Post by Cliff Krainik on Nov 13, 2004 21:02:46 GMT -5
The Massacre During the Black Hawk War on Turkey Creek,
Near Aurora, Illinois.
1832.
By Charles A. Love
Near Aurora, Illinois.
1832.
By Charles A. Love
The Paymaster for the United States Army and a small party were proceeding to Galena, with a chest containing four hundred dollars in silver, during the Black Hawk War. At the place where the Indian trail crossed Turkey Creek, near where Aurora now stands, but then not settled, the party was attacked by Indians and all killed, except Private Caswell, who was mortally wounded and died before he finished telling that the chest of silver was buried by a white rock, about three hundred paces from where the trail crossed Turkey Creek.
The granite boulder at 201 Prairie Street answers the description of the rock at 275 paces from the crossing of the trail. Parts of the trail can still be seen.
The war was on, and Black Hawk’s braves
Had fled the land to Koshkonong.
Galena’s folk had welcomed Scott,
And thanked the Lord in prayer and song.
To pay the wage for service borne
By soldiers brave in Scott’s command,
The chest of coin to be conveyed
By trail and scout and soldier band.
The trail that led to far northwest,
To cross the Fox and Turkey Creek,
Through Hankes’ Grove and Chin-no-kee,
And gravel hills with pointed peak.
The morn was sweet with heavenly dew,
The day was fine and noon was high–
A day in June with leaf and flower
To hold the sense and paint the sky.
The creek with song and gurgles filled,
Invoked the way as free from harm;
The soldier train with coin and care
To cross the creek without alarm.
Crash! Bang! The muskets rang,
From ambush in the hills.
The soldier band, by fatal hand,
Their faithful heart beat stills.
The treasure lost? Oh, mercy, no!
The wounded Caswell drags his form
And silvere chest with pain, and slow,
To granite rock—a hero born.
The sacred treasure buried there,
The hero, Caswell, crawls away;
And tells the searchers, while they stare,
That all are dead—and he expires.
The massacre on Turkey Creek,
Where Caswell’s mother used to weep–
Preserve the spot and sacred keep
The granite rock on Prairie Street."
Photograph caption:
This stone marks spot where General Scott’s paymaster’s chest containing $400 in silver was buried at time of massacre on Turkey Creek, 1832. Now 201 Prairie Street, Aurora, Illinois.
Source:
Love, Charles A. “The Massacre During the Black Hawk War on Turkey Creek, Near Aurora, Illinois, 1832.” Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Vol. 9, No. 3 (October 1916), pp.300-302.
_____________________________________________
First, let me state that I was unable to find any reference to the “Turkey Creek Massacre” in Armstrong, The Sauks and the Black Hawk War, 1887; Stevens, The Black Hawk War, 1903; or Whitney, The Black Hawk War, 1970. Overall the story has the ring of a fanciful legend complete with buried treasure and a dying declaration.
Here are just a few questions I would like the Black Hawk War Message Board members to consider -
Mr. Love states -
“Paymaster for the United States Army and a small party were proceeding to Galena, with a chest containing four hundred dollars in silver, during the Black Hawk War.”
The PAYMASTER for the U.S. Army? Who was that officer? Wouldn’t his death receive some notice?
Where was this party coming from? Fort Dearborn?
Why were they bringing payment to Galena?
Mr. Love continues -
“... the party was attacked by Indians and all killed, except Private Caswell, who was mortally wounded and died before he finished telling that the chest of silver was buried by a white rock, about three hundred paces from where the trail crossed Turkey Creek.”
Who attacked them - Sac, Fox, Kickapoo, Ho-Chunk (Winnebego), Pottowottomie?
Where were the soldiers buried?
Do we have any information about Private Caswell?
Would a mortally wounded soldier find time or have the interest to set about burying a Paymaster’s chest?
Was ther Paymaster's chest ever recovered?
Then Mr. Love breaks into verse -
“By soldiers brave in Scott’s command,
The chest of coin to be conveyed
By trail and scout and soldier band.”
The morn was sweet with heavenly dew,
The day was fine and noon was high–
A day in June with leaf and flower
To hold the sense and paint the sky.”
General Winfield Scott left Ft. Dearborn (Chicago) for Galena via Dixon's Ferry on the morning of July 29 [Whitney, Vol II, 904-905], yet the story teller of the “Turkey Creek Massacre” states that the event took place on “A day in June.”
In fact, Scott’s force did not arrive at Fort Dearborn until July 10th - so, it seems unlikely that his men could have been massacred in June.
Finally, can anyone tell me if the “Treasure Rock” still resides at 201 Prairie Street, Aurora, Illinois? [Please don’t make me drive from Virginia to look for this.]
Your comments are invited.
Cliff Krainik[/b]
