The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-06-20
THE STATE ENCAMPMENT,

town of at least 10000 souls, this famous rock
presented itself to the eye of La Sale, as he
made his way down the river over 200 years
ago, as natural fertilization, inviting him to
make here his resting place, the heart Of his
colony, the center of French conquest and
civilization in the great west. And the appeal
was not in vain. Here La Sale founded his
colony and here for more than third of
century was the centre Of French influence.
SO long rs the iron-handed, but tender.
hearted Tonti lived and ruled, the colony
tlourshed on the trade OF rich country alive
with confident ard well satisfied Indians. AZ
ter his death, when the control of affairs fell
into the hands of the Governor Of Canada, the
trading post became a nest Of INSCRIPTIONS
agents, who swindled the natives, and out.
ragged and debauched their women, so iucen.
sing the chiefs and warriors that on bright
summer morning in l7lS, after nights revel
and debauch, Capt. La Mott, the commandant,
and his men, were awakened from sleep by
Chief Zero and 800 warriors, who thereupOn
expelled the French and destroyed the fort.
The French were scattered, and French intu-
ence on the upper Illinois came to an end.
However, in 1855, before the death of Tonti
one Capt Richard Piletta made his appearance
at the Rock-Fort st. Louis, as then called
and after number of days declared his mis-.
sion rs an emissary of the Canadian Govern
or, demanding Of Tonti the surrender to him
of the command of the fort. Tonti replied by
knocking four of Pietta's front teeth out with
his iron hand and tumbng him down the
rock; and lie made his descent rapidly if
not gracefully, and with lamentable effect to
his pantaloons and dignity. Petta made his
way TO La Vantum," where he found de-
gree of sympathy, and with number of his
countrymen and warriors, he made his way
up the river and on Buffalo Rock erected
block house and store house and surrounded
them with earthworks and palisades. Large
numbers Of the Indians followed him, and the
bppamp 81 town
The place was named Fort des Miames,"
and there for many years Piletta traded, mar
ried and raised tlourishing family of half
breeds, growing rich and prosperous. His
descendants after his death went to Peoria,
and some are now living on the " American
Bottom"
Tradition says one Of the largest of the
mounds on the summit Of Buffalo Rock was
erected over the grave of Piletta; but the
mounds have long since been leveed by the
pillow,
Buffalo Rock was long a favorite dwelling
place for the Indians, who could not have been
indifferent 10 the many charms it must have
had ere the changing hand the white man fell
upon it. Tradition says bloody battle was
fought here during the French occupancy,
but 1t is but tradition; and after it was aban-
doned by the French little is known of it until
the beginning of the present century. In the
early days of English settlement, it was one of
the haunts of a notorious outlaw named Ma
son, and many river trader beside Pierre
Choutau of st. Louis, and John Kinzie, of
Fort Dearborn, found it a den of thieves and
cut-throats In the Canal war" of 1888, Col
d. +. Hit here routed the rebelious work
men on the canal. At the foot of the Rock,
too, stood the home of David Singleton, the
kidnapping of whose daughter by the outlaw
Mason, and her rescue through the good off
ces of Shabbona, is one of the romances Of
the place.
Ri1f fu1n Rnnl 10 N nf, al MI
large for such Il handful of men as La Sale
lad gathered around him, for the rock is ac-
cessible in many places, whereas Starved Rock
can be scaled in one place only and few men
could hold it against II multitude; but to-day
Buffalo Rock could be manned to command
the whole Valley. Its st a'cgic importance is
not great now, perhaps, but the Topographic
none the less interesting when considered as
permanent camp of militia.
In view Of the possibility Of the establish
ment of permanent camp for the |. n. e. for
Northern Illinois, Buffalo Rock is beginning
to excite interest with Others than the geolo-
gist, the student of the theory of storms in
the Illinois Valley, the relic hunter, or the
farmer, who has held possession SO many
years, oyerturning and leycling the traces of
its past history and growing crops OF corn on
lands fertilized by the blood and bones of
race of men long since gone never to return.
Few spots in Illinois are more attractively
situated or prepared by nature for a camp
ground than Buffalo Rock The Rock is about
60 feet high, the summit, containing 70 or
more acres, being readily accessible by wagon
roads at either the east or west ends. On the
south or river side it rises abruptly from the
river a rocky cliff, while the north side is
equally precpitous, the places of ascent being
at the ends. The summit is fringed around
with forest trees, there being on the south
quite an extensive grove, while the centre is
an open plain. On the south is a shallow ra-
vine, full of pretty hooks, while from almost
any point of observation delightful view Of
the Illinois may be had, exceeding in extent
and variety of scenery even the prospect from
Starved Rock itself eight townships Of La
Sale county being plainly visible from differ
ent points. The centre OF the summit is
cultivated field, quite level, except that, look
ing west from the head OF the ascent on the
east, there is n gentle rise, some hundreds of
yards distant an ideal spot for a sham bat
tie with troops deploying around the neck of
woods and advancing to the capture of a re-
doubt or battery on the high ground to the
west, while there is parade ground room at
many places for the maneuvres OF several
regiments of soldiers.
The Rock Island Railroad tracks pass close
to the Rock on the north bank of the canal,
not over 400 or 500 yards distant, where they
have ample room for the erection of such sta
ton buildings as the necessities of the camp
would require with the bridge over the canal
sef-acting hydraulic ram would supply water
everywhere needed; while the woods on the
bluff north would furnish fuel, cheap and
abundant. Descent to the river at the south
east corner of the Rock could easily and mex.
be made, giving access to boat land
ing on the river for pleasure boating Loca-
ted high above the surrounding country, with
the river at the south, east and west, there is
always breeze, and camp would always be
cool and comfortable. and with the best Of
drainage facilities could be kept clean and
healthy with little labor or expense.
Soldiers In camp are not, Of course, expect
ed to be "gadding about the country" but
camp OF this kind has always about 1t small
army of followers, who are at liberty to come
and go at will, spectators of the ''mimicry OF
war;" and fair ones, before whose charms
"grim visay'd war hath smOothed his wriHkled
front" and will again! To these, the non
combatants, the charms of the country form
an important item.
A few miles west Of the Rock is the "Spring
Valley House," where are the sulphur springs,
sending forth immense volumes of water. Ira
dition says that years before the advent OF the
white man Indians from long distances went