Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-07-15
From the Dubuque Herald.
Campbell'S Rock,

| pI river, about midway or the upper tap
| ids. In low wafer 1T rises about foot
above the surface, and boats in going either
up or down, must perform nearly semi
circle in passing around it. This is very
! d Ecult, especially when the wind blows
down stream. Ii a boat keeps exactly at
! the ri ght distance, neither to1 near nor too
/ far off, she will steer clear of all danger;
/ but if she varies twenty feet either way,
4 she is almost certain to strike upon the
rock. And many are the steamboats,, to say
nothing OF keels, flats and barges, tina. have
| terminated their navigation OF the ''Great
| River upon this rock Its name, as well
| as the island and chain upon the Rapids, is
derived from most bloody tragedy, enact
| ed at that point during the war OF 1872.
| At that time, the whole Mississippi Valley,
above St. Louis, was Indian country; there
| being not one white settler in that entire
region, except small garrison at Prairie
du CHEN; ard few Indians, comprising
some of the most powerful and warlike
| tribes then inhabiting the valley, were en-
| tirely under the influence of the Canadian
! French settlers, who, if not pensioners OF
/ Great Britain, were entirely devoted to her
interests, and Of consequence, hostile TO
| the United States.
The principal man among them was Pier
/ 10.
Prairie du Cheu. The garrison at that point
had become weak and exhausted, in coIse-
quence Of the distance and difficulty of
procuring reinforcements and supplies. The
| only means of securing the latter was by
the slow and laborious process of rowing
and cordelling keel boats up against the
/ strong current from ST.. Louis. There were
no steamboats, in those days. This requir-
! ed, with the best success, about month.
4 Under these circumstances, Rolett conceiY-
/ Ell the idea of leading detachment OF the
enemy through the wilderness, IRON the
I lakes, to capture the garrison. This expe
/ dltion was undertaken under the guidance
of Rolett, and proved completely successful.
/ The garrison, with all its stores and muni-
tions Of war, fell into the hands of the en-
| envy, who held il until the end of the war.
In the meantime, however, an expedition
/ vas fitting out in St Louis to relieve the
| little garrison thus menaced. 1t ultimate
/ ly started with several keel boats, Loaded
/ with provisions and munitions ofwar, and.
about fifty men, recruits for the garrison
| The whole was under the command of Cap
tain John Campbell. lie was Il Scotchman
by birth, but from early life, had resided
in Kentucky; man OF giant frame, indom-
table courage and perseverance. Rolett
character of the man who commanded t.
He knew perfectly well, that If Campbell
reached Prairie du Chien, befole he could
conduct the enemy through the wilderness,
it would be most disastrous TO himself; and
not only would mis- plans be frustrated, but
Campbell would cut of his head, just
sure as he caught him. lie therefore lnsti-
gated the Indians to cut off, or drive back
the expedition of Campbell.
Blackhawk was then a young warrior
chief, residing with his nation the Sacs)
at RocA Island, "a few miles below the point
| above described. Long and tedious was
the navigation of the little feet destined
for the relief of the Fort at Prairie du
chien. At last it arrived at the foot of
the fatal rapids, where il remained several
days TO rest and recruit, preparatory to the
labor and fatigue of crossing them. Du-
ring all that time the Indians professed the
greatest friendship, furnishing the men with
every thing in their power.
Blackhawk himself and several fhis prin-
cipal warrlor:, remained and slept on board
Of the boats for several nights. That craf-
ty savage thus succeeded N iuIlIng every
suspicion of anv hostile purpose. The In
dians even informed Campbell of Rolett's
treachery, and urging him TO make ali haste,
lest the garrison should fall before he could
relieve it. On the third day the expedition
started, several of Blackhawk $ warriors pi-
loting the boats through the intricate and
dangerous channel. As the boats ap-
preached the designated point, Blackhawk
himself appeared on the point of the little
island, upon the farther side of which lay
concealed among the willows, about tive
hundred warriors, and several rascally ira
ders, who beckoned the boats to come near
the island, pretending that there was the
best water and the safest passage. Camp
bell, not suspecting treachery, carried his
boats very near the shore, and suddenly
two of them, together with his own, groun-
ded upon the ROCKS. In an instant, the
whole band of sayages poured IN well di-
rected and deadly lire upon the boats. \
large number Of the men were either killed
or wounded at the first fire. They captured
one Of the stranded boats and massacred all
on board. The other boats succeeded IN
dropping down the river beyond the enc
my reach, except CampbelPs own boat,
winch swung round and stuck fast upon
the rock above described, where she lay eX
posed to the enemy S fire for several hours.
More than half of his men We're either kill
ed or wounded, himself being literally shot
to pleces-his left side, $ iouider and arm
beng mangled in the most shocking man
ner. At length brisk wind, blowing
down stream, foated the boat OF and down
the river beyond the reach of the ire of
the enemy, just as the latter were prepar-
ing to board. The expedition was utterly
defeated, and the fate of the little garrison
at Prairie du CHEN sealed. The valley Of
the Mississippi became conquered prov
ince OF the enemy, and so remained until
the close of the war, when it was given up
again to the United States along with Mich
igan.
What was the reward Of Roiett is not
known; one thing, however, is certain, from
an Indian trader Of very limited means, he
at on,e became very wealthy man, and
so continued to the day of his death.
The armament returned co St. Louis,
having lost nearly all their stores and NOR Q
than half the mea. Campbell himself for
long time fingered between life and death.
Nature, aided By an iron constitution, IL
nally triumphed-he recovered, but was
manned and crippled for life, his left arm
being entirely useless.
Long years after, as the steamboat Gen.
Pike, was ascending the Mississippi, in
crossing the rapids, she ran aground .here
Campbell's boats had stranded; to save her
from beng drifted over and stove upon the
opposite rocks, she anchored right in The
current; when she swung round to her an
chor, her bow lay within few feet of the
rock. A tall, athletic man, with his left
ho.. - !, 81, Il.