Alexander Posey ( general ) Alexander Posey ( c . 1794 - ? ) was an American militia officer who served as a brigadier general under General Henry Atkinson during the Black Hawk War , specifically in the later stages of the second campaign as one of the commanders present at the Battle of Bad Axe . Biography . Born in Orange County , Virginia to Revolutionary War General Thomas Posey and Mary Alexander , Alexander Posey was a physician in Gallatin County , Illinois when he was elected brigadier general by the volunteers gathered at Dixon ' s Ferry on June 13 , 1832 , possibly due to being the brother - in - law of U . S . Indian Agent Joseph Street . Assigned to command one of three brigades under General Henry Atkinson two days later , Posey was sent to Fort Hamilton accompanied by two companies of regulars under Hugh Brady on June 20 . On June 25 , a detachment of soldiers from his command under Major John Dement were involved in a large skirmish with a Sauk war party under Neapope and Weesheet while encamped at Burr Oak Grove . Posey attempted to relieve Dement setting out from nearby Buffalo Grove , however the Sauk had retreated only two hours before his arrival . Five soldiers and twenty horses had been killed while nine Sauk were observed on the field . He briefly searched north for the raiding party then returned to Kellogg ' s Grove to await wait for the baggage - wagons before continuing on to Fort Hamilton where he made camp along the Pecatonica River on June 28 . Shortly after the Spafford Farm massacre , Dodge and Colonel William S . Hamilton arrived at Posey ' s encampment to take over Posey ' s command . Posey had previously received a letter from Atkinson on June 28 which stated " " You will report and receive the orders of Genl . Dodge as practicable , who is an officer of great experience & merit & is aquatinted with the country . " " However , Posey refused to turn over his command to Dodge outright . Dodge agreed not to take his command by force and instead suggested they put the decision to the Illinois militiamen , with whom Dodge had considerable support . Of those most outspoken included Major Demet who had told his men " " would lead them on to victory and retrieve the honor which a short time before they had lost in an Indian fight under Posey . " " This statement accurately reflected the resentment against Posey for his refusal to use his main force against the raiding party which had attacked Demet ' s men . The " Illinois Herald " , a local Springfield newspaper , also campaigned for his removal in favor of Dodge citing cowardice and lack of aggressive leadership . However , due in part to a personal appeal to his men as well as " " a matter of state pride " " , Posey retained his command by a small majority . This caused some distention in the ranks as Demet reportedly tore up his commission , threw the shredded paper on the ground and spat on them , before resigning his command of his battalion . Meeting up with Major Henry Dodge ' s battalion from Galena , Illinois , the two eventually rejoined General Atkinson , accompanied General Milton Alexander and General James D . Henry , at the White River or Whitewater on July 6 . During the match , he and Dodge encountered White Crow and thirty Winnebagos . Offering to lead Posey and Dodge to Black Hawk ' s camp , they followed White Crow and his warriors through near impassible wilderness and swampland for several days . The party were reportedly only a short distance from Black Hawk ' s camp when they received a direct order from Atkinson to join him at his encampment on Bark River , part of eastern Lake Koshkonong . As Atkinson ' s forces began to run low on provisions , Posey sent his 2nd Regiment under Colonel Ewing to accompany Alexander , Henry and Dodge to Fort Winnebago for supplies while he was sent back to Fort Hamilton to guard the mining country left exposed by Dodge ' s absence . In late - July , Posey moved out from Fort Hamilton to join Atkinson ' s expedition at Fort Blue Mounds preparing for the final confrontation with Black Hawk ' s band at the Battle of Bad Axe where , during August 1 – 2 , he and Alexander would command the ring flank in support of the main center force of regulars under Dodge .