About this time, Gen. Whitesides had concentrated a large force of
militia at Dixon's Ferry, and at the solicitation of Major Stillman,
permitted him to take out a scouting party of nearly 300 mounted men.
They went up Rock river, about thirty miles to Sycamore creek, and
encamped within a few miles of Black Hawk's camp, but were not aware of
its position at the time. Indian scouts having intercepted their coming
reported at once to Black Hawk that a large army of mounted militia
were coming towards his camp; and before the volunteers had entirely
completed their arrangements for encampment, outside guards espied three
Indians coming in with a white flag. After holding a parley with them,
(one of the guards being able to talk a little with them in their own
language), they were hurried into camp, and before any explanations were
made, the flag bearer was shot and instantly killed, whilst his comrades
made their escape during the confusion in getting the regiment ready to
pursue the fleeing Indians. These had secreted themselves in ambush as
the army rushed by, helter skelter, after another small party of Indians
who had followed the flag bearers, and who, when hearing the uproar
in camp made a hasty retreat. The entire regiment was soon mounted and
started out in squads towards the camp of Black Hawk. The latter having
learned by a scout that the army was coming, started at once with less
than fifty mounted warriors, his entire force then in camp, to meet the
enemy, and on arriving at a copse of timber and underbrush near Sycamore
creek, made ready to meet them.
Capt. Eads' company, who were the first to start out, killed two of
the five fleeing Indians. Soon after crossing Sycamore creek they were
surprised by a terrific war whoop from the Indians, who were concealed
in the bushes near by, and with deadly aim commenced firing into the
front ranks of the regiment, and with unearthly yells (as one of the
fleeing party told us on arriving at Galena), charged upon our ranks,
with tomahawks raised, ready to slaughter all who might come within
their reach. Judging from the yelling of the Indians, their number was
variously estimated at from one thousand to two thousand.
The entire party was thrown into such confusion that Major Stillman
had no control of any of them, and, with one exception, the entire army
continued their flight to Dixon's Ferry, thirty miles distant, whilst
some went back to their homes.
The retreating army passed through their camping ground near Sycamore
creek, where they should have halted, and under cover of the timber,
could have shot down their pursuers while yet in open prairie. Black
Hawk and a small portion of his command gave up the chase, and returned
to his camp, while the remainder pursued the fugitives for several
miles, occasionally overtaking and killing some soldiers, whose horses
had given out.
Among the retreating party was a Methodist preacher, whose horse was too
slow to keep out of the reach of the Indians, who adopted a novel plan
to save himself and horse. On coming to a ravine he left the track of
his pursuers name distance, and followed down the ravine until he found
a place deep enough to shelter himself and horse from view, and remained
there for two hours in safety. He had the precaution to keep a strict
count of the Indians as they went forward, and waited their return.
Being satisfied that all had returned and continued on the way to their
camp, he quietly left his hiding place, trotted leisurely along and
reached Dixon's Ferry about sunrise next morning.
He reported his mode of procedure and the strategy used to render his
safety certain from the Indians who had dispersed and driven the army
before them. He was interrogated into the number, and when he reported
TWENTY, great indignation was manifested by some of the _brave_
volunteers who had got into camp some hours before him, and reported the
number at fifteen hundred to two thousand! But as he was well known
to many of the volunteers and highly respected as a meek and lowly
Christian gentleman, they stood by him and prevented any personal
violence.
When the report of this fiasco came into Galena the next morning about
8 o'clock, on the 15th of May, our regiment was immediately called
to arms, as great danger was apprehended by the citizens. The general
supposition was that the Pottowattomies and Winnebagoes had joined Black
Hawk, it being well known that his entire band, including women and
children, that had gone up Rock river, did not exceed one thousand
persons. Dwellings were vacated and most of the inhabitants repaired to
the stockades for safety.
The news of Stillman's defeat "by 2,000 blood-thirsty Indian warriors"
spread fast, far and wide, and the Governor of Illinois called for more
volunteers; and when the news reached Washington, the Secretary of War
ordered Gen. Scott, then at New York, to take a thousand soldiers and
proceed to the seat of war and take command of the army.
This violation of a flag of truce, the wanton murder of its bearers,
and the attack upon a mere remnant of Black Hawk's band when sueing for
peace, precipitated a war that should have been avoided.
[In confirmation of the dastardly act of the volunteers in killing the
bearer of a white flag, and by which the war was precipitated, we give
the following letter of Mr. Elijah Kilbourn, one of the scouts connected
with Stillman's command. Mr. K. is the man Black Hawk makes mention of
in his narrative as having been taken captive during our last war with
Great Britain, and by him adopted into the Sac tribe; and again taken
prisoner by three of his braves at the battle of Sycamore creek.]