New-York tribune., 1903-08-16
IN THE BLACK HAWK WAR
T1co SurUiUors of the Men Who
iSerUed There.

Only two left of the volunteer army that
served in the Black Hawk War. These two
veterans whose the Oldest on the pen
sion roll, are John T. Knox of Los Angeles, CAL
and A. T. Sullenger. Of McLeansboro Ill. The
former has passed his ninety-thrd birthday, and
the latter is nearing the ninety mark.
In 1880 the Indians in the States bordering the
Mississippi had been induced to cede their lands
to the government Having ceded their lands the
Indians went away, but the following year old
Chief Black Hawk and band of his followers the
Sacsr and some OF their neghbors, the Foxes and
Winnebagos, came back on the pretext of planting
corn. The second year they came again with the
same excuse and the invasion was tolerated until
small bands again scattered through the country
leaving in their wake devastated farms and burn
ing houses.
To put a stop to the depredations of the Indians
word was sent to Buffalo for troops but before
they arrived the Governor of Illinois called for
volunteers Three thousand responded and
among these was young Knox, then barely of age
whose father was living in that part Of Southern
1Illhols known as Egypt; and lad named Sui
lenger, stiIl in his teens whose home was in the
northern part Knox joined what was known as
the spy battalion of General Marshall Posey's
brigade. while Sullenger enlisted merely as a pri-
vate being mustered in by Jefferson Davis Those
from the southern end of the State had long and
tresome march of several days, with few stops Tor
rest or food, until they reached Kellogg's Grove
where some blockhouses had been built to serve
fort.
experience in Indian fighting, says: I'VE were te
rest at Kelloggs for the night had just turned
our horses out to feed when of the boys yelled
Injunsr
Sure enough, there across the prairie riding
ike madmen, came three four Indians Nobody
waited for orders, but every man went for his
horse and jumping into the saddle started in pur-
suit The Indians had turned sight of us and
away we all went across the plain like so many
cowboys after a runaway steer.
suddenly the Indians dipped down into gulch.
ana we saw In a second that were in a trap
They had been sent out decoy ducks, and the
game had worked just they planned. out
rushed what seemed thousands of redskns-per-
maps II was not more than seven eight hundred
all naked as they were born. smeared with blood
red paint. and yelling like devils.
I'VE were scared a-plenty. There is no other
name for 1t. The race began in the other direc-
one who should reach the blockhouses first. Their
horses were better than ours and their guns were
just as good, so there nothing in our favor
There was some shooting, and lost FIVE men
and killed few Indians When reached the
blockhouses We had time TO hitch our horses,
but just tumbled off them and ran for shelter
The Indians killed as many of the horses as they
could and off with lot more
After we got into the blockhouses we felt a
little braver. l was standing in front Of one of
them with our leader, Major Dement,, when we saw
an Indian riding like widflre up and down in front
OF US. asked the major to let take a shot at
the redskn. which he did, but II I hit him or any
other Indian l never knew It, Just I rested
my gun the floor with the barrel against nv
breast. two Indians fired at me from a fence