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Post by Robert Braun on Apr 8, 2004 12:19:09 GMT -5
Why was Apple River Fort so ill-prepared to deal with an Indian presence they surely KNEW was in the region?
Bob.
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Post by Greg Carter on Apr 9, 2004 0:59:14 GMT -5
You raise a good question, and a question almost exclusive to the forts in the Illinois lead district! Could it be possible that with severing of communications via the Galena Road that the settlers near ARF were out of touch with what was going on?
However, even if this was the case, why still did they have no supply of reserve ammunition, cartridges, etc?
One Moc
A side note- the blockhouse at Plum River was attacked in the same manner- one man was out hunting, another off to Galena, the remainder not paying attention. A barking dog is all that saved them from being wiped out.- GMC
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Post by Robert Braun on Apr 12, 2004 10:30:37 GMT -5
You raise a good question, and a question almost exclusive to the forts in the Illinois lead district! Could it be possible that with severing of communications via the Galena Road that the settlers near ARF were out of touch with what was going on? However, even if this was the case, why still did they have no supply of reserve ammunition, cartridges, etc? One Moc A side note- the blockhouse at Plum River was attacked in the same manner- one man was out hunting, another off to Galena, the remainder not paying attention. A barking dog is all that saved them from being wiped out.- GMC Greg.. you raise some good questions. here are some points to consider: Indian presence.It stands to reason that Captain Clack Stone HAD to know of a persistant Indain presence, despite the lack of communication along the Kellogg Road since the St. Vrain massacre. REASONS: The horse corral raids on June 8 and June 17-- the latter precipitated the fight at Waddam's Grove, where two local Apple Rvier settlement men were killed. Several militiamen from Stone's Company were present at that fight and one was killed at Waddam's Grove! Perhaps the arrival of Captain Iles' company lulled them into a false sense of security? Maybe, but this idea doesn't seem to fit the chronology. Stone's CompanyNoone has adequately explained WHERE the bulk of Captain Stone's company WAS at the time of the June 24 attack. He only had thirteen available militiamen-- less than half of his available roster!  Where were the rest? At home, perhaps under the condition they could be "called up" like "minutemen?" Where was the rest of his company? Running bulletsThe story of the women and children "running bullets" for the defenders indicated either a.) the rapid firing of the defenders rapidly depleated available bullets; b.) the stocks of fort-stored musket/rifle balls were a different caliber that those used by many of the defenders (hence unusable), and/or c.) Stone didn't have enough musket/rifle balls stored at the fort. Support for the latter contention seems to come from the relief implied by one eyewitness at the arrival of the wagon of lead and meat from Galena that same morning. Was Clack Stone simply unprepared for a fight, or was he awaiting resupply via requisition as a result of ammunition expended at the Waddams Grove fight? Pondering on.... Bob. |
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Where were the rest? At home, perhaps under the condition they could be "called up" like "minutemen?" Where was the rest of his company?