The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-07-23

get ees oteoz0 whenever you Want one, anu u
fog when you dent want one,-when you have
to stay In the hpase,-and the only way to get
cut of money lif you have any is TO pay your
board bills, or 60 over to Portland, or throw it
into the saucer at church en- Sunday. FELIX.
The Black Hawk war.
Gen. Robert Anderson, of Fort Sunpter fame,
now in France, has lately written letter to
Hon. E. B. Wsshburne, u. s. Minister to France,
detailing some interesting "reminiscences of the
Black Hawk War, which We find in the Galenx
Gazette. Below We give the Generals memoir,
except few unimpoetant particulars:
To w..,, TorRs, France, May IS $50.
o. and
Ny DEAR SIR:-After our recent conversation
about the Blask Hawk War, you asked me to
Fut my recOllections of some of the incidents
connected Herewith in writing, and you were
kind enough to suggest that my "reminiscences
would be of much interest to many of the old
settlers of your adopted State. should state,
however. that my memory has been a good deal
impaired, and that, therefore, many allowances
must be made.
When the Indian disturbances under Black
Hawk broke out in the Spring of 1882, l was on
duty at the ST. Louis Arsenal, which was then
under the command of Lieut.. Bland Lee. may
here say that had graduated at the West Point
Military Academy il 1926. When tho hostili.
ties commenced, General Atkinson was in com.
nand at Jefferson Barracks, and he WAS Just in
command of the expedition to suppress them.
He proceeded at once to Fort Armstrong on
Reck Island. Having obtained the consent of
my commanding officer, volunteered to Join his
expedition, which did at Rock Island He
Immediately assigned me to duty as Assistant
Inspector General on his staff. Many volunteers
had gathered at Rock Island. Governor John
Reynolds, of Illinois, soon arrived and took up his
quarters with General Atkinson, and he remain.
ed with us nearly all the time till the close of
the war. After considerable augmentation of
the troops at Rock Island, we moved our forces
up Rock river in keel boats as far as Dixon Fer.
ry. so called after Captain Dixon the first settler
there. We made that place the general rendez.
vous OF all the troops coming in. The cavalry
had camp on the south side of the river, and
the infantry wore in an intrelched camp on the
north side. The officers in command of the Hi.
nois troops were General Henry and General
Posey, and another General, whose name at this
moment has escaped me; but General Atkinson
was In command of the expedition. The force
remained at Dixons Ferry some two or three
months. drilling and making small expeditions.
We had force of some fifteen hundred cavalry,
the dncst troops I ever saw. While at Dixon's
Ferry, We were joined by body of friendly In.
dIans, headed by the Chief Chebansee Il may
not spell the name correctly. 1t was during
this time that went ON an expedition to Ottawa
with General Atkinson. It was then small
trading post with only few houses. We found
one company of troops there whose term of ser.
wee had expired. mustered it out Of the SER
vice, but most of the men Immediately re.entlist.
cd, and had the satisfaction of mastering them
IN again. Henry Dodge, afterwards 70 we'll
known and 80 much distinguished as Colonel of
. regiment of Rangers, authorized to be raised
0y Congress, was with US, and also Boone and
Ford as Captains in the same regiment. Boone
was son of the celebrated Daniel Boone. also
mustered Abraham Lincoln twice into the ser.
vice and once out. He was member of two Of
the Independent Companies which were not
brigsded. The first time mustered him into
the service was at the mouth of Fox river, May
~, 1852, in Captain Elijah Hes company. The
Lieutenaats in the company were J. NJ. Harri.
scr and H. B. Roberta The value of his arms
was forty dollars, and his horse and equipments
ono hundred dollars. mustered him out of the
service At the Rapids Of the Illinois," June 1G,
1852 and in four days afterwards, at the same
place, mustered him into the service again in
Captain Jacob N. Early's company. The Lieu
tenants in this last company were G.. w. Glass.
cock, and B. D. Rush. Of course had no
recollection of MIR. Lincoln, but when President.
he reminded me of the fact
might mention that previous to this time,
Governor Reynolds gave me q commission of
Inspector General in the Illinois volunteer ser.
vice, with the rank of Colonel now have in
my possession at home that commission as an
officer in the service of that state, now become
90 great and powerful. recollect the fight at
'Stillmans Rum" Some twenty miles above Dix.
on's Ferry, in which Colonel Strobe, of one Of
the Illinois regiments, figured quite conspicuous.
a n4finora ,hc s,h
Nxons Ferry, there were several who after.
wards became distinguished. There was Cap.
tain, afterwards General Riley, distinguished in
Mexico,snd California, and Lieut.. Albert sgd
ney johnson, Aid and Assistant Adiutant Gen.
eral On General Atkinson's staff, afterwards so
We'll known as General in the ikbel service,
and who was killed at Shiloh. He was cool,
clear.headed man, aud an excellent officer In
deed have always considered him the ablest
oddcer the rebels ever had III their service. Cap.
tain William S. Harvey, now General Harney,)
OF the First Infantry, was also with us, bold,
dsshing officer and indefatigable in duty So
was also Captain William Graham, of the Regu.
lar Army, afterwards Lieutenant Colonel and
killed 1t tho battle OF Moline del Rey.
William S. Hamilton, the son of Alexander
Hamilton, Joined us at Dixon's Ferry, with
ANAL party of friendly Indians. He was of
much use TO us from his knowledge of the In.
dian character auu of the country. The first
movement OF our troops WAN up Rock river, and
with view of finding the Indians and giving
them battle. My duty was 10 be in the advance
aud select camping grounds for the troops.
WAS u great deal with the "Spy Battalion" com
nnuded by Major w. l.. d. Ewing, of Vandalia.
II brave aud efficient officer. Jacob Fry was Col
o"el IT one Of the regiments in Hsnry's brigade,
M excellent officer and an honest man Sidney