HOMEWARD BOUND.
“Oh! sweet is the longed-for haven of rest!
And dear are the loved ones we oft have caressed!
And fair are the home scenes that gladden the view--
The far-wooded hills stretching up to the blue,
The lake’s limpid splendor, the circling shore,
The fell and the forest, the mead and the moor,
Are clustered with mem’ries and, though we may roam,
Their charm ever guides us and whispers of home!”
--Anna C. Scanlan.
The thought of returning to their home filled the girls’ hearts with
such joy as was possible under their circumstances. When they arose on
the morning of their departure from Gratiot’s Grove, everything was
inspiring. Never before had the birds sung more sweetly nor had the
flowers looked more beautiful. The whole village was astir early, and
probably there was not one of the inhabitants who failed to appear to
bid the girls good-bye.
Capt. Gratiot’s wife made the girls some nice presents and had so
endeared herself to them that although they had known her but a very
short time, they left her with tears, and in tears.
Finally, all being ready, with a convoy of soldiers the girls continued
their journey to White Oak Springs (10 miles northeast of Galena),
near which they formerly lived and where they had many friends. It was
then a mining village of considerable size, but not so charming as
Gratiot’s Grove. There was a fort with soldiers at the place, and all
was in readiness to receive the girls. As some of their relatives lived
near the place, going there seemed to them like going home.
One of the first surprises that the girls had, was to meet their
brother John who they thought had been murdered at Indian Creek. He had
been mustered into the militia and was stationed at Galena, but was
granted indefinite absence to go to meet his sisters and accompany them
home.
At White Oak Springs they received a letter from their former pastor,
Rev. R. Horn, who had a mission on the Illinois River where Robert
Scott, an uncle of the girls, lived. The letter was full of kindness
and invited the girls to come to the Horn residence and make it their
home. From that time on, all arrangements were made to that end.
On the night of June sixteenth, great excitement was caused by a
messenger riding into the town and announcing that the battle of the
Peckatonica (18 miles northeast) had been fought, that all the Indians
that participated in it had been killed, and that many of the whites
had fallen. The shocking particulars, which were loathing to the girls,
were told and retold. They had seen human blood spilled and they knew
what such a sight meant, so it simply renewed their horror.
The girls remained at White Oak Springs two weeks, during which their
lady friends made considerable clothing for them so that they had a
well-supplied wardrobe, considering the time and the border country.
The men were not backward in the good work and presents of goods were
given by the store-keepers and a small purse raised to help to smooth
their way.
Also, old acquaintances were renewed and new friendships were formed
from which it was hard to break away when it came time to leave. From
gruff old miners up to the army officer in his shoulder-straps, the
village folk gathered around the young ladies to wish them God-speed.
The girls shook hands with everybody and thanked them, individually and
collectively, for their great kindness. In the last written statement
signed by Rachel Hall Munson and Sylvia Hall Horn, they say: “We are
very sorry we cannot recollect the names of those kind friends, that
they might appear upon record as a testimony of their kindness to us
in our destitute condition. May the blessings of our Father in heaven,
rest upon them all!”
From White Oak Springs the girls went on to Galena, where they stopped
with an old acquaintance named Bell and were supplied with rations by
the United States’ army officers who considered the girls their guests.
They had not been there many days before the steamboat “Winnebago”
called for a load of lead to take to St. Louis. The girls with their
brother John and their uncle Edward Hall took passage down the
Mississippi to St. Louis where they arrived June 30, and were received
by Gov. Clark who took them to his home and entertained them as his
guests.[40]
[40] Letter of Governor Clark to Secretary of War, June 30, 1832; “Life
of A. S. Johnston,” Johnston, 23.
Unfortunately, at that time the cholera was in the city and meetings
of people, public demonstrations, and entertainments, were restricted.
While the girls did not feel like attending entertainments or going in
society, the people of St. Louis were anxious to entertain them.
A purse of $470.00 was collected, and, at the request of the girls,
was put into the hands of Mr. Horn for investment. Other small sums of
money were given to the girls to pay their incidental expenses, and
articles for their comfort were presented to them.
The girls were anxious to go home, and in company with their brother
John and Uncle Edward they boarded the steamer “Carolina” for
Beardstown, Ill., from where they were taken to the home of their uncle
Robert Scott, close to Mr. Horn’s. Here they remained until Fall, when
they went to the home of their brother John who had recently married
and settled on a homestead in Bureau County, about twenty miles west of
the Davis Settlement.