Talk Tonight About Battle of Rock Island Rapids-- Part 2

Campbell's Island (near East Moline) was the site of the Battle of Rock Island Rapids, one of the western-most battles of the War of 1812.  (The Battle is also called the Battle of Campbell's Island.)

A band of approximately 500  Sauk warriors, allied with the British Army, clashed on July  19, 1814, with an American force let by Lieutenant John Campbell of the 1st United States Regiment of Infantry.

Campbell was leading three small gunboats along the Mississippi River to carry military supplies to Fort Shelby, located at the present-day site of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, when they were ambushed by Sauk, Fox and Kickapoo Indians led by  Chief Black Hawk.

There were some 400 Indians versus 33 U.S. Regulars and  65 Illinois Rangers.  This was an American loss.

Losses for the Indians put at more than two killed.  For the Americans 14 killed and 37 total casualties.

--Brock-Perry

Talk Tonight About the Little-Known War of 1812 Battle of Rock Island Rapids

From the January 11, 2022, Quad Cities.com "Learn about War of 1812 Battle of Rock Island Rapids on Wednesday library program" by Jonathan Turner.

Rock island is part of the Quad-Cities straddling the Iowa-Illinois border on the Mississippi River.

Kevin Braafladt,   the Army   Sustainment Command Deputy Historian at the Rock Island  Arsenal and Army  Sustainment Command History Office will give a free talk Wednesday, January 12 at 6 pm (CST) about a Quad-City battle fought during the War of 1812. 

This session (presented by the Davenport Public Library) will discuss the Battle of Rock Island Rapids within the context of the War of 1812 as well as the local conflicts that broke out during the war on the Mississippi River.

This program is scheduled to be held in person at the Main Davenport Public Library at 321  N. Main Street and it will also be held virtually.

So, if you're living in the area you have time to go, or you can attend virtually by going to the library site and registering for Zoom.

--Brock-Perry

Illinois' 200th-- Part 3: The War of 1812

In September 1813, Americans built Fort  Clark in Peoria.  In June 1814,  William Clark built Fort Shelby  at Prairie du Chien in Wisconsin Territory.  This was the William Clark who was in the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

The British captured Fort Shelby in July and renamed it Fort McKay.  Two American attempts to recapture it were turned back at Rock Island Rapids and Credit Island, which I have written about before.  Click on the labels.  These were the final actions of the War of 1812 in this area.

Hostilities between Indians and Americans would continue, reigniting in the Winnebago War of 1827 and the Black Hawk War of 1832.

Five million acres of land in the Illinois Territory between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, below Rock Island were set aside as the Military Tract of 1812 to pay soldiers land grants for their War of 1812 service.This is over one-eighth of the land in present-day Illinois and some of it was in Indian occupied area, causing many to side with Black Hawk in the forthcoming hostilities.

--Brock-Perry

This John Campbell Not the One At the Battle of Rock Island Rapids

There was a bit of confusion of these two John Campbells.  But, I am sure the John campbell mortally wounded at the Battle of Chippawa was not the one commanding Americans at the Battle of Rock Island Rapids.

--Brock-Perry

This John B. Campbell Is Not the One From the Battle of Rock Island Rapids

I was looking to find out more information on the commander of American forces at the Battle of Rock Island Rapids and for whom Campbell island was named for in Illinois.

I came across the name of John B. Campbell, an American officer during the War of 1812, and initially thought he was the same.  This is the man I wrote about in yesterday's post.

It turns out they are two different men, but I did see some sources confusing the two.

The Battle of Rock Island Rapids was fought July 19, 1814.  The Colonel John B. Campbell I wrote about in the last post was mortally wounded at the Battle of Chippawa on July 5, 1814, and died August 28, 1814.

--Brock-Perry

Defenses and Battles in Missouri, Iowa and Illinois Territories-- Part 2

4.  Fort Shelby, defeated 1814. Where the Wisconsin River flows into the Mississippi River at present-day Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

5.  Battle of Rock Island Rapids, July 1814 and the Battle of Credit Island, September 1814, by the Quad Cities of Iowa and Illinois.

6.  Fort Johnson, abandoned 1814.  Where the Des Moines Rover joins the Mississippi River.

7.  Fort Cap au Gris and the Battle of Sinkhole, May 1815.  On the Mississippi River, a short distance above St. Louis.

--Brock-Perry

Campbell's Island-- Part 2: An American Defeat

Three American gunboats were heading up the Mississippi River with military supplies for Fort Shelby at present day Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.  One of the boats had 42 people in it, including soldiers of the 1st U.S. Infantry regiment and their families.  The other two had 66 United States Rangers.

The Indians attacked and forced the Americans to turn back.  The Americans lost eight killed in the 1st U.S. Infantry and sixteen wounded.  Four Rangers were killed and eight wounded.

This defeat helped the Sauk Indians to maintain control over the Quad City area (Bettendorf and Davenport, Iowa, and Moline and Rock Island, Illinois) for almost twenty more years.

The Campbell's Island State Memorial was dedicated in 1908.

--Brock-Perry

The Battle of Rock Island Rapids-- Part 3: About the Monument

The Mary Little Deere-Fort Armstron Chapter of the D.A.R. is based in Molene, Illinois, (one of the Quad Cities) and has 150 members and is one of the oldest in the United States.  So far they have raised $9,000 of the expected $65,000 needed to restore the monument.

There are four plaques on it.

One reads:  "This shaft bears witness to the heroism of Lieuts. John Campbell, Steve Rector, Jonathan Riggs, Surgeon John Steward, 33 U.S. Regulars and 65 Illinois Rangers who on this spot valiantly battled for their country."

Karpeles Museum is located at 700 22nd Street in Rock Island.  It features an exhibit containing 27 documents, including the June 25, 1812 Declaration of War, and items written by John Quincy adams, James Madison and James Monroe.

--Brock-Perry

The Battle of Rock Island Rapids-- Part 2: Sixteen Americans Killed, Including One Woman and One Child

The 143 Americans encountered friendly Indians at first, but as they moved into the Rock Island Rapids, they were attacked.  Sixteen Americans were killed (one woman and one child among  them) and twenty-four, including Lt. Campbell were wounded.

Black Hawk claimed that he had two killed.

Afterwards, the Sauk Indians controlled the Quad-Cities area for almost twenty years.

The island was named in honor of Lt. Campbell and the monument to the action was dedicated July 20, 1908 with a huge crowd, speeches, music and a reenactment.

--Brock-Perry

The Battle of Rock Island Rapids-- Part 1: Ambushed by Black Hawk

From the March 5, 2017, Quad-City Dispatch-Argus "Campbell's Island 1814 battle recalled by 'survivor' by Jonathan Turner.

Susan McPeters, portraying the wife of one of the soldiers at the battle, put on a one-woman show in period dress.

On July 19, 1814, 500 Sauk Indians, led by the famous warrior Black Hawk attacked U.S. soldiers in boats in an expedition led by Lieutenant John Campbell in one of the westernmost battles of the war.

Lt. Campbell had command of three gunboats and was carrying military supplies north from St. Louis along the Mississippi River to Fort Shelby, at the present-day site of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

--Brock-Perry

Preserving the Monument on Campbell's Island, Illinois

From the March 5, 2017, WQAD 8, Quad Cities (Ill. and Iowa)  "War of 1812 reenactment put on in efforts to help preserve local historical monument" by Yessinia Chavez.

I wrote about this in the last post.

The Kapeles Museum in Rock Island and the Marry Little Deere-Fort Armstrong Chapter of the Daughters of the American revolution are having a reenactment of the War of 1812's Battle of Rock Island Rapids.

This is part of their effort to preserve the historical monument on Campbell's Island commemorating the battle.  They years and elements have worn it down.

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: Future American President Defeated at Rock Island, Illinois Territory

SEPTEMBER 5TH, 1814:  At Rock Island, Illinois territory, an American force led by Major Zachary Taylor is defeated by an alliance of Sac (Sauk), Fox, Kiikaapol (Kickapoo), Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) and Sioux led by Chief Black Hawk (Makataimeshekiakiak).

They were assisted by British Indian Department officers.

Definitely not the last time we hear from Chief Black Hawk.

Also on September 5th:  The British withdraw from Bangor and Hampden, District of Maine.

Good Thing Chicago's Hockey Team Isn't  Called the Makataimeshekiakiaks.  --Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: Battle of Rock Island Rapids, Illinois

JULY 21ST, 1814:

Battle of Rock Island Rapids, Illinois Territory.  An American force attempting to relieve Fort Shelby at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin Territory, is defeated by Sac (Sauk) Fox and Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo) Indians.

While on Lake Huron, Captain Arthur Sinclair's flotilla captures the merchantman Mink, laden with provisions for St. Mary's River, Upper Canada.

--Brock-Perry