1832. I sent the yawl boat on shore soon after with General Scott

and a number of the volunteer officers, who accompanied him on his expedition against the hostile tribes, who, with Black Hawk, had committed many depredations. Before landing the troops next morning, we were under the painful necessity of committing three more to the deep, who died during the night, making in all sixteen who were thus consigned to a watery grave. These three were anchored to the bottom in two and a half fathoms, the water being so clear that their forms could be plainly seen from our decks. This unwelcome sight created such excitement, working upon the superstitious fears of some of the crew, that prudence dictated that we weigh anchor and move a distance sufficient to shut from sight a scene which seemed to haunt the imagination and influence the mind with thoughts of some portentous evil. “In the course of the day and night following eighteen others died, and we interred their bodies not far from the spot where the American Temperance House (northwest corner Lake Street and Wabash Avenue) has since been erected. The earth that was removed to cover one made a grave to receive the next that died. All were buried without coffins or shrouds, except their blankets, which served for a winding sheet, and there left, as it were, without remembrance or a stone to mark their resting place. During the four days we remained at Chicago fifty-four more died, making an aggregate of eighty-eight who paid the debt of nature.” The disease was dreadful enough, but its reputation had spread such consternation abroad that Scott was compelled to write to Governor Reynolds a letter, asking for it general circulation, to allay the fright of the people: “Headquarters, Northwest Army, Chicago, July 15, 1832. “Sir:–To prevent or to correct the exaggerations of rumor in respect to the existence of cholera at this place, I address myself to your Excellency. Four steamers were engaged at Buffalo to transport United States troops and supplies to Chicago. In the headmost of these boats, the Sheldon Thompson, I, with my staff and four companies, a part of Colonel Eustis’ command, arrived here on the night of the 10th inst. On the 8th, all on board were in high health and spirits, but the next morning six cases of undoubted cholera presented themselves. The disease rapidly spread itself for the next three days. About 120 persons have been affected. Under a late act of Congress six companies of rangers are to be raised and marched to this place. General Dodge of Michigan is appointed major of the battalion, and I have seen the names of the captains, but I do not know where to address them. I am afraid that the report from this place in respect to cholera may seriously retard the raising of this force. I wish, therefore, that your Excellency would give publicity to the measures I have adopted to prevent the spread of this disease and of my determination not to allow any junction or communication between uninfected and infected troops. The war is not at an end and may not be brought to a close for some time. The rangers may reach the theater of operations in time to give the final blow. As they approach this place I shall take care of their health and general wants. “I write in great haste, and may not have time to cause my letter to be copied. It will be put in some postoffice to be forthwith forwarded. I have the honor to be your Excellency’s most obedient servant, “WINFIELD SCOTT. “His Excellency, GOVERNOR REYNOLDS. From Fort Gratiot the remnant of the troops proceeded around the lakes, hopeful that no further signs of the cholera would appear. In this Scott was gratified until the shores of Mackinac were reached, when, notwithstanding the utmost care of his troops, another case suddenly developed, and from that hour until the expedition reached Chicago, July 10th, and from thence into the fort, which became a hospital, it continued its relentless ravages, until the last of the month, at which time, by Scott’s tireless exertions, it was thought to have been thoroughly eradicated.[254] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration: MAJ. GEN. WINFIELD SCOTT.] [Illustration: GEN. SCOTT’s HEADQUARTERS AT FORT ARMSTRONG.] [Illustration: LIEUT. JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON, U.S.A] [Illustration: MAJ. WILLIAM WHISTLER, U.S.A] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [255]At this time Major William Whistler was commandant of Fort Dearborn, which contained one company of infantry under the immediate command of Capt. Seth Johnson, with Samuel G.I. DeCamp, Surgeon; Julius J.B. Kingsbury, First Lieutenant, and Hannibal Day, James W. Penrose and Edwin R. Long, Second Lieutenants. In many narratives of this expedition, it has been stated that Scott arrived before Fort Dearborn July 8th, but the letters heretofore copied herein, and which should be accurate, make the date July 10th, and that is the date which should be considered in all future references to the subject. Here, for want of harbor facilities, Scott was compelled to unload his men in boats one-half mile out and row them to shore.[256] In all this long journey, with its horrors, and in his long stay at Fort Dearborn, Scott never wearied in his ministrations to the suffering men, whose brows he smoothed as they died in agony, trying with a last gasp to bless him for his patient and loving care. In many a campaign did this fine old hero distinguish himself, but in none did he win more fame than in this, against an enemy with whom he could not treat; in which, as he subsequently stated to John Wentworth: “Sentinals were of no use in warning of the enemy’s approach. He could not storm his works, fortify against him, nor cut his way out, nor make terms of capitulation. There was no respect for a flag of truce and his men were falling upon all sides from an enemy in his very midst.”[257] Among those who sought fortune in this war were most of a class of forty-five cadets of the class of 1832. Twenty-nine of them left Buffalo for the Black Hawk campaign, but nearly all were sent back from Fort Gratiot.[258] On board the ship, amidst stifling air, the dying and dead; on land, in hospital–a very pest house–everywhere, was Scott; and not until the last case had disappeared did he think of relinquishing his fatherly care of the suffering soldiers. Then, on July 29th,[259] finding the spread of the contagion once more checked, he set out with three staff officers for Prairie du Chien, following the route subsequently adopted in 1834 as the mail route from Galena to Chicago, via Fort Payne,[260] Naperville, Aurora, along through what subsequently became DeKalb County, across Lee, up to Dixon’s Ferry, arriving there August 2d with the report that the troops under Eustis were en route for Dixon’s, and leaving on the same day for Galena, which he reached August 3d with his staff officers, Captains Patrick H. Gait, Hartman Bache and William Maynadier. Leaving Galena on the 5th, on the steamboat Warrior, for Fort Crawford, at Prairie du Chien, that point in turn was reached August 7th, when and where he assumed command of the entire army. His first act was to order the discharge of the volunteer forces, which immediately marched to Dixon’s Ferry for that purpose, Dodge’s battalion excepted, and then on the 10th, at 6 o’clock, he started down the Mississippi for Fort Armstrong, on the boat Warrior, with two companies of U.S. Infantry, eight members of the Sixth Infantry and General Atkinson and staff, transferring the scene to Fort Armstrong.[261] On the 11th Port Armstrong was reached. On leaving Chicago, Scott left orders for Lieut.-Col. Abraham Eustis to follow his general route to Fort Crawford with all the well troops which had arrived, or might arrive before the 3d August,[262] which Colonel Eustis did, but upon reaching Dixon’s Ferry an express from Scott informed the Colonel of the termination of the war and ordered him to follow Rock River down its left bank, along the route used by Atkinson, to its mouth, and establish his camp at Fort Armstrong on Rock Island. On this march Colonel Eustis reached Dixon’s Ferry on the 17th,[263] resting there until the 22d of August,[264] when he moved down to Fort Armstrong and camped a short distance from the mouth of Rock River, about four miles from Atkinson’s men. On the 12th Scott sent Lieutenant Buchanan on the steamboat Warrior to bring down all prisoners[265] surrendered to that period, after which he began the examination of witnesses to ascertain the names of those who actively assisted Black Hawk and those who were his passive allies, in order to act intelligently in adjusting the treaties expected to be made September 10th, with reference to the settlement of damages sustained by the United States. On the evening of the 13th Keokuk, with fifty or sixty Sacs and Foxes, arrived in camp and reported that he had visited all the Sac and Fox villages, and that none of Black Hawk’s band had yet arrived. He further reported that he had ordered forty-two braves in the direction of the “Ioway,” to intercept and bring in any stragglers as they might appear. On the 14th Keokuk delivered to Scott a brave who had murdered a white man, just before, in the vicinity of the Yellow Banks. On the 15th Atkinson, with his staff, viz., Lieutenants Johnston, Wheelwright and Dorrance, and Captains Smith, Rogers and Hatton, Sixth Infantry, and Lieutenant Richardson, left on the steamboat Warrior for St. Louis. On or about the 26th of August the cholera again broke out with unusual virulence,[266] and again Scott actively participated in conquering it. So many Indians became affected that it became necessary to dismiss them all until they could be re-assembled by special summons. The following order became imperative: “Assistant Adjutant-General’s Office, Fort Armstrong, August 28th, 1832. Order No. 16. “1. The cholera has made its appearance on Rock Island. The two first cases were brought by mistake from Captain Ford’s company of U.S. Rangers; one of those died yesterday, the other is convalescent. A second death occurred this morning in the hospital in Fort Armstrong. The man was of the 4th Infantry and had been there some time under treatment for debility. The ranger now convalescent was in the same hospital with him for sixteen hours before a cholera hospital could be established outside the camp and fort. “2. It is believed that all these men were of intemperate habits. The Ranger who is dead, it is known, generated this disease within him by a fit of intoxication. “3. This disease having appeared among the Rangers[267] and on this island, all in commission are called upon to exert themselves to the utmost to stop the spread of the calamity. “4. Sobriety, cleanliness of person, cleanliness of camp and quarters, together with care in the preparation of the men’s messes, are the grand preventives. No neglect under these important heads will be overlooked or tolerated. “5. In addition to the foregoing, the Senior Surgeon present recommends the use of flannel shirts, flannel drawers and woolen stockings; but the Commanding General, who has seen much of this disease, knows that it is intemperance which, in the present state of the atmosphere, generates and spreads the calamity, and that, when once spread, good and temperate men are likely to take the infection. “6. He therefore peremptorily commands that every soldier or Ranger who shall be found drunk or sensibly intoxicated after the publication of this order, be compelled, as soon as his strength will permit, to dig a grave at a suitable burying place large enough for his own reception, as such grave cannot fail soon to be wanted for the drunken man himself or some drunken companion. “7. This order is given as well to serve for the punishment of drunkenness as to spare good and temperate men the labor of digging graves for their worthless companions. “8. The sanitary regulations now in force respecting communications between the camp near the mouth of Rock River and other camps and posts in the neighborhood are revoked. (They had provided for sending all the sick to the hospital on Rock Island.) Colonel Eustis, however, whose troops are perfectly free from cholera, will report to the Commanding General whether he believes it for the safety of his command that these regulations should be renewed. “By order of Major-General Scott, P.H. GALT, Ass’t Adjutant-General.” Cold rains fell; many soldiers were afforded protection from them only by the most miserable of tents, and soon out of 300 cases there were fifty deaths. Finally, as a last resort, the men were removed across the river, where the last case disappeared. It has been said that in this last visitation the Rangers suffered most.[268] At the time of the appearance of the cholera the three Sacs were confined in the military prison at Fort Armstrong on a charge of complicity in the murder of the Menominees near Prairie du Chien on the 31st of July, 1831. By reason of the cholera, General Scott set them at liberty, taking their promise to return upon the exhibition of a certain signal to be hung from the limb of a dead tree at an elevated point of the island when the epidemic should be over. The signal was subsequently hung up, and, true to their parole, the Indians reported themselves. They were again paroled and subsequently released.[269] Having again checked the disease, Scott sent out the summons to the Winnebagoes, who assembled on the 15th[270] to sign a new treaty. Before proceeding with its details it was considered best to prepare them for the forfeitures they must necessarily sustain by reason of their assistance to Black Hawk at nearly all stages of the campaign, as ascertained by the examinations of witnesses: “Such is justice between nation and nation, against which none can rightfully complain; but as God, in his dealings with human creatures, tempers justice with mercy–or else the whole race of man would soon have perished–so shall we, commissioners, in humble imitation of divine example, now treat you, my red brethren, who have offended both against God and your great human father at Washington.”[271] Thereupon the following treaty was made and signed, on the 21st day of September, 1832, and promulgated by the President’s proclamation, February 13th, 1833, after having been ratified by the Senate: ARTICLES OF A TREATY OF PEACE, FRIENDSHIP AND CESSION, concluded at Fort Armstrong, Rock Island, Illinois, between the United States of America, by their Commissioners, Major-General Winfield Scott, of the United States Army, and His Excellency John Reynolds, Governor of the State of Illinois, and the confederated tribes of Sac and Fox Indians, represented in general council by the undersigned Chiefs, Headmen and Warriors. WHEREAS, Under certain lawless and desperate leaders a formidable band, constituting a large portion of the Sac and Fox nation, left their country in April last, and, in violation of treaties, commenced an unprovoked war upon unsuspecting and defenseless citizens of the United States, sparing neither age nor sex; and whereas, the United States, at a great expense of treasure, have subdued the said hostile band, killing or capturing all its principal chiefs and warriors, the said States, partly as indemnity for the expense incurred, and partly to secure the future safety and tranquility of the invaded frontier, demand of the said tribes, to the use of the United States, a cession of a tract of the Sac and Fox country, bordering on said frontier, more than proportional to the numbers of the hostile band who have been so conquered and subdued. Article I. Accordingly, the confederated tribes of Sacs and Foxes hereby cede to the United States forever all the lands to which the said tribes have title or claim (with the exception of the reservation hereinafter made) included within the following bounds, to-wit: Beginning on the Mississippi River, at the point where the Sac and Fox northern boundary line, as established by the second article of the treaty of Prairie du Chien of the fifteenth of July, one thousand eight hundred and thirty, strikes said river; thence, up said boundary line to a point fifty miles from the Mississippi, measured on said line; thence, in a right line, to the nearest point on the Red Cedar of the Ioway, forty miles from the Mississippi River; thence in a right line to a point in the northern boundary line of the State of Missouri, fifty miles, measured on said boundary, from the Mississippi River; thence by the last-mentioned boundary to the Mississippi River, and by the western shore of said river to the place of beginning. And the said confederated tribes of Sacs and Foxes hereby stipulate and agree to remove from the lands herein ceded to the United States, on or before the first day of June next; and in order to prevent any future misunderstanding it is expressly understood that no band or party of the Sac or Fox tribes shall reside, plant, fish or hunt on any portion of the ceded country after the period just mentioned. Article II. Out of the cession made in the preceding article the United States agree to a reservation for the use of the said confederated tribes of a tract of land containing four hundred square miles, to be laid off under the directions of the President of the United States, from the boundary line crossing the Ioway River, in such manner that nearly an equal portion of the reservation may be on both sides of said river, and extending downwards, so as to include Ke-o-kuk’s principal village on its right bank, which village is about twelve miles from the Mississippi River. Article III. In consideration of the great extent of the foregoing cession, the United States stipulate and agree to pay to the said confederated tribes annually, for thirty successive years, the first payment to be made in September of the next year, the sum of twenty thousand dollars in specie. Article IV. It is further agreed that the United States shall establish and maintain within the limits, and for the use and benefit of the Sacs and Foxes, for the period of thirty years, one additional black and gunsmith shop, with the necessary tools, iron and steel; and finally make a yearly allowance for the same period, to the said tribes, of forty kegs of tobacco and forty barrels of salt, to be delivered at the mouth of the Ioway River. Article V. The United States, at the earnest request of the said confederated tribes, further agree to pay to Farnham and Davenport, Indian traders at Rock Island, the sum of forty thousand dollars without interest, which sum will be in full satisfaction of the claims of the said traders against the said tribes, and by the latter was, on the tenth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-one, acknowledged to be justly due for articles of necessity, furnished, in the course of the seven preceding years, in an instrument of writing of said date, duly signed by the Chiefs and Headmen of said tribes, and certified by the late Felix St. Vrain, United States agent, and Antoine LeClaire, United States interpreter, both for the said tribes. Article VI. At the special request of the said confederated tribes, the United States agree to grant, by patent in fee simple, to Antoine LeClaire, Interpreter, a part Indian, one section of land opposite Rock Island, and one section at the head of the first rapids above said island, within the country herein ceded by the Sacs and Foxes. Article VII. Trusting to the good faith of the neutral bands of Sacs and Foxes, the United States have already delivered up to those bands the great mass of prisoners made in the course of the war by the United States, and promise to use their influence to procure the delivery of other Sacs and Foxes, who may still be prisoners in the hands of a band of Sioux Indians, the friends of the United States; but the following named prisoners of war, now in confinement, who were Chiefs and Headmen, shall be held as hostages for the future good conduct of the late hostile bands, during the pleasure of the President of the United States, viz.: Muk-ka-ta-mish-a-ka-kaik (or Black Hawk) and his two sons; Wau-ba-kee-shik (the Prophet), his brother and two sons; Na-pope, We-sheet Ioway, Pa-ma-ho, and Cha-kee-pa-shi-pa-ho (the Little Stabbing Chief). Article VIII. And it is further stipulated and agreed between the parties to this treaty that there shall never be allowed in the confederate Sac and Fox nation any separate band, or village, under any chief or warrior of the late hostile bands; but that the remnant of the said hostile bands shall be divided among the neutral bands of the said tribes according to blood–the Sacs among the Sacs and the Foxes among the Foxes. Article IX. In consideration of the premises, peace and friendship are declared, and shall be perpetually maintained between the United States and the whole confederated Sac and Fox nation, excepting from the latter the hostages before mentioned. Article X. The United States, besides the presents delivered at the signing of this treaty, wishing to give a striking evidence of their mercy and liberality, will immediately cause to be issued to the said confederated tribes, principally for the use of the Sac and Fox women and children whose husbands, fathers and brothers have been killed in the late war, and generally for the use of the whole confederated tribes, articles of subsistence as follows: Thirty-five beef cattle, twelve bushels of salt, thirty barrels of pork and fifty barrels of flour, and cause to be delivered for the same purposes, in the month of April next, at the mouth of the lower Ioway, six thousand bushels of maize or Indian corn. Article XI. At the request of the said confederated tribes, it is agreed that a suitable present shall be made to them on their pointing out to any United States agent, authorized for the purpose, the position or positions of one or more mines, supposed by the said tribes to be of a metal more valuable than lead or iron. Article XII. This treaty shall take effect and be obligatory on the contracting parties as soon as the same shall be ratified by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof. Done at Fort Armstrong, Rock Island, Illinois, this twenty-first day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, and of the Independence of the United States the fifty-seventh. WINFIELD SCOTT, JOHN REYNOLDS. SACS. Kee-o-kuck, or He Who Has Been Everywhere. Pa-she-pa-ho, or The Stabber. Pia-tshe-noay, or The Noise Maker. Wawk-kum-mee, or Clear Water. O-sow-wish-kan-no, or Yellow Bird. Pa-ca-to-kee, or Wounded Lip. Winne-wun-quai-saat, or The Terror of Men. Mau-noa-tuck, or He Who Controls Many. Wau-we-au-tun, or The Curling Wave. FOXES. Wau-pel-la, or He Who is Painted White. Tay-wee-mau, or Medicine Man (Strawberry). Pow-sheek, or the Roused Bear. An-nau-mee, or the Running Fox. Ma-tow-e-qua, or the Jealous Woman. Mee-shee-wau-quaw, or the Dried Tree. May-kee-sa-mau-ker, or the Wampum Fish. Chaw-co-saut, or the Prowler. Kaw-kaw-kee, or the Crow. Mau-que-tee, or the Bald Eagle. Ma-she-na, or Cross Man. Kaw-kaw-ke-moute, or the Pouch (Running Bear). Wee-shee-kaw-kia-skuck, or He Who Steps Firmly. Wee-ca-ma, or Good Fish. Paw-qua-nuey, or the Runner. Ma-hua-wai-be, or Wolf Skin. Mis-see-quaw-kaw, or Hairy Neck. Waw-pee-shaw-kaw, or White Skin. Mash-shen-waw-pee-tch, or Broken Tooth. Nau-nah-que-kee-shee-ko, or Between Two Days. Paw-puck-ka-kaw, or Stealing Fox. Tay-e-sheek, or the Falling Bear. Wau-pee-maw-ker, or the White Loon. Wau-co-see-nee-me, or Fox Man. In presence of R. Bache, Cap. Ord. Sec. to the Commission; Abrm. Eustis, Alex. Cummins, Lieut.-Col. 2d Infantry; Alex. R. Thompson, Major U.S. Army; B. Riley, Major U.S. Army; H. Dodge, Major W. Campbell; Hy. Wilson, Major 4th U.S. Inf.; Donald Ward, Thos. Black Wolf, Sexton G. Frazer, P.H. Galt, Ass’t Adj.-Gen.; Benj. F. Pike, Wm. Henry, James Craig, John Aukeny, J.B.F. Russell, Isaac Chambers, John Clitz, Adj. Inf.; John Pickell, Lieut. 4th Art’y; A.G. Miller, Lieut. 1st Inf.; Geo. Davenport, Ass’t Quar. Mas.-Gen. Ill. Mil.; A. Drane, Aeneas Mackay, Capt. U.S. Army; I.R. Smith, 1st Lieut. 2d Inf.; Wm. Maynadier, Lieut. and A.D.C.; I.L. Gallagher, 1st Lieut. A.C.S.; N.B. Bennet, Lieut. 3d Art’y; Horatio A. Wilson, Lieut. 4th Art’y; H. Day, Lieut. 2d Inf.; James W. Penrose, Lieut. 2d Inf.; J.E. Johnston, Lieut. 4th Art’y; S. Burbank, Lieut. 1st Inf.; I.H. Prentiss, Lieut. 1st Art’y; L.I. Beale, Lieut. 1st Inf.; Addison Philleo, Thomas L. Alexander, Lieut. 6th Inf.; Horace Beall, Act’g Surgeon U.S. Army; Oliver W. Kellogg, Jona. Leighton, Act’g Surg. U.S. Army; Robert C. Buchanan, Lieut. 4th Inf.; Jas. S. Williams, Lieut. 6th Inf.; John W. Spencer, Antoine LeClaire, Interpreter. To the Indian names are subjoined marks.[272] On November 11, 180 men, the remains of the six companies sent out with Scott, arrived at Norfolk on the steamboat Potomac, Captain Hubbell commanding: Capt. John Monroe, Fourth Artillery; Capt. Elijah Lyon, Third Artillery; Capt. Upton S. Fraser, Third Artillery; Capt. Patrick H. Galt, Fourth Artillery, with Lieutenants John Pickell, H.A. Wilson, W.A. Thornton, Joseph E. Johnston, Charles O. Collins, Edwin Rose and James H. Prentiss.[273] ----- Footnote 251: Davidson & Stuve, Ills., p. 406. Brown Hist. Ills., p. 373. Footnote 252: Wentworth’s, Ft. Dearborn, p. 31. Footnote 253: Lt. Humphrey Marshall, later General and a Member of Congress from Kentucky, came to Chicago with Scott.–Early Chicago, Ft. Dearborn, p. 31. Footnote 254: An entry in the records of the War Dept. reads: “Fort Dearborn having become a general hospital on July 11th, no returns were received until its reoccupation: Companies G and I, 2d Infantry, returned to the fort on October 1st from the campaign.” Wentworth’s address on Ft. Dearborn. Footnote 255: Ft. Dearborn by Wentworth, p. 12. Footnote 256: Ft. Dearborn by Wentworth, p. 34. Footnote 257: Ft. Dearborn by Wentworth, p. 34. Footnote 258: Ft. Dearborn by Wentworth, p. 37, where the names are given. Footnote 259: Scott’s letter, Mo. Republican for Aug. 7, 1832. Footnote 260: Scott’s letter to Capt. J.R. Brant, A.Q.M., St. Louis, pub. in Mo. Rep. Aug. 7, 1832. Footnote 261: Johnston’s Journal. Footnote 262: Scott’s letter to Hon. Lewis Cass, dated Aug. 10, 1832. Footnote 263: Davidson and Stuve, p. 407. Galenian of Aug. 22d. Footnote 264: Niles, Vol. 43, p. 51. Footnote 265: 118 as reported by Scott. Niles, Sept. 29, p. 69. Footnote 266: Capt. Henry Smith, X Wis. Hist. Colls., p. 165. Footnote 267: Cholera appeared in the ranks of Capt. Jesse B. Brown’s company just below Dixon’s Ferry. Nurses were left behind to care for the sick. At Port Armstrong thirteen of the company died and were buried in the woods. X Wis., 231. Footnote 268: Capt. Henry Smith, X Wis., 165. Footnote 269: Scott’s Autobiography. Footnote 270: Postponed from the 10th. Footnote 271: Scott’s Autobiog., Vol. 1, p. 227. Footnote 272: Vol. 7, U.S. Statutes at Large by Peters, p. 374. Footnote 273: Niles Reg., Vol. 43, p. 180, Nov. 17, 1832. ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------