Old Fort Madison in Iowa-- Part 2: Like a Wal-Mart and Downfall

Old Fort Madison became one of the most popular trading posts with the Native Americans where they could essentially buy anything they needed.

"It was pretty much like a Wal-Mart," said Eugene Watkins.  "The natives could get everything there from pre-made clothes to firearms and they  could get it at cost without  having alcohol pushed on them.

In return, the Indians got top dollar for raw materials like furs, lead and even feathers.

"One shipment to St. Louis contained 578 pounds of feathers traded by the Natives."

The demise of Fort Madison came during the War of 1812 when it was attacked several times mostly by  Ho-Chunk and Menomonee warriors.  

It is unknown how many  civilians, Missouri Territory militia, U.S. Rangers and Native Americans are buried at Fort Madison.  However, there are 21  soldiers and one Ranger buried there, making it the oldest military cemetery in Iowa.

Eventually, the fort was burned by soldiers after the trading became compromised.

--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