Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-06-01
EARLY WAR DAYS.
ing Information About the Black
hawk Struggles.

MT. McMUSt0r Ulvcb sumo AutcHcse.
ing Information About the Black
Hawk Struggles.
Mr.. 8. w. Mem aster. of this city, has
furnished the Galena Gazette with some
interesting "reminiscences of the Black
Hawk war days in this vicinity. Among
other things he says:
When came to Galena in the spring
of 1888. l had letter of introduction
from my good friend, DR.. Bowen. of Lit,
tie Falls, New York, brother of L. III.
Bowen, to DR.. Addison Phileo. The
doctor conducted and edited the only
newspaper then published in the Dorth>
west, and during the Black Hawk war
accompanied Gen. Dodge, of Dodgeville,
as sort of aid and correspondent of his
paper, all through that perilous campaign
against the 800 or 400 half-starved Sacks
and Foxes
The doctors account of this Indian
campaign did more to bring his chief. the
general, into notice as an Indian fighter
the hero of the Black Hawk war, than
anything else.
Governor Ford, IN his history of Illi-
hoiop Gays oCh liCGIlt vi QulDty, was
the true hero of this war and did more
than anyone else to bring it to success
full issue. Col. VIM. s. Hamilton went
out under Gen. Dodge believe. From
some cause an angry dispute arose be,
tween them. The old general drew his
pistols and handed one to the colonel
telling him TO defend himself. mo
general. My present duty is to my coun.
try. After this little war is over l will
meet you if you still wish me to-"
Hamilton was never called upon to fulfil
his pledge, and he and the general we're
ever after good friends.
The brave, genial. cratic colonel be,
came somewhat embarrassed by his
smelling and mining operations and went
out to California in 1s49, with hundreds
of Others from the lead mines, to try and
retrieve his fortunes, and died there many
years ago. Good. genial VIM. Straw
bridge went out to California during the
same year, and for the same purpose,
started back home unsuccessful, and died
on his way back, IN New York His wild
ow, the sister of James Mitchell, died a
few days ago in Kansas. She was the
widow of George Eames when Mr. Straw.
bridge married her. Mr.. Eames was the
uncle of my wife and was killed by the
Indians near Elizabeth, in 1882. There
were some rather amusing incidents that
occurred about Galena during the war.
A company Of volunteers under the
command l believe of the redoubtable
Col. Strobe, were stationed on the hill
overlooking the town, as a guard against
Indian invasion. The colonel got the
idea that Galeneans needed a stirring up
to the sense of their danger. Sometime
in the night. after all had retired TO their
peaceful slumbers. the roar of cannon
and rattle of musketry Was heard and the
cry went up, The Indiansl The Indians
are upon usr' Half the town, men
women and children, rushed out from
their homes. many of them in their night
clothes. They all rushed for the block
house, which was on Bench street near
the intersection of Diagonal street. They
crushed into the block house. pell nell,
some crying, some praying. In the
morning there was some tall swearing at
the author Of the foolish scare, whoever
he might be, but this was hard to find
out at that time. What old settler of
those early times has not heard of the
battle of Kishwakie, in which Col. Strobe
had command, and of the many lnQuiring
strangers sent to him for information re.
garding that noted locality and of his an
CRY answer to them.
In the battle, or rather scare, of Still
mans Run, the heroes of 10 Daviess
Dustin guished themselves, under the COM
msnd of Col. Jas. W. Stevenson. There
was another scare occurring year or two
earlier, growing out of the trouble with
the Winuebagoes. / started, 1t believe,
in the neighborhood of Willow Springs.
A great noise was heard in the distance
and some one supposing it was the Indi-
ans on the warpath, started on horseback
for Galena. giving the alarm all along the
road. A large number started for Galena
for safety, but before they reached there
they learned that it was false alarm, or
iginating with some noisy hog drovers
The few settlers between Rock river and
the Wisconsin had reason to be alarmed
at the commencement of the Black Hawk
outbreak, because the Indians. whe n they
first left Rock Island. scattered in small
detached bands and struck in so many
places that it was difficult to find them or
tell what little settlement would not be
attacked. The early settlers who first
opened up this magnificent country OF
northern Illinois, deserve all praise and
credit for the hardships they endured and
their descendants who now occupy the
many thousand happy homes in this sec
ton should preserve and cherish theil
| memory. s. w. MCMAsTER.