The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-14


Rock, which attracted good
deal of attention, and, at the request of an
Old Settler, we reproduce it, as follows:
This is the name of a very dangerous
rock, situate 10 the middle Of the Missis-
sippi river, about midway of the Upper
Rapids In low water it rises about foot
above the surface; and boats in going
either up or down, must perform nearly
semi-circle IN passing round it. This is very
difficult, especially when the wind blows
down stream. If a boat keeps exactly at
the right distance, neither too near nor too
far off, she will steer clear of all danger;
but if she varies twenty feet either way,
she is almost certain to strike upon the
rock" And many is the steamboat, to
say nothing of the keels, fats and barges
that have terminated their navigation of
the Great River" upon the rock. Its
name, as we'll as the Island and chain up
on the rapids is derived from a most
bloody tragedy, enacted at that point during
the war of 1912. 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 do Chen; and the few
Indians, comprising some of the most
powerful and warlike tribes then inhabiting
the valley, were entirely under the influence
of the Canadian French settlers, who, if
not pensioners of Great Britain, were en-
tirely devoted to her interests, and of a
consequence hostile to the United States.
The principal man among them was Pierre
Rolett, an Indian trader, residing a!
Prairie du Chen. The garrison at that
point had become weak and exhausted, in
consequence 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 row
ing and cordelling keel DO ats up agains
the strong current from st. Louis. There
were no steam boats in those days. Thi
required, with the best success, about
month. Under these circumstances, Rolet
conceived the idea of leading detachmen
of the enemy through the wilderness, tron
the lakes, to capture the garrison. Thi
expedition was undertaken under tn
guidance of Rolett, and proved completed
successful The garrison, with all it
stores and munitions OF war, fell into tn
hands Of the enemy, who held it until tn
end of the war. In the mean time, how
ever, an expedition was fitting out at s.
Louis, to relieve the little garrison thu
menaced. 1t ultimately started, wit
several keel boats, loaded with provision
and munitions of war, and about so mel
recruits for the garrison The whole Wa
under the command of Capt. John Camp
bell. He was Scotchman by birth, br
from early life had resided in Kentucky;
man of giant frame and indomitab
courage and perseverance. Rolett Wa
aware of this expedition, and of the chal
acter of the man who commanded
He knew perfectly we'll that if Campbe
reached Prairie Du Chen before he coul
| conduct the enemy through the wilderness
. it would be most disastrous to himsel
= and not only would his plans be frustrate
but Campbell would cut off his hea'
just 80 sure as he caught him. He Their
fore instigated the Indians to cut off
drive back the expedition under Campbe
Black Hawk was then young warri
chief, residing with his nation (the Sac
: at Rock Island, a few miles below t
point above described. Long and tedio
was the navigation of the little feet desti
ed for the relief of the Fort at Prairie
r CHEN. At last it arrived at the foot
= the fatal rapids, where it remained sever
:. days to rest and recruit, preparatory
the labor and fatigue of crossing them.
During all that time the Indians profe
10 ed the greatest friendship, furnishing t
- men with everything in their power.
\ Black Hawk himself, and several of
principal warriors, remained and slept
board the boats for several nights. II
10 crafty savage thus succeeded in lulli
every suspicion of any hostile purpose
Is The Indians even Informed Campbell
'o Rolett's treachery, and urging him
~ make all haste lest the garrison sho'
III fall before he could relieve it. On
al third day the expedition started, seve
o. of Black Hawks warriors plotting
~ boats thro' the intricate and danger'
y channel.
~ AS the boats approached the designa
10 point, Black Hawk himself appeared
=" the point Of the little Island. upon the far S
= of which lay concealed among the willo
~ about five hundred warriors and seve
We rascally traders who beckoned the be
NC to come near the Island, pretending t
"' there was the best water and the sal
=, passage.
~ Campbell, not suspec ting treacht
~ carried his boats very near the shore,
VI suddenly two of them, together with
es own, grounded upon the rocks. In
on instant, the whole band Of savages pou
in well-directed and deadly fire upon
boats. A large number of the men "
We either killed or wounded at the first fir,
ed They captured one of the stranded b.
10. and massacred all On board. The OF
ks boats succeeded in dropping down