Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-09-25
INDIAN WAR OF 1882.
To the Editors Of the sangamo journal


date an article has made its appearance,
purporting to be "Narratve of the ex-
petition against theSauk ndFox Indians
in the yerr 1882, by an officer of General
Atkinson's brigade" We deem it pro
per to pay this garbled Narrative pas
sing notice, to correct a few missstale-
ments offacts, and few omissions of facts,
which we hope unintentionally have found
aplace in the article 10 which alluson has
been made.
Before we descend TO particulars. we
would make one general remark upon the
spirit that seems DESTROYS throughout to
detract from the service and credit due to
the militia, who served in that campaign.
and place the laurels that were gathered
on the brows of the regular troops, and
upon the commander-in-chiel,G Gen. Akin
son. There is one remark, however, in
the Narrative to which exception should
be made. The writer, after speaking Of
General Henry's brigade, pays it the cas-
ual tribute ofpraise by saying ofit, THAT
1t was throughout the campaign most
excellent brigade, and well commanded"
ipresume we should thank thir authentic
historian even for this much. But we
would have him say something more. He
should have said that this brigade did all
the fighting that was done with the main
body Of the Indians, and that TO it belongs
all the credit and all the glory of having
successfully terminated the war. Had he
said this, the whole truth would have been
told.
We do not intend by any thing we have
said, or may hereafter say, to detract one
~siofa' from the credit due to our gallant
regular troops, and to their brave, patrio-
tic and accomplished officers. Give them
a fair field, and a civilized foe, and we
feel confident that they would gather
bright laurels for themselves, and gain
new victories to add to the fame and
grace the history of the Republic they
serve. If they did no fighting in the cam
Palgn of 1882, it was because they could
not come within reach of the enemy.
The Indians were mounted-they were
on foot. | know they thirsted for the
fight and deplored the tardiness of their
movements. The fault was not with
them. The nature of the warGare--the
slowncss with which they were compel
ed to move, prevented them from partici-
Pating in the fighting.
We would further say of Gen. Akin
son-he has the thanks of our frontier
citizens for his exertions in their behalf
He deserves them. We may be permit
ted further to say, that we believe him
generous, and that when he has seen the
Narrative in question, he will correct its
mIsstatements, and give credit to whom
credit is due.
After these remarks, let us descend to
the details of the Narrative. With the
writer's account Of the causes which LED
to the campaign, and his history of it up
to the arrival ofthe troops at Dixon's Fer,
ry, on Rock River, we have no objection
10 make. But we will warn him that \
different version might be given to that
matter, which might diminish little from
his vain glory. With Stillman's defeat
we have nothing to do-incorrect as may
be his statements in regard 10 it.. 1t was
an unfortunate affair. But it does seem
that the writer dwells upon that defeat
with too much complacency and trium-
phant eproach-forgetting that the de-
fcated were his fellow citizens and fellow
soldiers.
In order to understand the force Of an
extract which we are about to make from
this officers Narrative, let us detail few
Facts. When the army, composed of regu-
lars and Gen. Whtesde's brigade Of
mounted militia, has been assembled at
Rock Island, they were ordered up Rock
RIver-the regulars IN Macknaw boats,
and the mounted militia by land. The
militia arrived at Dixon's Ferry, at least
a week before the regulars. During this
time Stillman was defeated. Gen. White.
sides marched his brigade TO the battle
ground, and not finding the Indians, re
turned to Dixon s, and there awaited the
arrival of Gen. Atkinson and bis regulars.
When Gen. Atkinson arrived, the army
moved up Rock River as far rs Syca-
more creek, where Stillman was defeated
the regulars in boats and the militia BY
land. When arrived at the battle ground
halt was called, and the army Law there
encamped above two days. Now let us
pause, and hear from the Narrative. The
writer says:-
EXTRACT.
"Thc army continued their advance up
Rock river to Stillmdn's nm, having ef,
the defeated corps to guard the sick,
wounded, and provisions, at the depot at
Dixon's. At Stillman's run General At
.kinson was overtaken by an express, with
intelligence that the corps left to guard
tho Hpy1nf had Loft to ,k,p Il,