The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-07-02
THE ISLAND ITSELF.

Rock Island is about three miles long and
one mile wide. 1t is located In the river,
near the Illinois shore, and has a dense
growth of fine forest trees, which, in the
summer season, afford a delightful shade
The foundation, or basis upon which the is
land rests, is solid limestone rock of I'M
known depth, and rising, with its clear and
well-dehned outlines, SO far above the level
of the river, at high water mark, as to pre-
vent an overflow of any portion of its surface,
even upon the occurrence of the greatest
floods.
This Island has chequered and romantic
history. It's past is intimately blended with
the mystical rites and ceremonies of more
than one powerful tribe of Indians, but in
the half century preceding the advent of the
locomotive to the eastern bank of the Missis-
sippi it had wide spread notoriety only on
account of the associations which connected
it with Black Hawk, his tribe and his race,
and with the brief but bloody warfare which
gave to Fort Armstrong renown eclipsed
by but few localities that have been the great
central points of savage warfare and pioneer
life in the border history of our country.
IT'S "BLACK HAWK "REMINISCENCES.
This was the retreat and stronghold of the
stern old Sac warrior, and the playground
of the children of his tribe, then, as now, the
Eden spot of the northwest. In 1916, Fort
Armstrong was erected, and the Indian vision
of bliss faded away--the vanguard of civil
cation had reached it, and brief struggle
| would terminate forever the red mans pos
session of it. Black Hawk esteemed it the
best island in the Mississippi-the garden
spot of his tribe, and the earthly paradise of
| the great valley OF the west.
| After the close of the Indian war, nothing
| of much local interest occurred, except the
murder of Col. Davenport, until 1854, when
| the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad was
completed to this place, and the Mississippi
| river bridged-it was then that this island
was found to be a solid resting place for one
| of the ends of the structure, which has since
! cost such an immense amount of litigation,
| the loss of so many steamboats,, and the
| expenditure of such vast sums on its con-
| struction.
| HOW USED DURING THE REBELLION.
/ In the early dawn of the great rebellion
| (60-'6f) attention was directed to the ia c;
that of all localities in the Northwest. Rock
| Island ranked first as a place for United
| States arsenal, and through the efforts Of
| some of the more enterprising citizens OF
| Rock Island and Davenport the advantages
| of the place were rendered so apparent TO
| Congress that the contemplated arsenal was
/ at once ordered to be here erected.
| Before the order was carried into effect
| the War Department deemed it highly ad
visable, if not absolutely necessary, to es-
tablish a rebel prison on the island Accord
ingly this was done, the locality was invested
| with new interest, and fresh career in its
| history was instituted. a miniature city
soon sprang up in the center of the island
! and the almost impenetrable woods hustled
/ with life and activity. Under an admira BILE
+! system of improvements this spot soon be
came the most charming of summer resorts
and was made such, until within year Oh
| eighteen months past it became needfu, fol
the security of Government property, arse
nal, stores, &C., to close the island agains
/ the public.