The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-09-22
A VETERAN.

The Vinton Eagle contains the following
interesting sketch of one of the veterans
of the Black Hawk war:
It is hard to realize the fact that fifty
years ago only, the border wars with
the Indians occurred several hundred
miles east of the Mississippi, instead of
along the base of and in the Rocky Noun.
tain regions; that this goodly land of Iowa
was wholly under control of the Red Man;
and that the present site of the city of
Davenport is spot where treaties were
made with the Indians, at the close of the
Black Hawk war. 1t is hard to realize all
this, nevertheless it is true. And living
in Vinton is a man who was present at
that treaty, September 81, 1882.
Mr.. j. s. Tilford enlisted under Capt.
Ford, in the Ranger corps, at Charleston,
Indiana, July 4, 1881, for one year, to
take part in the Indian troubles
then disturbing the ''borders"
in Wisconsin and Illinois
The Rangers marched via Indianapolis to
Chicago (then Fort Dearborn) where they
eamped four days to rest. We haven't the
data to follow the daily marches to Dixon's
Ferry on Rock river, where they Joined
the regulars under Gen. Winfield Scott,
also some Illinois volunteers. The COM
mand marched to the Mississippi at Rock
Island aud crossed into Iowa Sept. 90.
1881, on the present site of Davenport
where on the following day, was conclud-
ed treaty by Gen. Scott and Gov. Rey-
nolds with the Winnebagoes and Sacs and
Fox Indians. The battle of Bad AK, which
closed the Blackhawk war, had taken
place some time in August, and at this
time Blackhawk was fugitive somewhere
in Iowa, but was subsequently captured
After the treaty the rangers recrossed
the Mississippi and .camped south of Rock
river near the Indian village. While at
this camp the cholera broke out among the
troops, and good many died-some, Mr..
Tilford said, lived but five minutes after
the first attack. Mr.. Tilford himself suf-
fered with the disease, being attacked
while writing letter. He says that in
eight minutes time he was helpless. The
camp was named Camp Cholera.
In November or December the camp
started on an expedition, to treat with the
Indians of the Southwest, marching
through jefferson City, Mo-, to Fort Glib
son in the Indian territory, where they
went into winter quarters. In the latter
part of May, 1888, the command started on
an expedition to Red river, southwest of
FIT. Gibson. They took ratIons for fifteen
uayS, Dul WGTG Out Two IklOutuS. UClu3
forty-fou days without bread and without
salt as we'll The result was, though they
found plenty of game. the soldiers suffered
terribly from dysentery, and got back to
camp nearly finished. Some of the soldiers
deserted after being out Jews days, and
stole the -four belonging to some of the
messes. Mr.. Tilford says he gave COM
rade fifty cents for a half-pound of -four,
and offered his horse and equipments to
another for pound. Between the
and Red rivers, one of their men,
Serg't Abbey, was catured by Indians.
He was in pursuit of buffalo
which ran into little grove where
\ band of Indians were camped.
Before he was aware of the presence of
,he Indians he was surrounded and cap
,ured. The rangers followed the trail four
lays, but failed to overtake the captors,
md Serg't Abbey was killed.
The pay of soldier was then dollar a
lay, he to find his own horse and equip
nents, except holster pistols and sword
The government furnished rations when |
he troops were where they could be fur
lished when not, they were allowed ten |
,ents day Communication; or, as Mr.. Til
'ord expresses it, Uncle Sam paid the boys |
ZEN cents a day for starving.
Mr.. Tilford is now past seventy years of
.ge, and almost as boyish as ever. He re- |
members distinctly the principal events of
his years service as Ranger, and relates |
MANY interesting stories of the campaign. |