The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-13
From the Rock leland Advertiser, Of 1851.
Leaves from the History Of Rock
Island,
No. g
By ALBERT G.. BRAoKETT.


landed 10 September and went into winter
quarters, by establishing an encampment
which was called "Cantonment Davies.
Here they remained until the mex
spring, when the encampment was broker
up and the troops assembled the river tC
Rock Island, which had been selected as
the most eligible site for a fertilization,
both on account of It's commanding position
and proximity to the British Band ofSauk
Indians.
rhe soldiers landed on the Island, on
the 10th day of May, 1916, and immediately
commenced. under the direction OF
Lieutenant Colonel William Lawrence, the
construction of a Fort. The Island at
that time was covered with heavy timber,
among which the hickory and oak pre-
dominated: beneath the shade of these
trees, soft and and beautiful green lawns
were seen stretching far into the distance,
and thickets of wild plum, raspberry and
hazel grew along it's borders. This was
the sacred ground Of the Indians, and was
called by them Assen-melass: they esteem
ed it sacrilege to rob it of its native
beauties, and looked on in silent astonish-
ment as the white man hewed down the
trees,
At evening, when the drums rolled. the
Good Spirit of the Island, frightened by
the sound, uufolded its snowy pinions and
departed. The Fort was built on the
southern extremity of the Island, upon a
rocky emnence overlooking the majestic
Mississippi and was named Fort Arm
strong, in honor Of John Armstrong ex-
secretary Of war.
This was a fortifcation without glacis
or trench; the parapets were Of stone with
block houses at the angles; in these were
embrasures for artillery, and loopholes for
infantry. Within the walls were the
officers quarters, barracks of the soldiers,
etc., The gray and dilapidated block
houses of the old Fort still remain, solitary
mementos of by-gone days.
Mr.. George Davenport accompanied the
troops as q contractor for furnishing pro-
visions, etc., In August following. Mrs.
Davenport and Mrs. Lewis reached the
Island, the first American ladies that ever
assembled the river to this place.
In the spring Of 1917 council was
called by the Sank and Fox Indians, to con
slider the prOpriety of attacking the Sioux;
the councils OF two the tribes were held at
different places, and after due deliberatiou
it was Determined to declare war against
them. For this purpose, Ratchet was
given to prisoner, the handle OF which
was painted red, with directions ito pro.
coed to the Sioux country and present it
to them. This duty was faithfully per-
formed by the Indian, but upon presenting
it the Sioux, in a transport ofifury, fell
upon him and hacked him to pieces, In
the meantime the Sauks and tn cir
allies, after partaking of dog least, and
joining in a war dance, started to attack
them. Night and day they travelled over
the wild prairies and through dreary
forests, and, reaching the villages of the
Sioux, fell upon them and massacred men,
women and children. After committing
these depredations, they returned 20 theiI
own country and continued quiet for some
time.
The next year, 1918, Illinois was admit
ted into the Union. This event occurred
on the Bird of December. Ninian Edwards
and Jesse 3. Thomas were elected United
States senators. aud John Mclean mem
Der OF the house of representatives.
From this time until the commencement
of the Black Hawk war, the history of this
portion of the country is exceedingly
barren of incident; with the exception OF
treaties with the Indian tribes, and Indian
wars, there is scarcely anything worthy oil
record.
During the year 1919, difficulties oc
Cured between the Sauks and Foxes, and
the Iowa Indians. 1t appears that a
young Sank warrior killed an Iowa Indian,
and according to treaty which had been
made between these tribes the Sauks
prepared to surrender the murderer to
them. They proceeded to the lodge OF
the Indian, but he was found so unWell as
to be unable to travel. His brother mag
naninously agreed to die in his stead A
party crossed the Mississippi, taking the
brother with them and surrendered him to
the Iowas. After doing this they retired
they saw their young brave surrounded by
the lowas, who brandished their knives
and hatchets about his head, and gave
him up for lost. Judge of their surprise
at seeing him ride into their encampment
that evening, the possessor of two horses,
unscathed and untouched. The Iowas,
instead of killing him, had presented him
the horses and let him return home as a
reward for his bravery in conserving to die
the friendship between the Sauks and
lowas. ant, &c
.,.- cough sJrng OF 1920. a sergeant and a
musician, of the garrison of Fort Arm
strong, left the fort one morning to cut
some wood upon the island. The order to
carry guns, whenever they went out, was
foolishly disobeyed by them and they ram
bled off. Some time after they had started,
two shots were heard at the fort, and the
commander, Capt, Matten, though at
peace with the Indians, became alarmed
for their safety. They did not return at
night and the next morning party of SOL
diers went out to search for them. They
were found near the upper end of the island,
killed and scalped. 1t was afterwards
proved that they we're killed by party OF
Winnebagoes.
The same fall another soldier was killed
by party of Indians of the same tribe on
the Illinois side of the river, while out
hunting These attacks upon the garri-
son were unprovoked, and are examples of
the wanton cruelty of the savages.
BY the TX Article of the treaty of 1904
the United States were bound to maintain
a trading house among the Sank and Fox
Indians. This article is in the following
words
In order to put stop to the abuses and lmpo.
stiOns which practiced upon the said tribee by
the private traders, the United States WILL ut con-
venient time, establish trading house. or factory
where the individuals of the said tribes can be sup
piled with goods at n more reasonable rate than
they have been accustomed to procure them"
On the 3rd of September, 1922, the
United States were released from this obi
cation by treaty made at Fort Arm
strong, on condition of their paying 81, 900
to the Sank and Fox tribes of Indians.
This treaty was made by Major Thos. For
sythe, on the party of the United States,
and several chiefs of the Sauks and Foxes.