Waddam's Grove

[Greg Carter]

During the brief skirmish at Waddam's Grove, several militia, including Captain Stevenson, were severely wounded or killed, and reportedly so was one indian. Is there any better information on what happened at that battle, and also is there any information on a more conclusive answer to the location of the battlefield? Gary Price of the Lena Winslow Historical Society said that the present-day whistle stop north of Lena is not the site of the original settlement, or grove.
GMC

[Robert Braun]

Greg, your source may be correct as to the location of the original Waddam's Grove. I am inclined to think that the skirmish was fought NEAR there, but not actually at Waddam's Grove.

Captain Stephenson's men, about telve from his ranger company from Galena, and about nine meen from Captain Clack Stone's Company at Apple River Fort, chased a party of some seven Sauk warriors, who had been allegedly stealing horses in the vicinity of ARF.

On June 18 (two days after the skirmish at Bloody Pond on the Pecatonica River) Stephenson's men caught up with the Sauk about 12 miles east of Kellogg's Grove, on Yellow River southeast of Waddam's Grove in Stephenson County. The militia hotly pursued the Sauk northeast for several miles. A short distance northeast of Waddam's Grove, Stephenson follows the Indians into a thicket.

Ordering his men to dismount, Stephenson attempted to sweep the thicket in order to draw Sauk fire and have the Indians reveal their position, but the Sauk refuse to fire. Stephenson then impatiently details a horse-guard and sends his remaining men charging into the thicket at the unseen Indians.

An exchange of fire left one volunteer shot as the men retired from the thicket to reload. Stephenson ordered two more charges into the thicket, losing one man with each charge. In the final charge, a brief hand-to-hand struggle ensued. with one Sauk stabbed in the neck and killed by Volunteer Thomas Sublet stabbed one warrior in the neck and killed him, presumably with a bayonet.

With both sides fighting with empty weapons and Stephenson severely wounded, the militia withdrew a third time from the thicket. Unsure of the strength of the Sauk war-party, the volunteers leave their dead-- Charles Eames, Stephen P. Howard, and Michael Lovell-- behind and strike out for Galena for help. They arrive the next day, and Col. Strode immediately ordered a column of militia to depart Galena for the battle site.

On June 20, the companies of Captain James Craig and Captain Stephenson return to the site of the June 18 skirmish to bury the three dead volunteers, and reportedly, the dead Sauk.

Stephenson did not die. He eventually recovered, and was pormoted to the rank of Major and served in the Michigan Mounted Volunteers. He spent much time at home recovering. Whether he actually served as Dodge's second-in-command is an open question. We know from Dodge's correspondence that Stephenson was still at home recuperating when Dodge wrote him about the battle at Wisconsin Heights.

[Greg Carter]

Bob,

Thanks for the tip on the fighting. Do you recall any mentions of terrain? I can't personally think of any, besides the thick brush they had to deal with.

GMC

[Greg Carter]

Thanks to some help from the Stephenson County Historical Society, I have found, or more appropriately narrowed down the exact location of the battlefield. I will present my findings at the next OLRHS meeting I guess.

GMC

[Larry Koschkee]

GMC... how about sharing your findings with non OLRHS members. We are hungry for this type of information as well.

Thanks alot !

Larry

[Greg Carter]

Larry,

Once I confirm what I was able to find out this past week I will post it on here. Don't worry about that. I want to narrow down the exact spot before I send anyone on a wild goose chase. I have it pretty close, but in my research I found that a flood in the 1960's slightly altered the courses of both "yellow" creek and also the Pecatonica River, so I have to look at a pre-dating map to narrow it down. Now that I have jackjawed long enough, I'll again say that it will be up here soon enough.

GMC

[germanmike]

I believe the original settlement of Waddam's Grove is east of the present site on Stagecoach Trail and then northeast on Hairpin Road to the next intersection. There is a plaque erected there stating as much.

[Robert Braun]

Hello... I would direct you to Greg Carter's work on the fight at Yellow Creek at www.geocities.com/old_lead/waddam.htm

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