Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-09-29
DAYS OF YORE.
When Black Hawk Ruled This
Region.
A VETERAN OF THE INDIAN WAR

Interesting "Reminiscences Rela ted of Those
Times-A Camp in 1S32-Appearance of
the u. S. Troops-IncidentsT That His
tory Now.
John s. Tilford. of Vinton, Benton
county, Iowa. was in Davenport Tues
day and to the Democrat he talked for an
hou. of the days of Zachary Taylor and
Gen. Winfield Scott and the Black Hawk
war. He was here when there wasn't
sign OF a white mans house, and he is
one of the few men living in this day
who were enlisted to fight the Indians in
that struggle. Mr.. Tilford was born
near Charleston. Clarke county. Ind. =.
July 80, 1911. His father was q farmer
and he lived and worked on the farm till,
at the age of 16 years. he was appren-
ticed to Il cabinet maker, with the under
standing that he WAS to have four months
Of each year for schooling. He went to
school six weeks and then threw up the
job of acquiring an education with the
facilities afforded him there. When the
Black Hawk war W as on hand he enlisted
as member of Capt. Lemuel Fords COM
psny or mounted ran gers. There were
115 men in it, all gathered up about
Charleston, and they enlisted for year.
Each man furnished bis horse, rifle and
ammunition, ind contracted to feed him
self. With another Indiana company two
| from Illinois and one from Missouri ard
Arkansas, forming what was known IS
| the Ranger corps. Mr.. Tilford's company
started west. Chicago was passed. Rock
| Island was the next point of importance
reached. The start was made July 4,
| 1882 or Immediately thereafter, but so
much time was lost in one manner and
| another on the road that it wes late in
the summer, early fall in fact. before
| Rock Island was reached. and the Black
| Hawk war was over: Black Hawks In
disns were encsmped in body nine
miles from here, Black Hawk. his son and
other members of his family, as all stu
dents of early history know, were in the
hands of the United States forces as
| prisoners and Gen. Scott was on the
point of concluding u treaty with Black
Hawk. The rangers spent night or two
| in lower Rock Island, and then they
crossed the river and encamped,
ranging their tents along the river
| front there. In day or so the treaty
| was made, and then Gen. Scott and his
| distinguished prisoners took passage on
little steamer that had been sent after
him. and left for Washington.
| Almost concurrent with the arrival of
the rangers here the cholera appeared.
Two member of Mr.. Tilfold's company
| died and were buried near camp while
| the company was in lower.ROck Island
| 1t followed them, and then the
| regiment was moved to the site OF the
| present town of Milan. Later that place
| was abandoned for a camp on top OF
Black Hawks Watch Tower. Tilford
| was accounted the best spring hunter in
the company, and he was sent ont by
| Capt. Ford to reconnoiter for water. Ee
found spring that determined the loca-
ton of the camp, and went by the name
of Tilford's Spring for many years.
About month was spent in camp
here, and then under orders OF the wsr
department, the rangers took up their
march for the Indian Territory.
At Fort Gibson the company was mus
! tered out Swords and pistols had been
furnished by the United States while
they were a, Rock Island. and these arms
were surrendered when the men left the
service. A few years ago Mr.. Tilford
WAS at Rock Island arsenal, the guest OF
Col Flsgler He was shown the stump
cad OF tie old flagstaff. which had been
excavs;ed from IFS place near the island
end OF the bridge. and was offered
enough OF it 20 make him cane. He
cined this in favor CT an old fash
toned, long out of date sabre, crooked as
Persian scimeter, and the counterpart
of the sword he had drawn and worn at
Rock Island and on his march to the
southwest. He has it yet.
The camp at Rock Island was enliv-
ened by the presence of several compan-
les of United States regular soldiers, as
we'll as by number of other volunteer
companies. In one OF the latter
was Abraham Lincoln, an under
officer, and Mr.. Tilford remembers
saeIng him here. He also recalls
| ]. fferson Davis, who was then a lieu; en-
ant in charge of regular company
About that time it was that this young
man took his command and made the
descent OF the river TO the Indian town
OF Flint Hills. where a presumptuous lot