The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-03-08
afc From the Galena Advertiser.
A "Reminiscences Of the Black-Hawk War.
B Y E M I L I E /.

+ y tc From the Galena Advertiser.
al A "Reminiscences Of the Black Hawk War.
By EMILE.
Previous to the spring of 1882, several fam
lilies had settled in the valley Of Apple Rive
! in this county. Their peaceful employment
had been uninterrupted until the Spring Q
that year, at which time the Black Hawl
War commenced. Houses were pillaged, an,
the inhabitants were Obliged to remain con
: cealed, while they saw their horses takel
from the plow in the field and driven off witt
shouts OF savage joy. For their mutual pro
lection, they erected fort ten miles up tn,
river, where the town of Elizabeth nov
stands. The men formed themselves into ,
company thder the command of Captain
Stone, for the defense of the fort; and thith
er the inhabitants fed for protection. Ii
the course of the Summer, Col James M
STROBE, commander at Galena, sent an ex.
press of five men to Dixon, on Rock River
where Gen. Atkinson's army was stationed
This express was commanded by Captain
Frederick Dixon, an old pioneer and man
OF great experience in Indian warfare. They
started out on Sunday morning-a wet, rainy
day, and, to protect their guns from the
dampness of the atmosphere, the party dis
charged them. They proceeded on their
route and reached Apple River fort about
noon. They found it in very defenseless
situation. Some of the inmates were out
gathering berries, others sleeping, and some
walking about to seek amusement. The ex-
press halted few moments and then passed
on. When about 400 or 500 yards east of
the fort, some Indians secreted in the high
grass fired on the foremost man of the guard
I-wounding him in the hip. lie was thrown
from his horse, and the savages rushed upon
him with the tomahawk. Capt. Dixon charg-
ed upon them with his empty gun and res
cued the wounded man. They then returned
to the fort and raised the alarm Scarcely
had the inhabitants reached it and closed the
gates when 270 Indians surrounded the fort,
and raising the most demoniac yells mingled
with the Indian war-hoop, commenced an in
discriminate fire. The gates being closed
with Capt. Dixon on the outside, he started
at full speed for Galena. In his rapid fight
west of the fort he rode into party of Is
or 80 Indians, who appeared as much sur
prised as himself, permitting him to escape
without molestation. We now return to the
fort.
The Indians kept up hot fire for two or
three. hours, while concealed beh nd the
stumps or out-buildings. Captain Stones
company were mostly absent, and the fort
numbered only some fifteen effective men,
The women and children were panic strick-
en-, crying and wringing their hands. At
this stage of affairs, Mrs. Elizabeth Arm
strong of Sand Prairie, in this county, find
ing the fort but poorly supplied with balls,
divided the women into two parties-thOse
who could load fire arms composed the first
division; the second were to run bullets
Mrs. Armstrong delivered them short but
effective address, telling them it was worse
than folly to give up to fear in such an ex-
tremity as the present one-that they could
expect no sympathy from the Indians, and
to go to work Immediately and do their best
to save the fort. They obeyed, and under
her directions performed miracles. The Sec
ond division supplied the balls while the first
received the empty guns from the men at the
loop-holes and returned them loaded. While
passing round the fort, Mrs. Armstrong dis
covered man who, to escape flying bullets,
had snugly slowed himself away in all emp
ty flour barrel. Quickly ejccting him from
his retreat she ordered him to take gun
and do service. Trembling with fear, he
Obeyed, dreading our heroine within almost
as much as the enemies outside. After the
siege of two or three hours, the Indians re-
tired, shooting all the stock, robbing the
cabins, and carrying off their dead and
wounded. On our side, one man named
Harkelrhodes, was killed, and several 9TH
ers wounded. He was buried near the fort,
but no trace remains of his resting place.
When Capt. Dixon arrived at Galena with
the news of the attack at Apple River, eve
ry man was ready to volunteer relief, but
Col. STROBE, thinking that so large party
of Indians would undoubtedly take the fort
and then march on to Galena, called out ev-
cry effective man, placed numerous guard,
and awaited an attack. The night was very
dark and rainy, and, though entreated and
warned by the people at the fort, young
man named kirkpatrick, one of the express,
formed the determination of going TO Galena
to inform its inhabitants of the result of the
battle. In vain they cxpostulated with him
telling him that the Indians had gone, no
one knew where, perhaps to Galena, and in
that case, he would meet with certain death.
He replied that he did not care where the
Indians had gone; that he knew the people
there would be anxious to hear from them,
and he would relieve their fears before he
slept. He mounted his horse and arrived at
his destination between 10 and IL o'clock at
night. He was soon surrounded by crowds
eager to hear the news. 1t is doubtful if
the inhabitants of Galena ever gave to any
one warmer welcome than they did to this
noble and brave young man. He had des-
cended from an Indian fighting family, and
was himself as fearless as the brayest of his
ancestors.
1t was generally conceded that the fort
would have been taken had it not been for
the exertions of Mrs. Armstrong. Her adj.
dress and presence of mind undoubtedly en-
abled the courageous defenders of the fort
to save themselves from horrid death by
the hands of cruel and unsparing enemy.
Too much praise cannot be awarded to her
for casting aside all womanish fear and SUBJ
shutting resolute will and strength of cour-
age which might do honor to the opposite
aex. Mrs. Armstrong was one of the first
settlers, in this western country, and she
was by nature we'll qualified for the hardy
scenes of pioneer life. Though unacquaint-
ed with the forms of fashionable life, she is
possessed of a strong mind and kind heart,
ever ready to assist those to whom her great
experience can afford relief She is still liv-
ing, one of the best of wives and mothers,
the warmest Of friends and kindest of neigh
bors.
May she long live to enjoy tie happiness
and love to which her courage and goodness
Justly entitle her.
/ Superior Items.
From the Chronicle of Fet. 20.
ARRIvALs.-The arrivals, from Saltwater
St. Paul and Hudson, during the last two