The War of 1812 in Illinois-- Part 1

From Free Pages Roots Web."

Upon the declaration of war  in June 1812, the Potawatomies and most other Indian tribes in the Illinois Territory strongly sympathized with the British, whom they saw as valuable allies in keeping the intruding American settlers from taking their land.ar of 1812."

They had been  hostile and restless for some time previous and blockhouses and small family forts were the order of the day for American settlers who were mostly in the southern part of the future state. There were often Indian  attacks on them.

Territorial Governor Ninian Edwards, becoming apprehensive of an outbreak of Indian hostility as the situation between the United States and Britain worsened, constructed Fort Russel a few miles from the present-day city of Edwardsville (named for him).  Sadly, the exact location of this fort is not known today (probably north of the city).

Taking the field in person, he made Fort Russell his personal headquarters and collected a force of 250  mounted volunteers who were later reinforced by two companies of rangers, under  Col. William Russell, numbering about 100 men.

--Brock-Perry

Some More on the Illinois Rangers

From Clinton Illinois genealogy "Muster Rolls of Volunteers -- 1812"

Although Illinois Territory Governor Ninian Edwards had several times during the years 1811-1812 recommended to the U..S. Secretary of War the enlistment of  one or more companies of "Rangers" to protect the frontier, and Congress in 1811 passed an act  authorizing the organization of ten companies of rangers, which was afterwards  organized as the 17th United States Regiment, under Colonel William Russell of Kentucky, an Indian fighter of bravery and experience, it does not appear that more than one company was recruited in the Illinois Territory.

However, four companies were now allotted for the defense of Illinois, whose respective captains were  Samuel and William B. Whitesides, James R. Moore and Jacob Short.

Independent Cavalry Companies were also organized for the protection of  the remote settlements  in the lower Wabash country, of which Willis Hargrave, William McHenry, Nathaniel Journey.

William McHenry was the namesake of McHenry County (where I live) and the city of McHenry which is also in the county.  I was always under the opinion that the county and city were named after Fort McHenry in Baltimore, the subject of our "Star-Spangled Banner."

Captain Craig, at Shawneetown, and William Boon at Big Muddy, were respectively commanders ready to make the Indians pay for any attacks.

--Brock-Perry

About That Captain Thomas E. Craig and What Happened to the French Village and Indians in What Is Today's PeoriaAbout That Captain

I couldn't help but believe that the Captain Thomas, who commanded a company of Illinois Territory Rangers might have been a bit too rough on the French settlers at what would one day be Peoria, Illinois.

Taking them prisoner and burning down their town as well as saying they were "damn lucky" not to have been scalped would not indicate a peace-maker in the situation.

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From the February 26, 2012, Peoria(Illinois) Journal Star  "Central Illinois home to several encounters during the War of 1812" by  Steve Tarter.

From a talk given by Gillum Ferguson, author of "Illinois in the War of 1812" gave a free program at Bradley University's  Cullom Davis Library.

The War of 1812 pitted Illinois Territory militiamen against various Indian tribes in the frontier territory of the United States.  One of the key areas of struggle in the territory revolved around the French village at what is now the site of downtown Peoria.

It was called La Ville de Maillet, New Village.  The French here lived on friendly terms with the local Indians, even intermarrying with them.  Indian villages surrounded them.

But, unfortunately for the French, American frontiersmen viewed the town as "the seditious village, a nursery of hostile Indians and traitorous British Indian traders."

It wasn't that the Indians were staunch allies of the British back then, but more focused on fending off the constant incursions from the Americans onto their land.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 in Peoria-- Part 5: Building Fort Clark

With over 1,000 men to assist, the construction of the new fort at what is today  Peoria was completed quickly by September 23, 1813.  A brass six-pound cannon was mounted in the fort and fired in celebration of the accomplishment.  The fort was named Fort Clark in honor of  General George Rogers Clark, the celebrated hero of the American Revolution who had victories against the British at  Vincennes and Kaskaskia.

General Howard sent a force in two boats under Major William Christy to pursue the Indians on the upper Illinois River.  Another force under  Major Nathan Boone (was this Garner's unit?), followed the course of the Spoon River for fifty miles.  

Upon their return to Fort Clark, both officers reported that their troops had been unable to overtake the fleeing Indians.  The rangers were relieved of their duty at Fort Clark in mid-October, and returned to their   home stations, leaving the regular U.S. troops to garrison the post.

--Brock-Perry

William Garner, Sr.-- Part 2: Ranger in the War and Helped Fortify Peoria

The Carthage Gazette says that the most amazing man living in Hancock County is William Garner, who is he age of 94 years,  now residing with his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Overman at West Point.

Mr. Garner was born in North Carolina in 1794 removed to Kentucky with his parents in 1796, and went to Indiana in 1808, and thence to Morgan County, Illinois, in 1831, remaining there  two years, and from thence to Adams County, where he remained about ten years, since which he has lived in  Hancock.

He was a ranger  in the volunteer service in the War of 1812, stationed on the frontier.  He afterwards went to Peoria, and there, in the company of 1,000 men, helped to build forts.

He now draws a pension for his services in that war.  Mr. Garner has voted in eighteen presidential elections, and, if he lives until 6 November will vote for Gen. Harrison, having voted for his grandfather in 1836 and 1840.

The Quincy Daily Whig, October 21, 1888, page 12.

Benjamin Stephenson of Illinois-- Part 9: More Indian Problems

But in 1813, problems with the Indians resurfaced in the Illinois Territory as there were scattered attacks in Illinois as well as in the Missouri Territory.

By August 1813, General Benjamin Howard of Missouri had gathered both Illinois and Missouri Rangers and militia.  The Illinois militia was commanded by Benjamin Stephenson.  Howard's army of 1,400 marched north along the Mississippi River.

Howard's men were on the west side of the river while Stephenson was on the east.

--Brock-Perry

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Local DAR Group to restore War of 1812 Monument-- Part 2: Three Phases of Work

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

On Wednesday, 108 years after the initial dedication, the DAR group launched a fundraising campaign to restore the monument, which stands in an Illinois state historic site on Campbell's Island, East Moline.

It is expected that $65,000 will be needed to accomplish this.

Three phases have been detailed for the project.

First will replace the broken sidewalk and a protruding stump.  Second will rehabilitate a low wall surrounding the monument.  Phase three will repair the monument and secure and repair the commemorative plaques.

--Brock-Perry

Local DAR Group To Restore War of 1812 Monument in the Quad-Cities- Part 1

From the July 20, 2016, Quad Cities (Ill-Iowa) Dispatch-Argus "Local DAR kicks off drive to restore War of 1812 monument" by Roger Ruthhart.

The Quad-Cities is a living history museum and one of the things that make it really historical is the War of 1812 Battle of Campbell's Island.

Members of the Mary Little Deere Fort Armstrong Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution on Wednesday launched a campaign to restore the monument there for future generations.

The battle took place on July 19, 1814, when a band of Sauk warriors led by Black Hawk attacked U.S. soldiers and their families traveling north on the Mississippi River to reinforce the American garrison at Fort Shelby at Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin.

About 500 Saul warriors allied with the British attacked the First U.S. Regiment of Infantry and a company of Illinois Rangers led by Lt. John Campbell passed near the island.Eight men of tye First Regiment were killed and 16 (including Lt. Campbell) were wounded.  The Rangers lost four killed and 8 wounded.

A monument to one of the War's most western battles was dedicated in 1908, being erected by the State of Illinois and the Moline chapters of the DAR.

--Brock-Perry