Among the many hundreds of troops that came to Yellow Bank--Oquawka--on
their way to the sea of war, Major S. S. Phelps always spoke in high
terms of their good discipline and gentlemanly conduct, except in one
instance--that of a few persons in a company from McDonough county, who
came over at a time when old chief Tama and his wife, who was noted for
being the white man's friend, came over to get provisions for his little
band. On seeing an Indian some of these soldiers, who had been using
their canteens rather frequently, were eager to slay him, and not only
threatened him but Major P. also, for harboring him. The officers seemed
to have no control of these men--and just at a time when their threats
were loudest of what they intended to do at the close of three minutes,
Major P. and one of his clerks, Mr. Joseph Smart, were standing with
their rifles cocked ready to make the first shot, a cry came from
outside of the building, by one of the more peaceable soldiers, "Here
comes another company, Capt. Peter Butler's, from Monmouth," when these
would-be braves instantly retreated.
We are assured by one of Capt. B.'s company, Mr. James Ryason, that
the foregoing is literally true, and that Major P. and Mr. Smart,
afterwards, amid the threats of these same soldiers, escorted Tama and
wife to the river bank to take their canoe to cross the river, and stood
there with their guns, ready to protect the Indians until they got out
of reach of gunshot--Smart threatening all the time to put a ball though
the first man that attempted to shoot.
In order to appease the wrath of these soldiers and prevent some of them
being killed, Capt. B. advised Maj. P. not to give Tama any provisions;
but on the way down, Mr. Ryason says, Smart (who talked their language
equal to a native born) told them to meet them at a certain point after
night and they would be supplied; and that for the purpose of assisting
Mr. Smart in taking supplies to Tama, he got leave of absence from the
Captain until next morning.
Messrs. James Ryason and Gabriel Shot, both honorable and highly
respected Christian gentlemen, are the only survivors of that company
now residing in this county.
Tama's village, located on South Henderson, half a mile below the farm
of Mr. John T. Cook, at Gladstone, was always noted as being the abode
of friendly Indians. In the fall of 1829, some write men came in and
made improvements on the land in the vicinity, and at the advice of Mr.
Phelps, Tama crossed the river and made a new town at the mouth of Flint
river on the Mississippi, and at the time of Black Hawk's raid into
Illinois, it was the rendezvous of many young men who had been persuaded
by Tama not to join Black Hawk. But when the news reached them of the
indignities offered to their good old chief, they secretly determined to
go upon the war path, and soon after four young Foxes started to cross
the river and avenge the insult. On going up Henderson creek they espied
Mr. William Martin while in the act of mowing, at a point near Little
York, whom they shot and killed, and for fear of detection, immediately
took to the brush. It being late when they got through the woods, they
made a fire and camped just at the edge of the prairie.
Some time after the shooting, friends of Mr. Martin discovered his
lifeless body and after removing it to the home, started on the trail of
his murderers, and followed it some distance through the underbrush, but
wisely concluded, as it was growing late, to return and give the alarm.
An express was sent to Capt. Butler during the night, who started out
with his company early in the morning, and on emerging into the prairie
discovered the camp fire of the Indians, add followed their trail to a
slough in the Mississippi two miles below Keithsburgh. Here the Indians
embarked in their canoes and were probably on the other side of the
river by this time. A demand was immediately made upon Keokuk for the
murderers, as they belonged to his band of Foxes, who surrendered two
men to the commanding officer at Rock Island.
These Indians soon afterwards made their escape, and before the time
fixed for their trial, Keokuk delivered four young men to Maj. Phelps,
then sheriff of Warren county, to be tried for the offence. Maj. P.
and his deputy, Mr. James Ryason, took them to Monmouth jail, where the
following proceedings were had before the Circuit Court (for a copy of
which we are indebted to George C. Rankin, Esq., now Circuit Clerk):