Rock Island Argus., 1894-01-20

deeply connected with those of the
tri-cities, for it is upon them that it
depends for the necessary wOrkmen.
The present working force could be
depended upon to supply foremen.
inspectors and leaders of work for
the large increase necessary to put
the arsenal on war basis. The
more skilled labor that makes it's
home in the tri-citics, the better for
the arsenal. The more fine work
men turned out from the arsenal
shops. the better for all concerned in
the large manufacturing interests
centered here. During the past two
years, many improvements have
been completed at the arsenal.
What of the future? 1t is to be
hoped that the new testing machine
for steel. iron and all other structur-
al material, for which bill has been
already introduced in congress NAV
be constructed, that n small gun fac
tory for the manufacture of siege
guns and hOwitzers and field guns
be established and that a small arms
plant or armOry for the manufacture
of the new 80 caliber magazine rifle
and carbine be put up. With chief
of ordnance, whose heart and sonl
are interested in utilizing the facili-
ties OF this great arsenal. and with a
commanding officer capable of man
aging the practical and scientific
part of any of these problems, such
changes are not impossibilities.
Some Island History.
But aside from all these material
considerations, there is an esthetic
side to the island that cannot be
overlooked bv any observer who COM
munes with nature. A few minutes
drive from the main entrance, and
the visitor is in the forest primcval.
There is no suggestion there of the
girdlc CT cities that surround. or of
the busy hum of the wheels in the
shops near by. Even the birds and
squirrels seem happy and safe in the
seclusion afforded by nature.
Through a treaty made with GER
tain Sac and Fox Indians. in 1891.
by Governor William Henry Harri-
son. of Indiana territory. the govern
ment obtained n title TO the island of
Rock Island amosg other lands.
Black Hawk never acknowledged its
validity, claiming it was obtained by
stratagem. consequently in both the
| wars of 1912 and 1882. he fought
against the United States. In 1Sl6Col
Col. +. 4. Smith. of the L. $. riiicmcn
arrived with his regiment and the Sih
L. S. infantry. on the west eud of
the island. which he selected as the
location for 4 fort. Proceeding fur
ther up the river, he left behind the
latter regiment. under Col. Law
renee. The work was named Fort
Armstrong. after the secretary of
war. A picture of the old fort. cop
led from and old photograph. Os5y)
i still eNtant. The fort was garrisoned
| Ivy various companies-genera one
or two at n time-of the 1st. Sd
and 9th L. S. infantry until 1886,
when the settlement of the country
and the removal'o of the Indians made
their presence no longer necessary
The troops then were transferred to
the northwest to form n new skirmish
line for the westward march of civil
ization. In 1881 Gen. Gaines brought
with him from st. Louis to Rock ISL
and the 9th L. 5. infantry To queli
the Indian troubles. Upon the
breaking cut of the Black Hawk war.
Gen. Atkinson brought up the 1st u.
5. infantry. With this regiment
came several officers afterwards cell
ebrated-i.ieut. Col. Zachary TAYLOR.
Capt. w. S. Harney and Lieut. JEFF
ferson Davis. Gen. Scott was also
on the island at the close of this war;
having been sent from the east to di-
rect its operations. Asiatic cholera
of the worst character ragged among
the troops encamped on the ISL
and. but was finally subdued. owing
to the efforts of Surgeon c. A. Fin
ley. afterwards surgeon general, and
father of Mrs. ID. W. Flagler. The ISL
and was in charge of an Indian agent
from its evacuation i'm 1886 by Lieut..
Col. William Davenport. 1st infantry.
to 1910, the last two years under Col.
George Davenport.
From 1Si9 to 1916. some of the
buildings of Fort Armstrong were
used as an ordnance depot under
Capt. w. X. Shoemaker, ordnance
storekeeper L. S. army. From this
time until 1862. the island was in
charge of Il war department custo-
dian. The island was reserved for
military purposes by direction of the
president in 1925.
. During the war prison contain
ing some 1900 Confederate prison
ers. was established on the island
under General Hoffman. U. S. army.
whose widow still lives in Rock Isl
and.
L. The great Rock Island arsenal and
armory presents one of the few in
stances in which our people have
needed Washington's advice. .'In
time of peace prepare for war;" and
it may be relied upon to fulfill its
useful function in our governmental
economy. until war becomes so ter
rible that mankind will refuse to en-
gage in it, or until the dawn of that