War of 1812 in Illinois Territory-- Part 4: Enter Zachary, Exit Zachary, British Offensive

Other desultory expeditions marked the campaigns of 1813 and 1814.

The Indians, meanwhile, gaining courage, began near continuous marauding raids on American settlements.

Later, in 1814,  an expedition led by Major (later U.S. president)  Zachary Taylor ascended the Mississippi River as far as  Rock Island, where he found a large force of Indians supported by British regulars with artillery.  Finding himself unable to cope with so formidable a foe, Major Taylor retreated down the river.

On the site of the present-day town of Warsaw, Illinois, he threw up fortifications which eh named Fort Edwards.  However, he was subsequently compelled to retreat.

The same year, the British with their Indian allies, descended from Mackinac and capture Prairie du Chien and burned Forts Madison and Johnston, after which they retired to Cap Au Gris.

The Treaty of Ghent, signed December 24, 1814, closed the war although no formal treaties were made  with the tribes until the following year.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Cap au Gris-- Part 2

From Legends of America.

**  Also called Fort Independence.

**  Eighteen miles east of Troy.

**  The small town of Cap au Gris grew up around the fort.

**  Officially laid out inj 1845.

**  By 1876, the arrival of railroads caused the town to disappear.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Cap au Gris-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Also called Capo Gray.  A temporary fort near Troy, Missouri, built by Missouri Rangers (U.S. Mounted Rangers) under the direction of Nathan Boone, son of Daniel Boone.

After his defeat at Fort Johnson, Zachary Taylor (later U.S. president) and his soldiers returned to Cap au Gris in October 1814.

The Battle of Sink Hole was fought nearby on May 24, 1815.

The unincorporated community of Cap au Gris occupies the site of the fort.

--Brock-Perry

Battle of the Sink Hole

From Wikipedia.

Fought May 24, 1815, after the end of the War of 1812 between Missouri Rangers and Indians led by Black Hawk.  The Sauk Indians were either unaware or didn't care that the British had signed the Treaty of Ghent.  Most likely didn't care.  Just because the British were out of the war didn't mean that their land was any safer from American encroachment.

It was fought near a low spot near the mouth of the Cuivre River near the present day Old Monroe near Fort Howard and Fort Cap au Gris.

It was an ambush on the Rangers and resulted in a siege in which seven Rangers, including their commander Captain Peter Craig, were killed.  One Sauk was killed.  There are conflicting accounts of the battle from both sides, however.

In 1816, Black Hawk reaffirmed the Treaty of St.Louis.

--Brock-Perry

Woods Fort, Missouri-- Part 2: Forts and the Battle of Sink Hole

To defend themselves against Indian attack, pioneers of the area (now Lincoln County) built several forts in the area, including Woods Fort, Fort Howard, Fort Stout, Fort Clark and Fort Cap au Gris.

Major Zachary Taylor's command rendezvoused at Woods Fort in September 1814.  Five months later thy did the same at Fort Howard.  Black Hawk's band on Indians skirmished with settlers and the U.S. Mounted Rangers at the Battle of Sink Hole.

--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