Warrior ( steamboat ) Warrior was a privately owned and constructed steamboat that was pressed into service by the U . S . government during the Black Hawk War to assist with military operations . " Warrior " was constructed and launched in 1832 at Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania by Joseph Throckmorton who also served as the vessel ' s captain . Once constructed the vessel traveled to St . Louis and into the war zone . " Warrior " played a key role in the decisive Battle of Bad Axe . Following the war the steamboat continued its service under Throckmorton along the Upper Mississippi River . Launching . The steamboat " Warrior " was both privately built and owned . The 111 - foot ( 33 . 8 m ) boat was built by Joseph Throckmorton , who also owned the vessel in a partnership with Galena , Illinois resident William Hempstead . It was launched in Pittsburgh during the summer of 1832 with Captain Throckmorton at the helm . The side wheeled vessel had no cabin or accommodations for passengers but towed behind it a barge meant for passengers . Throckmorton brought the new boat and its barge to St . Louis and then set out for the war zone by mid - summer 1832 . Black Hawk War . Background . As a consequence of an 1804 treaty between the governor of Indiana Territory and a group of Sauk and Fox leaders regarding land settlement , the tribes vacated their lands in Illinois and moved west of the Mississippi in 1828 . However , Sauk Chief Black Hawk and others disputed the treaty , claiming that the full tribal councils had not been consulted , nor did those representing the tribes have authorization to cede lands . Angered by the loss of his birthplace , between 1830 – 31 Black Hawk led a number of incursions across the Mississippi River into Illinois , but was persuaded each time to return west without bloodshed . In April 1832 , encouraged by promises of alliance with other tribes and the British , he again moved his so - called " British Band " of around 1 , 000 warriors and non - combatants into Illinois . Finding no allies , he attempted to return across the Mississippi ( to present - day Iowa ) , but the undisciplined Illinois Militia ' s actions led to the Battle of Stillman ' s Run . A number of other engagements followed , and the militia of Michigan Territory and the state of Illinois were mobilized to hunt down Black Hawk ' s band . The conflict became known as the Black Hawk War . The " Warrior " was one of several steamboats pressed into service by the U . S . government for use by military forces after the outbreak of the 1832 Black Hawk War . " Warrior " was used mostly as a troop transport during the war but it played a key role in the war ' s final battle . Some of the other steamboats utilized during the war included the " Chieftain " and the " Enterprise " . Battle of Bad Axe . A few days before the decisive Battle of Bad Axe , " Warrior " was chartered by a United States Army major at Prairie du Chien , Wisconsin for the purpose of delivering a message to the Sioux tribe . Lieutenant James W . Kingsbury , and Lieutenant Reuben Holmes were then ordered to take 15 U . S . Army troops , and six militia volunteers on board the vessel and head northward , toward the village of Sioux chief Wabasha . The men loaded a six pound cannon and ammunition on the steamboat and set out to deliver the message that the Sauk and Fox were fleeing the U . S . forces . The meeting was an attempt to gain the alliance of Wabasha ' s warriors on the west side of the Mississippi River . While returning from this mission on August 1 , the vessel came across the remnants of Black Hawk ' s British Band attempting to cross the Mississippi River and flee the pursuing militia force . Waving a white flag , Black Hawk tried to surrender , but as had happened in the past the soldiers failed to understand and the scene deteriorated into battle . The warriors who survived the initial volley found cover , returned fire and a two - hour firefight ensued . The " Warrior " eventually withdrew from battle , due to lack of fuel , and returned to Fort Crawford at Prairie du Chien . Black Hawk and the other British Band leaders fled during the night and on August 2 militia and federal troops attacked the remnants of the group at the mouth of the Bad Axe River . " Warrior " returned after obtaining more wood in Prairie du Chien , leaving the refueling point about midnight and arriving at Bad Axe about 10 a . m . The battle had already commenced when the steamboat arrived and it joined in on a slaughter that lasted the next eight hours . Following the battle the " Warrior " carried Henry Atkinson and his staff to Fort Crawford where they met with Zachary Taylor , and after a short trip General Winfield Scott . Later service . Following the defeat of Chief Black Hawk , Throckmorton continued to operate " Warrior " on the Upper Mississippi River for several years . Historical records indicated that on June 24 , 1835 the steamboat Warrior arrived at Fort Snelling , Minnesota with supplies and a party of tourists . The vessel ' s crew at the time still included Captain Throckmorton , as well as clerk E . H . Gleim , and pilot William White . Among the notable passengers on the list were , George W . Jones , Marie Pauline Gregorie , who was the widow of slain U . S . Indian Agent Felix St . Vrain , and artist George Catlin . " Warrior " arrived at Fort Snelling again on July 16 . During the 1830s the " Warrior " was one of about 12 vessels that carried large amounts of supplies , mostly food and clothing , to Fort Snelling . Old newspapers in Galena , Illinois also give some indication of the " Warrior " ' s activity in the few years after the Black Hawk War . In the fall of 1835 " The Galena Advertiser " reported that river navigation was closed as of November 7 and that the " Warrior " , along with the steamboat " Galena " , had departed for Pittsburgh . Navigation reopened , after the winter , in April 1836 , and the " Advertiser " stated that the " Warrior " was one of several vessels that had departed for St . Louis .