James D . Henry James D . Henry ( 1797 – March 5 , 1834 ) was a militia officer from the U . S . state of Illinois who rose to the rank of general during the Black Hawk War . Henry was born in Pennsylvania in 1797 , and moved to Edwardsville , Illinois in 1822 . In 1825 , while living in Edwardsville , he was indicted with two other men for the murder of an acquaintance , though he never went to trial . One defendant was tried but found not guilty , and following the trial Henry moved to Springfield , Illinois , where he was elected sheriff . When the Winnebago War broke out in 1827 Henry acted as adjutant for four companies of volunteers . Henry ' s military service continued in the prelude of the Black Hawk War of 1832 . He was put in command of a regiment in 1831 in response to Black Hawk ' s incursion into Illinois in 1831 . Though Black Hawk left without bloodshed , he would come back in April 1832 and ignite the Black Hawk War . Henry played a major role in the Battle of Wisconsin Heights , leading elements of four mounted Illinois militia regiments in combat against Black Hawk ' s warriors . After the war , sick with " disease of the lungs , " Henry sought respite in New Orleans where he died on March 5 , 1834 . Early life . James D . Henry was born in Pennsylvania in 1797 . By the time he reached adulthood , Henry was barely able to read or write , having spent much of his time working in trades . In 1822 he arrived in Edwardsville , Illinois , and began working as a mechanic by day , while attending night school . On January 29 , 1825 , while at the Benjamin Stephenson House for a party , Daniel D . Smith was stabbed to death . Apparently , an argument occurred and Smith was later found in the dining room with a stab wound , as the group was picking him up he uttered " Winchester , " and died . News reports in " The Spectator " ( Edwardsville , Illinois ) indicated that Smith was " killed in an affray " at the Stephenson House . Henry , James W . Stephenson , and Palemon Winchester were indicted for the murder . Though all three men were charged with the crime , Stephenson and Henry were released on bond . Winchester was the only defendant who wound up facing trial in the murder . Winchester ' s lawyer argued that Smith was guilty of verbal assault against the defendant and Winchester was found not guilty . The verdict was reported in " The Spectator " on March 22 , 1825 . In 1826 Henry moved to Springfield , Illinois , where he worked as a merchant . Soon after arriving in Springfield , Henry was elected sheriff of Sangamon County . Military service . Henry ' s first military experience came during the 1827 Winnebago War , while he was working as sheriff . A battalion of four companies was raised in Sangamon County under the command of Colonel Tom M . Neale with Henry acting as adjutant . The group marched to Peoria and then , on to Galena , Illinois . When Red Bird gave himself up , the war ended and the detachment from Sangamon County returned home . Tension rose through the late 1820s and early 1830s between the United States and Sauk leader Black Hawk ' s " British Band . " On May 27 , 1831 , as a result of one of several Sauk " invasions " preceding the 1832 Black Hawk War , Illinois Governor John Reynolds called for 700 volunteer soldiers to meet at Beardstown on June 10 . 1 , 600 men showed up at Beardstown on June 10 and the governor accepted them all into service , organizing the troops into two regiment s ; Henry was appointed commander of the first regiment . The crises ended without bloodshed but less than a year later war would erupt in Illinois and Michigan Territory . On April 5 , 1832 , Black Hawk returned to Illinois , this time to stay , and it triggered the Black Hawk War . James D . Henry , by this time a lieutenant colonel in the Illinois militia , was put in command of a spy ( i . e . scouting ) battalion that was mustered into service in response to an April 16 call for volunteers . Henry ' s spy battalion was under the command of General Samuel Whiteside . Following the Battle of Stillman ' s Run , much of the initial force ' s enlistments expired and they were discharged . When a regiment of volunteers were raised they were put under the command of a Colonel Fry and Henry . The men , a total of 3 , 200 volunteers , marched to Fort Wilburn ( present - day Peru , Illinois ) and were organized into three brigade s . On June 18 , 1832 , James D . Henry was elected general of the 1 , 200 man third brigade . Following several small massacres and skirmishes , and an inconclusive skirmish in late June at Kellogg ' s Grove , Black Hawk and his band fled the approaching militia through Wisconsin . They had passed through what are now Beloit and Janesville , then followed the Rock River toward Horicon Marsh , where they headed west toward the Four Lakes region ( near modern - day Madison ) . The British Band camped for the night near Pheasant Branch . The U . S . force of 600 - 750 militiamen had picked up Black Hawk ' s trail following the Battle of Pecatonica . Colonel Henry Dodge and Henry pursued the band up the Rock River , engaging in minor skirmishes along the way . On 21 July 1832 , the militia caught up with Black Hawk ' s band as they attempted to cross the Wisconsin River , in present - day Roxbury Township , in Dane County , near Sauk City , Wisconsin . Dodge and a Major Ewing came upon the battlefield at Wisconsin Heights first and captured an elevated area that later acquired the name " Militia Ridge . " The militia occupied a solid position as General Henry arrived , accompanied by three regiments of mounted Illinois militia . Henry formed his men into a right angle firing line and exchanged gunfire with Black Hawk ' s men for around 30 minutes . A Dodge - led bayonet charge ended the battle , sending the remaining warriors scattering . Late life and death . When Henry returned from the Black Hawk War it was to public reception and recognition but his time on the campaign had ailed him . He sought respite in the warmer climates of the southern United States . On March 1 , 1834 , at a public meeting in New Salem , Illinois , attended by Abraham Lincoln , the citizens of New Salem offered Henry their " cordial and hearty support " for the office of Governor of Illinois . James D . Henry died in New Orleans , Louisiana on March 5 , 1834 , after contracting a " disease of the lungs . " A memorial service for Henry was held at the Sangamon County Courthouse , in Springfield on April 20 , 1834 , it was attended by Abraham Lincoln and other state dignitaries . The city of Henry , Illinois , established the year he died , was named for him .