American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-05-06
An Interesting Story of the Up
per Mississippi.

per Mississippi.
J. The Rock Island argus of a late dat
re relates the following thrilling incider
IS of the war of 1912, the facts in regar
to which were, we believe, never befo1
. made public. The story is full of intel
est.
n Some twenty years ago we publishe
}, communication (signed sly in re
# lation to Campbell's rock, which al
tracted good deal of attention, and a
the request of an old settler, we repro
duce it as follows:
This is the name of very aangerou
> rock, situated in the middle of the Mis-
sissippi River, about midway of the up
per rapids. In low water it rises abou
foot above the surface; and boats il
going up or down must perform nearly
semi-circle in passing round it. This
is very difficult, especially when the
wind blows down stream. If boat
keeps exactly at the right distance
neither too near nor too far, she will
steer clear of all danger, but if she
varies twenty feet either way, she is al
most sure to I" strike upon the rock. p"
And many is the steamboat, to say
nothing of the keels, flats and barges,
that has terminated its navigation of
the +" great river'' upon the rock. Its
name, as well as the island and chain
upon the rapids, is from most bloody
tragedy enacted at that point during
the war of 1912. At that time the
whole MississippiValle above St. Louis
was Indian country, there being not one
white settler in that entire region ex-
cept small garrison at Prairie du
Chen, and the few Indians, comprising
some of the most powerful and warlike
tribes then inhabiting the valley, were
then entirely under the influence of the
Canadian French settlers, who, if not
tirely devoted to her interests, and of
consequence, hostile to the United
States. The principal man among them
was Pierre Rolett, an Indian trader re-
siding at Prairie du Chen. The gar
rison at that point had become weak
and exhausted in consequence of the
distance and difficulty of procuring re-
Inducements 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
required, with the best success, about
month.
Under these circumstances Rolett
conceived the idea of leading detach-
ment of the enemy through the wilder
ness to the lakes to capture the garri-
son. This expedition was undertaken
under the guidance of Rolett, and prov
ed completely successful. The garri-
son, with all its stores and munitions of |
war, fell into the hands of the enemy, |
who held it until the end of the war. In |
the meantime, however, an expedition
was fitting out at St. Louis
to relieve the little garri-
son thus menaced. 1t ultimately
started, with several keel boats loaded
with provisions and munitions of war,
and about fifty men, recruits from the
garrison. The whole was under the
command of Captain John Campbell.
He was a Scotchman by birth, but from
early life had resided in Kentucky,
man of giant frame and indomitable
and perseverance. Rolett was
aware of the expedition and of the
character of the man in command of it.
He knew perfectly well that if Camp
bell reached Prairie du Chen before he
could conduct the enemy through the
wilderness it would be most disastrous
to himself, and not only would his plans
be frustrated, but Campbell would cut
off his head just as surely as he caught
him. He therefore instigated the Indi-
ans to cut off or drive back the expedi-
ton under Campbell.
Black Hawk was then young war;
rior chief residing with his nation (the
Sacs) at Rock Island, few miles be-
low the point above described. Long
and tedious was the navigation of the
little fleet destined for the relief of the
fort at Prairie du CHEN. At last it ar
rived at the foot of the fatal rapids,
where it remained several days to rest
and recruit, preparatory to the labor
and fatigue of crossing them.
During all that time the Indians pro- .
essed the greatest friendship, furnish {
ng the men with every thing in their
power.
Black Hawk himself and several of
lis principal warriors, remained and
lept on board the boats for several
lights. The crafty savages thus sue
'eeded in lulling every suspicion of any
hostile purpose. The Indians even in
ormed Campbell of Rolett's treachery, !,
md urged him to make all haste lest
he garrison should fall before he could q
elieve it. On the third day the expe-
lition started, several of Black Hawks
warriors plotting the boats through the
intricate and dangerous channel
AS the boats approached the desig-
ated point of the little island, upon the
ar side of which lay concealed among
he willows about five hundred warriors
nd several rascally traders, Black Hawk =
ppeared and beckoned the boats to
ONE near the island, pretending that :
here were the best water and the safest
assage. Il
Campbell, not suspecting treachery,
tho haat warm MANN Tho eboro |