Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-09-25
"Head Quarters. Army of the Frontier,
Camp on White Water River,
9th JULY 1892


9th July, / 1872.
ORDER No. so. Brigadier Gen. Alex
ander's Brigade and Gen Henry's Brigade
OF Illinois Mounted Volunteers, will marcel
tomorrow morning to Fort Winnebago, anc
draw twelve days ration Of provisions, lex
elusive of the subsistence of their respective
commands during theirstay at the Fort, ant
return to these Head Quarters without de-
Hay.
/ BY order of Brigadier Gen. Atkinson,
A. S. JOHNSTON,
A. ID. C. and ADJ. Gen,
In pursuance of this order, the brigades
of Alexander and Henry marched to Fort
Winnebago; and also in pursuance Of this
order, Gen. Alexander returned to Head
Quarters with his brigade. General Hen
ry, on the contrary, determined to move
direct for the Indians; and in this mea
sure he was cordially joined by Colonel
Dodge and his battalion, who were then
at Fort Wunebago. To facilitate his
movements, Gen. Henry directed Colonel
Sharp to take charge of the baggage be-
longing to his brigade, with the sick, and
those of his men who were on foot, and
return with AIexander's troops and report
himself to Gen. Atkinson. Gen. Henry
| then advised Gen. A. that he should leave
Fort Wtnnebago with his command and
Dodge's battalion on the morning of the
18th ofJuly for the Upper Rapids, in the
vicinity of which it was believed the enc
my were encamped. On the 18th, the
expedition arrived at the Rapids of Rock
River, and an express, Consisting of Adj.
E. Fl. Merryman, of the 4th Regt, and
Adj. Woodbridge of Dodge's battalion,
guided by an lndian, was started with the
information, for Gen. Atkinson's Head
Quarters. After proceeding 10 miles,
they struck large indian trails making for
the southwest, which appeared to have
been made the div previous, and return
ed with the intelligence. An order was
Immediately issied by Gen. Henry, da
ted at ten o'cIodl at night, apprisng the
troops of the near vicinity of the Indians,
and ordering them at once to prepare for
forced marcl in pursuit. They pro-
ceeded at fourth the morning, and after
hot pursuit, came up with the Indians
near the Wisconsin, where they had with
much judgment, chosen position for de-
fence. After sharp contest they were
totally defeated. From information which
can be relied on, it has been ascertained
that sixty eight Of the enemy were killed
in this battle.
1t will here be proper to state, that
General Henry received no orders from
General Atkinson from the time he left
Fort KosaSenong, until the close of the
battle of Wisconsin,; that the express sent
by Henry on the 10Th, with information
that he was in close pursuit of the In
dams, overlook General A. and his army
proceeding in quest of the Indians in an
opposite course from that which they had
taken; and that, consequently, had not
General Henry assumed the high respon-
sibility of disobeying the orders of Gen. A.
to return immediately from Fort Win.
nebago TO Fort Koskenong 'withont de-
lay,' the enemy would have escaped, and
the campaign would have terminated in
gloriously 10 our government, and with
shame and disgrace to every officer in
command.
We might here remark, that the battle
of the Wisconsin was the only one in
which the main body of the Indians at.
tempted to make a stand. The subse-
quent affair at the Mississippi was mere
slaughter. The Indians made no organ
lied resistance. The hattie of the Wis
consn was, in fact, the termination of the
campaign.
After this detail Of facts, which Can be
well authenticated, we have no hesitation
in saying that to General Henry and his
brigade. and Col. Dodge and his battal.
ion, is due the credit Of the battle Of the
Wisconsin, and the successful termination
ofthe campaign. Gen. Atkinson can claim
no credit for the battle of the Wisconsin,
neither directly or indirectly. Had Gen.
Henry been unsuccessful, Gen. Atkinson
could, and no doubt would, have screened
himself from responsibility, by saying that
Gen. Henry had disobeyed his orders
and he would have been liable to betred,
cashiered and dsgraced. Under all the
responsibilities of the case, General Hen
ry acted with decision and promptness
worthy of himself and the brave troops he
commanded.
1t would seem surprising in view of
these facts that deliberate efforts should
he made in certain quarters--deliberate
and repeated efforts should be made to
transfer to others the praise and credit
which is due to General Henry and bis
brigade and to Col. Dodge and his battal
ion.
If it were not for the length to which