some Pottawatamies arrived, he reported the arrival of Chaboni & 75 warriors at Sycamore Creek."
The muster roll on page 560-562, Whitney Vol I, Illinois Volunteers, shows enrollment of the company from June 29th to July 22, 1832. "Discharged July 22nd. 1832 - except Caldwell - Way-bon-esee-Chamblee & Perish Le Clair - at the Quisconsin"
Atkinson left the Koshkonong on the 21st headed for Fort Blue Mounds. The most practical route would have skirted the four lakes to the south. Albert S. Johnston's dairy accounts indicated this to be the case.
"21st July...The troops crossed Rock river at the Ford below Fort Cosonong & encamped this was a hard day's march it having rained all day.
22d July. Marched 8 miles south of the River of the Four Lakes & encamped
23rd July. Marched to 2 miles west of Devits
24th July. Marched to the Blue Mounds troops suffered much for Water today"
Assuming the Potawatomi were with him it is conceivable that they were out ahead of Atkinson's column in a spy capacity and may have travelled through the four lakes and came upon Black Hawk's camp prior to or after Henry and Dodge went through on the 21st.
I guess I am just talking out loud here in reaction to the Walker/Robinson claim they were between the third and fourth lake. As with many of the accounts pertaining to the BHW something does not appear correct.
Larry
Post Script - modern mileage calculation estimates for Atkinson's march from Fort Koshkonong to the Blue Mounds...
Fort Koshkonong via Exeter to Fort Blue Mounds - 92 miles
Info on Potawatomi Chief Alexander Robinson ( Che Che Pin Qua) of Scothish and Indian decent may be found on the following website:
www.franklinparklibrary.org/localhistory/images/people/robinson.htm
