Following the massacre at Fort Dearborn (present-day Chicago), Illinois Territory Governor Ninian Edwards Became convinced that the Potawatami and Kickapoo Indians were going to launch a major attack on settlements in southern Illinois. In his capacity as commander-in-chief in the Territory, he took it upon himself to launch a campaign against them.
The force of 400 that he assembled included mounted militia volunteers commanded by Charles Rector and Benjamin Stephenson. On October 18, 1812, Edwards and his force marched out of Fort Russell (near present-day Edwardsville). Near present-day Springfield, he burned two Kickapoo villages on the Saline Fork of the Sangamon River.
From there, they turned west and marched to present-day Peoria where they attacked villages associated with the Kickapoo, the Miami and the Potawatomi. According to Edwards' account to the U.S. Secretary of War, they burned the villages and large amounts of provisions. They also captured 80 horses, killed more than two dozen Indians and captured 4 prisoners.
That accomplished, they returned to Fort Russell in November 1, 1812. There Edwards proclaimed that the Indian problems had been solved and he released the militia.
Two of the men with Benjamin Stephenson were Robert Hargrave (son of John Robert) and Joseph Palmer (son-on-law of John Robert.)
--Brock-Perry
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