In October 1812, Ninian Edwards, Illinois Territory governor, launched a three-pronged attack on Indian villages at Peoria Lake (where Peoria is now located and a wide place in the Illinois River). He believed the villages harbored warriors who had attacked American settlements. Edwards led a horse-mounted force and destroyed Black Partidge's village on the east side of the lake.
On November 5, 1812, Captain Thomas Craig arrived by boat at Peoria. Unknown to Craig, William Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs (yes, that William Clark as in Lewis & Clark Expedition) and Ninian Edwards had retained the services of Thomas Forsyth to monitor Indian movements at Peoria Lake.
Despite Forsyth's protest that the community was not involved, Craig arrested a few dozen of the village's inhabitants, burned part f the community, and transported those he detained downriver to Alton.
To assert American authority over the Peoria Lake area, in 1813, a force of about 1,400 men under the command of Brigadier General Benjamin Howard returned to The area to erect Fort Clark. In addition they destroyed what remained of Gomo's and Black Partridge's abandoned villages. William Garner Sr. was a member of this force.
In retaliation, Indians under Black Partridge attacked Fort Clark, but were repulsed and later signed a treaty of peace.
--Brock-Perry
