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Post by Larry Koschkee on Sept 17, 2003 8:08:06 GMT -5
Among the Ebenezer Brigham Papers at the Wisconsin State Historical Society there is a letter from Blue Mound Fort dated June 4th, 1832. The last half of the letter including the signature is missing. It is consigned to General Dodge.
"Sir
Having learned there had arrived at Galena some small cannon & swivels I have taken the liberty to ask your aid in getting one of them. The bearer Mr. Collins will proceed to Galena and should this request be granted return with all speed..."
My questions are:
1) My research indicates Brigham was not in a militia company and if that is the case would he have the authority to request artillary?
2) Whitney's BHW 1831-1832 states John Sherman was a captain of a militia company from May 20 to August 20, 1832 and took command at the Blue Mounds fort on June 14th. Who was the commandant at the fort before June 14th and if a name is provided would that have been the individual with authority to request artillary?
3) Is there a record of a shipment of "cannon & swivels" to Galena? If so where were they distributed? To the fort at Galena?
Larry Koschkee
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Post by Robert Braun on Sept 17, 2003 9:14:21 GMT -5
Among the Ebenezer Brigham Papers at the Wisconsin State Historical Society there is a letter from Blue Mound Fort dated June 4th, 1832. The last half of the letter including the signature is missing. It is consigned to General Dodge. "Sir Having learned there had arrived at Galena some small cannon & swivels I have taken the liberty to ask your aid in getting one of them. The bearer Mr. Collins will proceed to Galena and should this request be granted return with all speed..." My questions are: 1) My research indicates Brigham was not in a militia company and if that is the case would he have the authority to request artillary? 2) Whitney's BHW 1831-1832 states John Sherman was a captain of a militia company from May 20 to August 20, 1832 and took command at the Blue Mounds fort on June 14th. Who was the commandant at the fort before June 14th and if a name is provided would that have been the individual with authority to request artillary? 3) Is there a record of a shipment of "cannon & swivels" to Galena? If so where were they distributed? To the fort at Galena? Larry Koschkee Larry-- As usual, another very interesting posting!  I think I may have some answers for you... 1. Ebenezer Brigham is listed as the company commissary for John Sherman's company, with a muster-in date of May 20, 1832. I would presume that Brigham's authority may have stemmed from this position, or a similar posiuton in the early Blue Mounds company. 2. According to Corporal Esau Johnson, none other than William Griffith Aubrey was elected the first captain of the militia company at Blue Mounds. He was murdered by presumably Winnebago on June 6, but by then command of the company reverted to John Sherman. 3. If I recall, at least one of the swivels was transported by wagon to Mound Fort at the Blue Mounds, along with a wagonload of old muskets. I will need to check my files on this, as this is from memory. Hope this is of some help. Bob. |
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Post by Robert Braun on Sept 19, 2003 10:01:27 GMT -5
I haven't forgotten about you; I am still looking for my Mounds Fort info.  While I was looking, I noted that U. S. Quartermaster George B. Cole accepted delivery of two swivel guns at Fort Jackson on June 9, 1832. The information suggests that these guns MAY have been procured from the firm of G. W. and John Hutchinson, who was I think listed as a government contractor at that time. G. W. and John Hutchinson was located in Galena. Regards, Bob. |
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Post by Greg Carter on May 11, 2004 23:29:39 GMT -5
Adding on here a bit off subject, the members of the Tazewell Committee of Safety at Pekin had in their possession a 6-pdr mounted on wagon wheels. Another 6-pdr was located at one of the forts near Hennepin, IL.
GMC
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Jun 29, 2005 10:54:41 GMT -5
Colonel James M. Strode's Illinois 27th Regiment of Jo Daviess County Volunteers had a specific Artillery Company made up of 48 individuals. The company (May 15, 1832 to September 6, 1832) had two captains, J. R. B. Gardenier and Nicholas Dowling, the former resigning July 14th, 1832.
Can we assume this company was in charge of stationary artillery pieces installed in various fortifications of Galena and never left Galena during the BHW?
Is there evidence that some cannon may have been mounted on light field carriage here at Galena?
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Post by Robert Braun on Jul 1, 2005 11:08:50 GMT -5
Colonel James M. Strode's Illinois 27th Regiment of Jo Daviess County Volunteers had a specific Artillery Company made up of 48 individuals. The company (May 15, 1832 to September 6, 1832) had two captains, J. R. B. Gardenier and Nicholas Dowling, the former resigning July 14th, 1832. Can we assume this company was in charge of stationary artillery pieces installed in various fortifications of Galena and never left Galena during the BHW? Is there evidence that some cannon may have been mounted on light field carriage here at Galena? Larry, while I have not exhaustively researched this particular company, I think your interpretation is reasonable. I will need to do a little more digging to see if a company of 48 men made sense for the pieces of artillery supposed to be present at the fort and blockhouses in Galena. I do not have an answer for your second question, beyond the theory and indications from the literature that most BHW artillery was meant to be a supplementary defense for forts and strongpoints, and not for field or "flying battery" use. Regards, Bob Braun |
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