The Cairo bulletin., 1911-06-10
AN INDIAN FIGHTER
LAST SURVIVOR OF BLACK HAWK
WAR 1902 YEARS OLD AT
ELMWooD, Ill.
Tells Thrilling Story of lcampalgn
Through Northern liIinois--Major
Stilmans Defeat by Blanck
Hand
illinois Statement

GERS WHO luueII lHuidIlS Wien iiih"
dis was in its infacy
Avery Dalto is 1902 years oil ani
he can tell more of the early history
Of the woods and prairies of this state
| from actual experience than can bc
learned from many histories OF the
stirring times Of old He is probably
| the last survivor Of the veterans Of
members distinctly the events Of thai
war from the time that Governor Rey-
nolds issued the call from the state
| capital at Belleville until the Indian
| band of Sacs. Foxes, Sioux and CHIP.
pewas was driven out or the STATE.
Although feeble because of the bur
den of many years, Mr.. Dalton still
| delights TO tell of the hardshipsA CT
the journey across the wilderness IN
| he northern part of the state--tne
wilderness that is now covered with
corn fields and dotted with many large
cities, prosperous villages and exper.
sive farm houses.
He joined the military company, OF
which he was a member, In ELTON
county and under the command OF
Major Stillma, went ito camp at
Eeardstown Three companies were
in the command when Major Stillman
began his march from Beardstown to
Oquawka, a city the on the frontier.
To residents of northern Illinois to-
lay, Mr. Dalton's' description Of the
| march must seem strange. Tne
country was sparsely settled and for
niles no habitation was seen. The
officials In charge of the command
rad failed to provide sufficient ratlons
'or he long march and food became
scarce At one stage in the Journey
he me were almost exhausted for
lack of aythng TO eat. Mr.. Dalton
md some others in the commend
found the bones of a COW that had
been recently killed. With the mar.
'ow of the bones kind of soup, or
gravy, was made and the half starved
"ecruits devoured it greedily.
From Oquawa the command mar.
he'd northward to INxon, smah
village of frame and log houses. There
200 men under command of Major
Bailey joined the militiamen,
Black Hawk and the other Indians
VINO had lived for many ears on the
and were resisting the encroachment
If the whites to whom the land had
)een sold under an agreement with
he government. Governor Reynolds
had called out the troops to quell
his disturbance and force the Ind
ans to give up the land.
On May IA, Major Stillman, at the
read of his 270 men, left Dixon in
3earcn of Black Hawk and his band,
Mr. Dixon says that he distinctly re-
members the departure of the men.
lie remained at Dixon under orders
# his superior officers and the news
Of the success or failure of the expe
lition was eagerly awaited.
1t was slow coming.
Stllman's Defeat.
One of the struggling remnants OF
Major Stillman's command reached
camp at Dixon the next day with news
Of the battle and the disastrous &C.
feat at the hands of Black Hawk ana
his warriors.
1t is claimed that Black Hawk, with
only forty Indians, defeated the 270
men. When the white men reached
Sycamore Creek, the proper precau'
ions were not taken, and Indians ~
ing in ambush on the opposite side or
he creek opened fire. Major Stillman
had not crossed with the advance
guard and he gave orders to retreat,
but it was too late. Half of the COM
mand was on one side or the creek
and half on the other.
A flight was the result the white
men running in every direction to
save their lives. It was at first re-
ported that sixty or seventy men
were killed; but it proved afterwards,
only twelve were actually known to
have lost their lives.
After this defeat Governor Rey-
nolls Issued a proclamation calling
out 1000 men, in addition to the
troops already under arms, to assem-
bic at Hennepin, on the Illinois river,
by June 10. He considered this noum-
Der necessary ito subdue the Indians
and drive them out of the state"
troops belonging to the regular army.
trops belonging to the regular army,
nut an end to the Black Hawk war.
With the regulars so strong, he re-
manned at Lake Coshka-nong. The
militia. consisting OF three brigades,
about 1000 men, were under com.
mand of General Posey, Dodge and
Henry. They were ordered to march
TO Fort WiunebApO WHARF sforns were