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
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