-
•• :
:
I
m
I
PHOTO'C. er ,
CONTAINING
A SERIES OF SKETCHES
RELATING TO
EVENTS THAT OCCURRED PREVIOUS TO 1813;
NARRATIVES OP MANY THRILLING INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH
THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OP THE WEST,
DRAWN FROM
HISTORY, TRADITION AND PERSONAL REMINISCENCES.
BY N. MATSON,
AUTHOR or "BEYOND THE ATLANTIC," "REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU
COUNTY," " FRENCH AND INDIANS OP ILLINOIS RIVER,"
"MEMORIES OF SHAUBENA," ETC.
CHICAGO:
KNIGHT & LEONARD, PRINTERS.
1882.
COPYRIGHT, 1882.
BY N. MATSON.
<?77.3
PEEFAOE.
presenting these pages to the public it be-
comes necessary to make a few plain statements
in order that the reader may understand the pur-
" poses of the writer. The object of collecting the
r early traditions of the country has been for the pur-
«• pose of supplying the many missing links in history,
and also to correct some of its errors. To gather
these materials has been attended with much labor,
the work of more than forty years, and various
^* means of obtaining facts have been resorted to. In
I these researches many new items have been devel-
^ oped, errors in history corrected, but the work of
-3 harmonizing all 'conflicting statements has not been
L an entire success.
While the Indians were still in the country I had
^frequent interviews with them, and listened to their
~ accounts of events which had come down through
many generations. In order to obtain more of their
^ early history I employed an educated half-breed of
/' western Kansas to collect traditions among his peo-
^- pie, especially of those whose ancestors formerly
_^ lived along the Illinois River.
At different times I visited the descendants of
the early French pioneers now living on the Ameri-
11
12 PREFACE.
can Bottom, and heard their stories of past events
which had come down through the third and fourth
generations. I also visited places of early historical
renown, at some of which relics of the past can still
be seen, and the descriptions herein given of these
localities are drawn from personal observations.
Many of the incidents narrated in this book were
obtained from persons who figured in them, and
every statement not well authenticated has been ex-
cluded from these pages.
An account of the early French exploration of
Illinois has been given in almost every county his-
tory in the state, consequently I would like to omit
this part entirely, but it cannot be done without
doing injustice to the work. Therefore in giving
a short sketch of these events, compiled from his-
tory, I have added some of the French and Indian
traditions relating thereto. These items have been
collected at different times from various sources,
compared and revised with much care, and for the
first time given to the public.
A few years ago I published two editions of a
book entitled "French and Indians of Illinois
River," relating to the same subject as this, and
many of the incidents given in that volume have
been revised, corrected, and inserted in this one.
N. M.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
ANTIQUITIES OF ILLINOIS.
The Mammoth and the Mastodon. — Topography
of Illinois River. — Illinois Indians. — Massa-
cre of Indians. — Raid of the Iroquois. - 17
CHAPTER II.
Father Marquette. — Discovery of the Missis-
sippi River. — The Yoyageurs at La Vantum. 28
CHAPTER III.
The cross raised on the bank of Chicago River.
— Mission of Immaculate Conception.—
Death of Marquette. — Resurrecting of Mar-
quette's bones. - - 38
. CHAPTER IV.
La Vantum, or great Illinois town. — The great
Western explorer. — La Salle and friends
western bound. — French at Peoria Lake. —
Fort Creve-Co3ur. - 48
CHAPTER V.
La Salle in the Indian camp. — Henri de Tonti.
— The French at La Vantum. — Reception
of evil tidings. — Battle and Massacre. - 59
CHAPTER VI.
Torturing prisoners. — Death of Father Gabriel.
— A Scene of Horror. — Starved Rock. - 72-
13
14 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII.
Building of Fort St. Louis. — Trade with the
Indians.— La Salle's success, failure and
death. — Fort St. Louis attacked by Iroquois.
— Return of Tonti's victorious army. - 83
CHAPTER VIII.
La Fort des Miainis. — The last of Tonti. —
Fort St. Louis burned and colony broken up.
Chassagoac, an Indian Chief. — Louisiana
Colony. — French settlement around Fort St.
Louis. - 93
CHAPTER IX.
Jesuit Missionary of the West. — Father Senat
and comrades burned at the stake. — Early
French settlement of Illinois. — Early settle-
ment of St. Louis. — British rule in Illinois. 107
CHAPTER X.
Tom Brady's wild adventure. — Two expedi-
tions against St. Joseph and one against
Detroit. — Pat Kennedy and comrades in
search of copper mines. - 11 £
CHAPTER XI.
Colonel Clark's conquest of Illinois. - 127
CHAPTER XII.
Pontiac. — An error in history. — Massacre of
a hunting party. — The Ottawas ordered out
of the country. — The Indian council.— Pon-
tiac assassinated.— A war of extermination. 137
CHAPTER XIII.
Rock of refuge* — The besiegers and besieged.
-—Various traditionary evidence. — A ghastly
spectacle. - - 153
CONTENTS. 15
CHAPTER XIV.
Relics of the tragedy. — Searching for gold. —
Fort St. Louis. — Rock Fort and Le Rocher.
— Relics of Fort St. Louis. — Indians and
French relics. — Father Buche's manuscript. 166
CHAPTER XV.
Fort Massac. — American Bottom. — Prairie du
Rocher. — Cahokia. — Kaskaskia. — Kaskas-
kia and Cahokia Indians. — Peoria Indians. 180
CHAPTER XVI.
Indian tribes in Illinois territory. — Monks of
La Trappe. — Old fort near Starved 'Rock. —
The ruined city of Aztalan. — Ancient forti-
fication of Marseilles. — The ruined fort on
Fox River. — Medore Jennette, a fur trader. 193
CHAPTER XVII.
English and French relations with Indians. —
American Pioneers of Illinois. — Early gov-
ernment of Illinois. — Disappearing of
buffalo. — Early history of Chicago. — Jean
Baptiste and Father Bonner. - 205
CHAPTER XVIII.
Early settlement at Peoria. — La ville de Millet.
French inhabitants of Peoria. — French cos-
tumes and manners. — French land claims. - 115
CHAPTER XIX.
Pierre De Beuro, an Indian trader. — Tecumseh
at Peoria. — Indian depredations. — Indian
council at Cahokia. — Illinois territory at
the time of the British war. — A false report
circulated. 229
16 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XX.
Black Partridge, a noted Indian chief. — Indians
receiving the first tidings of war. — Mrs.
Helm's life saved by Black Partridge. —
Emissaries from Tecumseh. — Unjust retribu-
tion. - - 2i'J
CHAPTER XXI.
Lieutenant Helm ransomed by Black Partridge.
— Mrs. Basson's narrative.— The French at
Peoria regarded as enemies. — Captain
Craig's account of his attack on Peoria. —
Burning of Peoria. — Domestic animal's left
by the captives. - - 254:
CHAPTER XXII.
Indian raid on the settlement. — Captivity of
Amanda Wolsey. — General Howard's expe-
dition against the Indians. — Black Partridge
with his braves in defense of their country,
— Colonel Davenport's account of the block
house. - 274-
CHAPTER XXIII.
Building of Fort Clark — Indians collect on
Bureau. — Lieutenant Robenson in search of
the. enemy. — Treaty of peace. - -284
CHAPTER XXIV.
Descendants of the French settlers at Peoria. —
Perils of fur traders. — Burning of Fort
Clark. 293
CHAPTER I.
ANTIQUITIES OF ILLINOIS.
ARTIFICIAL mounds are found everywhere
_X7\_ throughout the western country, but are more
numerous along the Illinois River and its tributaries.
These mounds vary in size, shape and general forma-
tion. Some of them are only small elevations, called
sepulchral mounds, in which are found human bones
and different kinds of trinkets. Others are of various
forms,' representing the figure of a man, birds, ani-
mals, turtles, alligators, etc. Some of these mounds,
from appearance, were intended for fortifications,
others for sacramental purposes, and many of them
the object for which they were constructed cannot
be determined.
Mounds and earthworks are generally found near
the present center of wealth and activity, showing
that the ancient race understood the advantage of
locality as well as people of the present day do. These
mounds are only found where the soil is rich, the
scenery fine, and near large streams of water, but
never appear in a poor, barren country. The
18 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
mounds found throughout the west have been clas-
sified as fortifications, temples, altars, sepulchers,
signal stations and symbolic figures.
Some of the small mounds may have been the
work of Indians, and of comparative recent date, but
the large ones undoubtedly belong to the prehistoric
age, and built by people who have long since passed
away. Among the largest of this class of mounds
is Mount Monk, on the American Bottom, and Mount
Joliet, on the Des Plaines River, near the city of
Joliet. The former at the base is eight hundred
ya?rds in circumference and ninety feet high. The
latter nearly one mile in circumference and one hun-
dred and fifty feet high, rising like a great pyramid in
the midst of a plain. Some people.believe these large
mounds were formed by some freak of nature, there-
lore the subject of their formation belongs to geology
rather than history. Others regard the mound build-
ers as a myth, the offspring of fanatical antiquists
claiming that nature and Indians did these works.
But these skeptics are not posted in relation to the
many thousand works of this kind found in the
Mississippi Valley, which it must be admitted have
been made by human hands, and could not have been
the work of Indians. Who built these mounds, at
what time, and for what purpose, opens a field of
wild speculation. On this subject men of science
ANTIQUITIES OF ILLINOIS. 19
have advanced many curious opinions without estab-
lishing any reliable facts.
There are many speculative theories advanced re-
lating to the ancient people who at one time in-
habited this country, but this mystery is buried in
the unknown past, where in all probability it will
forever remain. Who these people were, from
whence they came, and what became of them, are
questions often asked, but never satisfactorily an-
swered. In the absence of any knowledge of these
people, and for the want of a better and more appro-
priate name, they are called Mound Builders. The
cities built and temples erected by these people (if
any) have long since disappeared, and the marvels
alone remain to tell the story of the past. Unlike
the ancient Egyptians they have left no monumental
obelisks covered with hieroglyphics, nor a rosetta
stone, as a key to the mysteries of past ages.
A great deal of nonsense, under the name of
science, has been written by late antiquarians in re-
lation to mounds and mound builders without throw-
ing any light on the subject.
Some remarkable facts relating to antiquities in
this section of the country will be found in another
part of this book under the head of ancient fortifica-
tions and ruined cities.
20 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
THE MAMMOTH AND THE MASTODON.
At one time the gigantic mammoth and masto-
don roamed at large over the prairies of Illinois,
and left their bones in many places, sunk deep in
the marshes. At what time these monsters inhab-
ited this country, what their form, movements, and
habits were, the time and cause of disappearance,
will in all probability forever remain a mystery.
Skeletons of different species of these animals have
been exhumed from swamps and marshes in a good
state of preservation, and now adorn the museums
of this country. Many facts have been collected
which leave no doubt that people lived in this
country when these animals roamed at large. In
exhuming the bones of one of these monsters some
years ago near Beardstown, an arrow-head and a
broken point of a copper spear were found among
the bones, showing that the beast came to its death
by the hand of man. Dr. Koch, who has supplied
foreign museums with skeletons of mastodons from
this western country, says : In exhuming the bones
of one of these animals from a marsh where it had
mired the skeleton was found, standing erect. A
fire had been kindled against it, and ashes, pieces of
charred wood, with arrow-heads, stone axes and
other weapons, were found among the bones, showing
THE MAMMOTH AND THE MASTODON. 21
conclusively in what way the beast came to its
death.
In 1773 James Douglass, the first white man
that visited Big Bone Lick, in Kentucky, found a
large number of mammoth bones lying on top of
the ground in a good state of preservation. Some
of. the rib bones he set upright, and spread a
blanket on them, forming a tent to shelter him from
rain and sun.
According to tradition, at the time of the early
French exploration of this country many large
bones were found at a lick a short distance from
Peoria Lake, and among them were two tusks ten
feet in length. In the early settlement of this
country large bones were occasionally found on top
of the ground which could not have belonged to
any animal known at the present time. As a rule
bones on top of the ground will last only about
fifty years, but instances are on record where they
have remained sound after lying for many ages.
Bones of the mammoth and mastodon are found
everywhere on this continent, but in greater num-
bers in the Valley of the Mississippi, but neither
history nor tradition has left any account of them
in a living state. These animals, judging from
their bones, must have been of an enormous size ;
the elephant of the present time in comparison to
22 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
them would be a mere pigmy. The skeleton of one
of these, now in the museum of the University at
Rochester, N. Y., is sixteen feet high, twenty-six
feet in length, with tusk fourteen feet long, and at
the base one foot in diameter.
In the spring of 1881 the bones of one of these
monsters were found embedded in a slough two miles
northeast of Princeton. Although the bones were
much decayed, and not enough of them remained to
form a skeleton, it is believed the animal to have
been about fifteen feet high, and twenty-two feet in
length.
TOPOGRAPHY OP THE ILLINOIS RIVER.
From the junction of the Kankakee with Des
Plaines to the mouth of Illinois River, exclusive of
windings, is two hundred and sixty miles, two hun-
dred and ten miles of which is navigable for steam-
boats. The Illinois is a sluggish stream; in two
hundred miles it has only twenty-eight feet fall,
about the amount of fall necessary for canal naviga-
tion, and when the Mississippi is high it backs up
the Illinois River seventy-two miles. The river bot-
tom is from one to two miles wide, but at Beards-
town it is twelve miles between the bluffs. The bot-
tom lands are about equally divided between timber
and prairie. The soil very rich, but much of it sub-
ject to inundation. The bluffs are from one to two
TOPOGRAPHY OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER. 23
hundred feet high, and mostly covered with timber.
At Starved Rock, and also at Marseilles, are exten-
sive rapids, with a wide, shallow channel inter-
spersed with many beautiful wood-clad islands.
The scenery along the Illinois River is very beau-
tiful; the broad stream dotted here and there with
islands has attracted the attention and received the
admiration of both savage and civilized people. The
river banks are made attractive by alternate timber
and prairie, and passes through a fertile country,
which in former times abounded in game. For the
possession of this country, according to tradition, has
caused many a hard-fought battle, between savage
tribes, and the bones of the victors as well as the
vanquished have been left to decay on its banks.
On the bank of the Illinois River the French
established the first cariony in the Mississippi Valley,
and here a nucleus was formed for settling the Great
West. In former times its placid waters were navi-
gated only by the bark canoes of savages, after
which the little bateaux of the French were seen on
its waters for about one hundred and forty years.
These crafts, loaded with furs, and sails spread to the
breeze, passed up the river from French villages,
coasting along the lakes to Canada, and return with
goods for the Indian market. At a later period the
Mackinaw boat of the American Fur Company took
24 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
the place of French bateaux. Following in the
wake of these crafts came the sluggish keel boat,
loaded with emigrants, which in their turn disap
peared on the introduction of steam navigation.
ILLINOIS INDIANS.
The Illinois Indians were of the Algonquin fam-
ily, and consisted of five bands or semi-tribes, named
as follows : Kaskaskias, Cahokias, Peorias, Tam-
aroas and Michigamies. The three former bands
occupied villages bearing their respective names,
and the two latter the country north of Peoria Lake.
According to the statement of early French ex-
plorers, these Indians were the most numerous of all
the tribes of the west, occupying almost the entire
territory now included within the State of Illinois.
Along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, from the
mouth of Ohio to Lake Michigan, their villages were
found at short intervals, and the vast country east
and west of these rivers was their hunting-grounds.
Over this country herds of buffalo, elk and deer
roamed for their benefit, and the many rivers were
navigated only by their bark canoes. From the
many groves the smoke from their camp-fires was
seen to ascend, and the lonely forest reechoed their
wild war whoops. These Indians had many towns
on the Illinois River, the largest and most important
MASSACRE OF INDIANS. 25
one, called La Yantum, located near the present
site of Utica, an account of which will be given in
the succeeding chapter.
On account of abundance of game (Illinois being
known as the buffalo country), neighboring tribes
frequently made this their hunting-ground, and al-
though the Illinois Indians were not a warlike
people, still they would resent an encroachment on
their rights, consequently many bloody battles were
fought with the aggressors.
More than a century ago the northern bands of
the Illinois Indians became extinct, therefore most
of their traditions are lost, still there are some things
relating to them preserved by the French pioneers
which are related by their descendants now living
on the American Bottom.
MASSACRE OF INDIANS.
According to tradition, there was a large Indian
village on the east side of the Illinois River, a short
distance above the head of Peoria Lake. Near this
village, on the bank of the river and partly sur-
rounded by a bayou, was a place where the Indians
held their annual religious feasts. On this ground
was erected an altar, containing images of the differ-
ent gods, and around which the Indians knelt in
prayer while offering up sacrifices. At one of these
feasts all the warriors of the village and many from
26 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
neighboring ones were collected here engaged in
religious exercises, while squaws and papooses stood
looking on, and mingling their voices in songs of
praise. The warriors, dispossessed of their arms,
were engaged in devotion, the priests exhorting them
in the ways of holiness, and receiving their annual
offerings. While thus engaged they were suddenly
attacked by a large body of Pottawatomies and most
of them slain. Being taken by surprise, and un-
armed, defense or escape appeared impossible, and
many a brave warrior 'sang his death song and sub-
mitted to his fate. A few escaped by swimming the
river, but the most of them, including squaws and
papooses, fell an easy prey to the victorious enemy.
The victors collected all the valuables of the van-
quished, including arms, clothing, camp equipage,
furs, pelts, etc., loading them on ponies, and with
their spoils left for their homes 'on the Wabash.
The date of this tragical affair is not known, but
it was before the advent of the French, or the r&ids
on these Indians by the Iroquois. For some time
after the French came to this country the ground
where this massacre took place was strewn with
human bones.
RAID OF THE IROQUOIS.
The Iroquois Indians from the east made fre-
quent raids on the Illinoisans, destroying their towns,
RAID OF THE IROQUOIS. 27
killing squaws and papooses, and carrying away
large quantities of pelts, furs, etc., which they sold
to English traders. According to tradition, in one of
those raids they carried off eight hundred prisoners,
mostly squaws and papooses, and burned them at
their village on the bank of Seneca Lake. The Iro-
quois, having been in trade with the English at
Albany, had armed themselves with rifles, which gave
them great advantage over the Illinoisans, who used
bows and arrows only. These frequent raids of the
Iroquois were for spoil only, and not for conquest,
as they made no effort to take possession of the coun-
try. The Illinoisans were rich in ponies, furs, pelts,
trinkets, etc., and the robbers would return loaded
with spoil, and at one time they brought back three
hundred ponies loaded with valuables. It is said the
traders at Albany encouraged these robberies by
furnishing the Iroquois with war implements, and
buying the stolen goods.
On account of the frequent raids on the Illinoisans
they became reduced in numbers, which caused them
to fall an easy prey to the neighboring tribes some
years afterward. A little over a century ago a num-
ber of tribes combined, forming an alliance against
the Illinois Indians, which resulted in their annihila-
tion, and the occupation of the country by the vic-
tors, as will be shown in the sequel.
CHAPTER II.
FATHER MARQUETTE.
A FEW years ago, while passing through the
Vatican at Rome, my attention was called to
a department entitled ' ' Portraits of North Ameri-
can Jesuits." On entering this department I noticed
a life-sized portrait of a man in the garb of a priest,
with an open bible in his hands and a gold cross on
his breast. This portrait represented a man in the
prime of life, tall and well proportioned, with hand-
some moulded features, and a countenance beaming
with intelligence. Below this picture was a motto
in Latin, and also the name of Father Jacques Mar-
quette, a Jesuit priest of North America.
Marquette was born at Leon, in the north part of
France, of a wealthy and distinguished family. He
was of fine personal appearance, a strong intellect,
well educated, and, while young, became a magnet
in his native city. At a proper age he was ordained
a priest, and being enthusiastic about the conversion
of heathens he sailed for America, forsaking home,
friends and wealth to spend a life among savages in
28
FATHER MARQUETTE. 29
the New World. After remaining a short time at
Quebec Marquette went west to Lake Huron, where
he spent a number of years among the Indians, in-
structing them in the ways of Christianity. While
among these Indians he learned their languages, and
it is said that he understood, and could speak, six
different Indian dialects.
Marquette went to Sault Ste. Marie, where Father
Allouez had established a mission, and for a time
traveled through the country visiting different tribes
of Indians, and among them made converts wher-
ever he went. His active spirit could not rest, caus-
ing him to travel from place to place exposed to in-
clement weather, wading through water and snow,
spending days without shelter or fire, subsisting on
parched corn, or moss gathered from rocks, some-
times paddling his canoe up and down streams, or
along the lake shore, and sleeping at night in open
air. Said Marquette in a letter to a friend in France:
"A life in the wilderness has its charms, and the
rude hut of a savage is better adapted to a true dis-
ciple of Christ than the palace of a king. My heart
ofttimes swells with rapture as my canoe glides over
strange waters, or while plodding my way through
thick forests, among briers and thorns, in laboring
for the cause of my Redeemer."
Father Marquette founded a mission at Point
30 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
St. Ignace, opposite the island of Mackinaw, and In-
dians from different villages along the lake came
thither for religious instruction. He built here on
the bank of the lake a small chapel, dedicated to St.
Ignace, and a few years afterward was buried be-
neath its altar.
DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI EIVER.
For many years Indians from the far west, while
visiting French trading posts in Canada, spoke of a
great river that flowed into the ocean, but the course
of this river and where it discharged its waters could
not be learned. However, it was generally believed
to empty into the Pacific Ocean, and through it a
water communication could be obtained across the
continent. The Governor of Canada, knowing the
great advantage to be derived from this outlet to the
west, selected Louis Joliet, a Canadian by birth, to
make the necessary discovery.
In the spring of 1673 Joliet was furnished with
the necessary outfit for the voyage, and prepared
himself to embark in this hazardous enterprise.
Father Marquette, having acquired much fame among
the natives on the shore of Lake Huron, was se-
lected to accompany this expedition. This priest
being an earnest votary of the Virgin Mary, and to
do her bidding he was willing to make any sacrifice.
DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI 11IVER. 31
His bold nature knew no fear, and he was prepared
to suffer all deprivations, endure all hardships in
discovering new lands and conquering new realms,
to the honor and glory of her holiness. Before
starting on his journey he wrote to a friend at Que-
bec saying: " In making this voyage I place myself
under the protection of the Holy Virgin, and if she
grants me the privilege of seeing the great river of
the west, and follow its course to the Pacific Ocean,
I will name it to her honor The Immaculate Con-
ception."
All things being ready, Joliet and Marquette, ac-
companied by five companions, in two bark canoes,
started on their journey. They carried with them
a supply of smoked meat and Indian corn, besides
a great variety of trinkets as presents to the Indians.
After a tempestuous voyage in coasting along the
shore of Lake Michigan, they arrived at Green Bay
early in May. After giving the natives many pres-
ents, and accompanied by an Indian guide, they con-
tinued on their way westward. While rowing their
canoes up the rapid current of Fox River they
reached a village on its banks whose inhabitants
advised them to go no farther on their journey, or
their lives would be sacrificed. They told the voy-
ageurs that the banks of the great river were in-
habited by a ferocious tribe *of savages who put all
32 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
strangers to death, and the stream was full of fright-
ful monsters, some of them large enough to swallow
a canoe with all its contents. They also said that in
a high cliff of rocks by the side of the river lived a
demon, whose roar was so loud as to shake the
earth and destroy all canoes passing up or down
stream.
These wonderful stories did not frighten the
travelers, and after giving the Indians a few pres-
ents they continued on their way. Passing up Fox
Biver, and dragging their canoes across the portage,
they floated down the Wisconsin. After a few days'
journey the river bluffs on either side disappeared,
and while viewing the wild scenery around them
their canoe entered the broad Mississippi and they
found themselves upon the Father of Waters. The
voyageurs landed from their canoes, raised a cross on
the bank of the river, and sang praises to the Holy
Yirgin for her guidance and protection thus far on
their journey. Father Marquette pronounced a bless-
ing on the river and christened it with the most
sacred name of "Immaculate Conception."
After spending a day in fasting and prayers their
canoes were again put on the water and they com-
menced descending the river. While floating down
stream they discovered on the east bank, near the
present site of the city o*f Alton, a high cliff of rocks
DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 33
rising in bold relief from the water's edge. .This
cliff for many years afterward was known as the
"Ruined Castle," and is the site of a thrilling legend
in Indian tradition. On landing here they beheld
a sight which reminded them that the devil was lord
of the wilderness. On the surface of rock next to
the water was painted, in red, black and green, a
pair of monsters, each of them as large as an ox,
with horns like an elk, heads like a tiger, and with
a frightful expression of countenance. The face of
these monsters resembled that of a man, the body
covered with scales like a fish, with tails so long as
to reach three times around them. These terrible
looking monsters (representing Indian gods) so
frightened Father Marquette that he fled from the
place in terror, and hastened on board of his canoe.
As the travelers were passing down the river,
conversing about the hideous painting on the rock,
they were suddenly aroused to real danger. Here
a torrent of muddy water came rushing across the
clear current, boiling and surging, carrying in its
course drift-wood, consisting of brush and uprooted
trees. Their light bark canoes were whirled about
on the dark, angry water, like a twig in a swollen
brook, and with great difficulty their frail crafts were
kept from swamping in the foaming billows. They
had passed the mouth of the Missouri River, and
34 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
with great rapidity their canoes floated down the
swollen stream.
The voyageurs descended the Mississippi River to
its junction with the Arkansas, when they became
satisfied that the great river emptied into the Gulf
of Mexico, instead of the Pacific Ocean, consequently
they turned their canoes up stream on their return
homeward toward Canada.
THE VOYAGEURS AT LA VANTUM.
On a clear warm day in September, 1673, two
bark canoes were seen slowly gliding up the Illinois
River, whose placid waters had never before reflected
the face of a white man. These canoes were pro-
pelled up stream by sails and oars, and as they
went forward the voyageurs caused the wild woods
along the shore to, resound with songs of praise.
On the sail of the foremost canoe was painted vari-
ous devices, representing a coat-of-arms, a pipe of
peace, and a cross, emblematical of power, friend-
ship, and Christianity. The voyageurs were much
delighted with the country along the placid stream,
and made many comments on the beauty of the sur-
rounding country. Large herds of buffalo were seen
feeding on the green meadows, and at the sound of
the oars elk, deer and antelope would rise from
their lair, and bound away across the distant plains.
THE VOTAGEURS AT LA VANTUM. 35
Wild geese and swans were swimming in the river,
while flocks of paroquets made merry the lonely
waters with their songs.
This party of travelers consisted of nine persons,
Louis Joliet, Jacques Marquette, five oarsmen,
and two Indian interpreters. While forcing their
light crafts up stream they were surprised to come
suddenly upon a large town on the left bank of the
river, while back of it the great meadow was covered
with camping-tents, and swarming with human
beings. This was the great Illinois town called
La Vantum, situated near the present site of Utica,
and known in after years as the great landmark of
the west.
As the voyageurs approached the town the Indians
in great numbers collected on the river bank to see
these strange people, never before having looked
upon the face of a white man. Warriors armed with
war clubs, bows and arrows lined the shore, pre-
pared to give the strangers battle if enemies, or
greet them kindly if friends. The canoes came to a
halt, when Joliet displayed the "wampum," a token
of friendship, at the sight of which the warriors low-
ered their weapons and motioned the voyageurs to
come ashore. Father Marquette, with a pipe of
peace in one hand and a small gold cross in the
other, approached the Indians, who in astonishment
30 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
»
collected around him, offering up mementoes to
appease the wrath of the great Manitou, from whom
they believed the strangers had come. The tourists
left their canoes, being conducted to the lodge of
the head chief, Chassagoac, where they were kindly
entertained for the night.
On the following day, in the presence of all the
chiefs and principal warriors, Joliet took formal pos-
session of the country in the name of Louis XIV,
after which Marquette preached to this vast .assem-
bly. Under Marquette's preaching many were con-
verted, and baptized in accordance to the Catholic
church. Among the converts was Chassagoac, the
head chief of the Illinois Indians, who continued in
the faith, and in after years was a friend of the early
pioneers on the Illinois River. Marquette gave this
chief a number of Christian mementoes, consisting
of crosses, crucifixes, etc., all of which he wore on
his person for more than fifty years, and at the time
of his death they were buried with him.
On the third day the canoes of the explorers
were again on the river, and they continued their
journey eastward. On reaching the mouth of the
Chicago River Joliet, with three companions, con-
tinued on his way to Canada to report to the gover-
nor, while Marquette with two others went to Green
Bay for the purpose of converting the Indians. As
THE VOYAGEURS AT LA VANTUM. 37
Joliet was passing down the rapids of the St. Law-
rence River, near Montreal, his canoe upset, and his
journal, with all other valuables, were lost.
These explorers published no account of their
travels, and the world was but little wiser for their
journey, except to establishing the fact that the Mis-
sissippi River did not flow into the Pacific Ocean,
and Illinois was a rich country.
CHAPTER III.
THE CROSS RAISED ON THE BANK OF CHICAGO
RIVER.
MARQUETTE remained at Green
-L Bay only a short time, his health being bad,
and the Winnebago Indians, with whom he so-
journed, were unwilling to abandon the religion of
their fathers for Christianity. It being impressed on
the mind of Marquette that his stay on earth would
be short, and before departing hence, he felt it his
duty to visit the Illinois Indians and again establish
among them a mission in honor of the Holy Virgin.
Late in the fall Marquette, accompanied by two of
his countrymen, Pierre and Jacques, with two In-
dians, left Green Bay for the Illinois River. The
weather was cold, the wind high, and with great
difficulty they coasted along the western shore of
Lake Michigan. Frequently the travelers were com-
pelled to land from the turbulent water, draw their
canoe on the beach, and wait for the wind and waves
to subside. After a long, perilous voyage the
travelers reached the mouth of Chicago river, and
38
CKOSS RAISED ON THE CHICAGO RIVER. 39
ascended it about three leagues to a grove of timber.
Here Marquette was taken very sick, and winter
set in, the river froze up, and the prairie covered
with snow and ice. Near the river bank Pierre and
Jacques built a hut, covering and siding it with
buffalo skins, and here in this rude tenement they
lived about three months.
Buffalo and deer were plenty, and the Indians
from a neighboring village supplied them with corn,
honey and maple sugar, so they did not want for the
necessaries of life. For many days Marquette was
prostrated by disease so he could not leave his
couch, and his friends believed that his time of de-
parture was nigh. Having a great desire to estab-
lish a mission among the Illinois Indians before
death overtook him, Marquette begged his two com-
panions, Pierre and Jacques, to join him in nine days'
devotion to the Virgin, and through her interposition
his disease relented and he gained strength daily.
Indians from a village two leagues distant frequently
visited their hut, and Marquette, feeble as he
was, preached to them, and many became converted
to Christianity. Near their hut they built a tem-
porary altar, over which was raised a large wooden
cross. The converted Indians were instructed, while
praying, to look upon this cross and thereby all
their sins were remitted.
40 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
MISSION OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
The winter was now passed, snow and ice had
disappeared from the prairie, and the warm sun of
early spring not only animated nature, but it gave
strength and vitality to Father Marquette. His
cough had almost ceased, his tall, manly form, which
had been bent by rheumatism, was now erect, and
he sang songs of praise to the Holy Virgin for his
restoration to health. After taking an affectionate
farewell of the converted Indians Marquette, with
his two companions in a bark canoe, left for the
great Illinois town.
With sail and oars the voyageurs urged their
canoe down the Des Plaines and Illinois Rivers,'
while the surrounding woods reechoed their songs of
praise. Birds were singing among the trees, squir-
rels chirping in the groves, while elk and deer
bounded away at the sound of the approaching
canoe. Swans, pelicans and wild geese would rise
from the water and fly squawking down stream,
while beaver and otter were sporting in the water
and diving under their canoe. Far and near the
prairie was covered with herds of buffalo, some
basking in the sun, while others were feeding on the
early spring grass.
When Marquette arrived at La Vantum the In-
dians received him as though he was an angel from
MISSION OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. 41
heaven, some of whom fell on their knees before
him, asking forgiveness for past sins. Chassagone,
the head chief, whom Marquette had baptized the
year before, was so delighted at meeting the holy
father that he embraced him, and wept for joy. On
the following day after Marquette's arrival all the
Indians, old and young, assembled on the meadow
.above the town to hear good tidings from the great
French Manitou, the name given to Christ. Around
him were seated on the ground five hundred chiefs
and old warriors, behind them stood one thousand
five hundred young braves, while around these
were collected all the squaws and papooses of the
town. Marquette, standing in the midst of this vast
assembly, displayed to them two pictures, painted
on canvas, one of the Virgin, and the other of
Christ, telling them of God, of heaven, of hell, and
•of a judgment to come, when all the Indians clapped
their hands and shouted for joy. By Marquette's
•direction the Indians tore down the temple and im-
ages erected to the god of war, and built a chapel on
its site. "When the chapel was completed all the
chiefs and old warriors assembled therein, when
Marquette dedicated it in honor ,of the Holy Vir-
gin, giving it the same name which he had already
given to the Mississippi Kiver, "The Immaculate
Conception."
42 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
Each day the chapel was filled with converts, and
Marquette preached to them, baptizing old and
young ; a large number of converts were enrolled in
the church book, and saved from perdition. On
Easter Sunday the chapel was decorated with flowers
and evergreens, representing crosses, anchors, cruci-
fixes, etc. Incense was burned on the altar, and
lights were kept burning during the day, according
to the custom of the Catholic church. This day was
a joyous one, and long remembered by the Indians,
but with it ended the ministry of Marquette among
the redmen of the west.
Spring had now come, the groves were once more
green, and the prairies again covered with grass and
flowers, but it did not bring health and vigor to the
failing priest. His disease had again returned in its
worst form, and he felt that his life was fast passing
away. After spending two days and nights in
prayer, communing with Christ and the Holy Yir-
gin, he concluded to return to Canada, where he
could receive the sacrament from the hands of his
brethren before he died.
On the third day after Easter the natives were
assembled in the chapel, when Marquette, pale and
feeble as he was, preached to them, instructing his
converts in the ways of Christianity, telling them
that he was about to depart for Canada, but promised
DEATH OF MARQUETTE. 43
to send a priest to teach them in the ways of salva-
tion. The Indians heard the news -in sadness,
gathering around the holy father and begging him
to remain with them. But he told his brethren that
his work was ended, that a few weeks would close
his pilgrimage here on earth, and before departing
hence he desired to return to Canada and leave
his bones among his countrymen.
Marqnette's canoe was once more put on the
water, and with his two faithful companions Ije com-
menced his journey eastward. About five hundred
warriors, some in canoes and others mounted on
ponies, accompanied Marquette as far as Lake
Michigan, and there received from him the parting
blessing. After parting with the Indians, Marquette's
canoe, with sails hoisted and oars applied, coasted
near the shore around the head of the Lake. Pierre
and Jacques with all their pofwer plied the oars to
increase the speed, while the sick priest lay pros-
trated in the bottom of the canoe communing with
the Virgin and with angels.
DEATH OF MARQUETTE.
On the 19th of May, 1675, while near Sleeping
Bear Point, Marquette felt that his time had come,
and told his companions to land him on the beach of
the lake, so he might receive the sacrament before he
44 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
died. On a high point of land, at the mouth of a
small stream which still bears his name, they built a
bark hut, and carried thither the dying priest.
"With his eyes fixed on a crucifix which one of his
companions held before him, and while murmuring
the name of Mary and Jesus, he breathed his last.
His companions dug a grave on the bank of the
stream near the place where he died, and buried him
there. In obedience to his request they erected over
his grave a cross made of bass-wood timber, on
which were engraved his name and date of his
death. After burying Marquette Pierre and Jacques
again put their canoe on the water and continued
their journey toward Canada, conveying thither the
sad news of his death. Three years after Marquette's
death a party of Indians from Point St. Ignace, who
were converted under Marquette's preaching some
years before, went to Lake Michigan, opened the
grave, and took up the remains. After scraping off
the putrid flesh, washing and drying the bones, they
were placed in a box made of birch-bark and
carried home with them. "With the remains of the
holy father they turned their canoe homeward, sing-
ing and chanting praises as they went on their way.
Seven miles above Point St. Ignace they were met by
a large delegation of Indians in canoes, who formed
a procession to escort the remains to the mission.
RESURRECTING MARQUETTE 7S BONES. 45
With their faces blacked, oars muffled, and singing
a funeral dirge, the procession slowly approached the
mission, and were met at the landing by priest-
traders and Indians, all of whom wore badges of
mourning. With a solemn ceremony the remains
of Father Marquette were received at the mission,
and buried beneath the altar of the little chapel of
St. Ignace which he had built some years before.
Two centuries have now passed away since the
burial of Marquette, and long since the little chapel
of St. Ignace has disappeared, but the spot where it
stood was hallowed by the French and converted
Indians, and continues to be pointed out to strangers
visiting the place.
For many years after the death of Marquette the
French sailors on the lakes kept his picture nailed
to the mast head as a guardian angel, and when
overtaken by storm and perils at sea they would
pray to the holy father beseeching him to calm the
winds and still the troubled waters in order that they
might reach port in safety.
RESURRECTING MARQUETTE'S BONES.
The old chapel of St. Ignace continued to stand
guard over the remains of Marquette until the year
1706, when it was burned down and the mission
removed to the island of Mackinaw. For many
46 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
years after the mission was removed from this old
historic place religious enthusiasts were in the habit
of visiting Point St. Ignace, and offering up prayers
on this sacred spot. For ages the place where the
chapel stood was hallowed by zealous Catholics, but
no steps were taken to memorize the grave or recover
the bones of the great missionary and explorer, until
a few years ago this matter was brought to public
notice. In the spring of 1877 Father Jocker, the
village priest, began to agitate the subject of resur-
recting the bones of Marquette, and everywhere it
met with public favor. A time having been set
for that purpose, people from a distance collected
at Point St. Ignace, and amid a large assembly of
enthusiastic persons the remains were exhumed.
Excavations having been made on the site of the
old chapel the relics of the altar of the Holy Yirgin
were found and taken out. Beneath the altar, in a
vault walled with red cedar, was found a large piece
of birch-bark in a good state of preservation, and
here too were found the remains of Marquette, where
they had lain for over two hundred years. The
bones, much decayed, some of them mouldered into
dust when exposed to the air, were taken out in the
presence of a large collection of people, and with
proper ceremony buried in a cemetery nearby, over
which a monument to his memory has been erected.
CHAPTER IY.
LA VANTUM, OR GREAT ILLINOIS TOWN.
rTIHE name of La Vantum was applied to the
JL great Illinois town over a century ago by the
French and half-breeds at Peoria. The name in the
Indian language is said to mean a great place, a
large town, capital for a tribe, etc. In letters written
by Jesuits and early explorers of the west it is
spoken of as the great town of Illinois, where chiefs
and warriors from other villages met for council.
Joliet called this place Kaskaskia, but by La Salle
and subsequent explorers it is spoken of as the great
Illinois town. The number of its inhabitants has
been variously estimated by different explorers,
ranging from five to eight thousand. Marquette
said he found here five hundred chiefs and old war-
riors, and fifteen hundred young braves. Seven
years afterward Father Hennepin counted four hun-
dred and sixty-eight lodges, each of which contained
from two to four families. Others speak of it as a
large town, occupying the river bank for a mile or
more in length, and extending back some distance
on the prairie.
47
48 PIONEERS OF ILLESTOIS.
This great Indian town of the west has long since-
disappeared, and like many of the ancient cities of
the Old World both history and tradition fail to
point out its exact location. Some antiquarians have
located it near Buffalo Rock, others at the mouth of
Little Vermillion, as many -Indian relics are found
at each of these places. But in comparing the dif-
ferent accounts given of this town, from its first dis-
covery by Joliet to its final distruction by the allied
forces, a period of nearly one hundred years, it is
shown conclusively to have stood on or near the
site of old Utica, and here relics of it are found in
great quantities. History says it was on the north,
bank 01 the river, in plain view of Fort St. Louisr
and the French passed to and from it in their canoes.
On the north side of the river is a large bottom
prairie, extending from Buffalo Rock to the Little
Vermillion, about nine miles long and one and a half
miles in width. Near the middle of this prairie, be-
low the foot of the rapids, the river is confined to a
deep, narrow channely and the bank rises gradually
from the water's edge until it reaches high land in
the rear, forming a sloping plateau, elevated above
the floods of the Illinois, and for beauty of location
is scarcely surpassed by any place on the river.
IM early times this point was considered the head of
navigation, and consequently it would be the fer-
LA VANTUM, OR GREAT ILLINOIS TOWN. 49
mination of the Illinois and Michigan canal. In
1834 a town was laid off here by Simon Crozier, and
people prophesied that it was destined to be a large
city. Steamboats at St. Louis put out their sign for
Utica, and travelers for the Lake country or eastward
bound landed here, thence by stage to Chicago.
Corn now grows on this town site. Two or three
old dilapidated, unoccupied buildings only remain
of this once great paper city, and Utica, like its pre-
decessor, La Vantum, exists only in history of the
past.
Felix La Pance, a French trader at Peoria, fre-
quently visited this town, it being on his route to
and from Canada, and from 1751 to 1768 traded with
the inhabitants, taking their furs on his annual trips
east, and paying for them in goods on his return.
Some account of this town is found among his papers,
now in the possession of his descendants. This
account speaks of a town containing five or six
hundred lodges standing along the river bank, while
back of these, on the prairie, were many camping-
tents, occupied by Indians part of the year. On
the river bank, near the middle of the town, stood
their great council house, surrounded by stockades
and various kinds of temporary fortifications. The
town was shaded by a few outspreading oaks, and
in the midst of them, and close to the river bank,
50 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
was a large spring of cold water. This spring,
spoken of by La Pance, cannot be found on the old
town site, but whoever will take the trouble to ex-
amine the river at this point when low will observe
a short distance from shore the bubbles from a
spring under water. Waba, an Indian chief of some
note, who lived at a village on the south side of the
riv.er, opposite Lake Depue, in speaking of this
town said, in his youthful days there was a large
spring of cold water here by the side of the trail,
but afterward it sank and came out under the river
as we now see it.
A short distance from the river is a range of
gravelly knolls, where the Indians had their caches
or subterranean store-house for depositing corn.
The remains of these caches were plain to be seen
in the early settlement of the country, and in some
places these relics still exist, notwithstanding they
have been plowed over for many years. Back of
the town, on high prairie, was their burying-ground,
where the ashes of posterity mingled with those of
their ancestors for many generations. Many small
moiinds were found here in the early settlement of
the country, but have been mostly leveled down in
searching for treasures. These mounds are supposed
to have been raised over the remains of chiefs and
great warriors, and are said to have contained some
THE GREAT WESTERN EXPLORER. 51
of the valuables of the deceased. About sixty years
ago, Waba, the Indian chief above referred to, took
from one of these mounds many trinkets, among
which was a silver medallion head of Louis XIV,
bearing date 1670, being three years before Mar-
quette's first visit to this place, and in all probability
it was given to a convert by that missionary.
I am informed by James Clark, the owner of the
land around old Utica, and also by one of his ten-
ants, that every year many Indian relics are plowed
up. These relics consist of human teeth and frag-
ments of small bones, with flint arrow-heads, stone
hatchets, and various kinds of trinkets.
THE GREAT WESTERN EXPLORER.
Seven years after Joliet and Marquette discovered
the Upper Mississippi, La Salle obtained a patent
from the King of France authorizing him to ex-
plore and take possession in the king's name all the
country west of the great lakes. La Salle's success
and failure in this great enterprise is a matter of his-
tory, and much of it foreign to our purpose, but as
he was identified with the early settlement of Illi-
nois a few facts relating to him may interest the
reader.
TCobert Cavalier iLa Salle being only a title) was
born in the city of Rouen, France, in the year 1643,
«r u \mo\s
52 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
of wealthy parents, and educated for the priesthood.
In person he is said to have been large and mus-
cular, of an iron constitution, possessing a fine in-
tellect, and well qualified for the enterprise in which
he embarked. He inherited from his ancestors a
large fortune, which was used in advancing his enter-
prise, but squandered in consequence of misplaced
confidence in those with whom he associated. Al-
though La Salle made his mark in history, his life
was one of hardship, exposure and deprivations, and
he finally died by the hand of an assassin in the
wilds of Texas.
A few years ago, while strolling through the city
of Rouen, my guide pointed out an old palace stand-
ing on high ground, and overlooking the river Seine.
For beauty of architecture and antique appearance this
palace has no equal in the old Norman capital. This
old palace, said my guide, was once the residence of
the Duke of Normandy, better known as William
the Conqueror, and from its portico this great war-
rior addressed his lords and nobles on the day he
left Normandy for the conquest of England. In this
palace, continued my guide, now lives Count Cava-
lier, a descendant of the family of La Salle, and near
by, in an antique looking house, is pointed out as
the birth-place of the great explorer, and is now occu-
pied by a descendant of his family.
LA SALLE AND FRIENDS WESTERN BOUND. 53
LA SALLE AND FRIENDS WESTERN BOUND.
In the summer of 1679 La Salle built a vessel at
the head of Niagara River for the purpose of navi-
gating the Upper Lakes. This vessel was of sixty
tons burden, carrying lateen sails, and called the
Griffin. It was armed with a number of small can-
non, and a large wooden eagle surmounted its prow,
while the monster for which it was named, according
to Grecian mythology, was painted on its canvas.
In La Salle's party was an Italian officer, second in
command, named Tonti, also three Jesuit priests,
Hennepin, Gabriel and Zenche, the former known
by his surname, and the two latter by their given
names only.
All things being ready the cannons fired a salute,
the sails spread to the breeze, and the Griffin moved
forward, plowing through the maiden waves of Lake
Erie. After many days' sail the vessel passed through
a small lake, which La Salle gave the name of St.
Clair, in honor of that saint, whose name appeared
that day in the calendar. After a voyage of four
weeks the Griffin arrived at Mackinaw, and was
safely moored in its harbor. The goods brought by
the Griffin were exchanged for furs at a large profit,
and the vessel loaded with pelts and furs started
back for Niagara, but was never heard of afterward.
54 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
Late in November, La Salle, accompanied by
fourteen persons, left Mackinaw in four canoes and
coasted along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
They carried with them a blacksmith's forge, car-
penter tools, and other utensils required in building
a fort, besides a large amount of merchandise to
trade with the Indians. On the second day out they
were overtaken by a storm, which compelled them
to land, drag their canoes on the beach, where they
remained four days waiting for the waves to subside.
Again trusting their frail barks to the waters of the
lake, they were overtaken on the following day by a
severe gale, and amid the lashing of waves their
canoes drifted on a barren, rocky island some dis-
tance from the main-land. Here they remained two
days without shelter or fire, while their blankets
alone protected them from the cold winter blasts.
At last the voyageurs reached the mouth of St.
Joseph River, and remained here some days waiting
for Tonti and his thirty-five companions, who came
through the wilderness of .Michigan. In bark canoes
La Salle and his command commenced ascending St.
Joseph River, crossing the portage and down the
Kankakee to its junction with the Des Plaines.
It was midwinter when the travelers reached La
Yantum, the great Illinois town, and they found it
deserted, the inhabitants having gone off' on the
LA SALLE AND FRIENDS WESTERN BOUND. 55
winter hunt, according to their custom. Being in a
starving condition, La Salle ordered one of the caches
opened, and they took therefrom twenty minots of
corn, hoping at some future time to compensate the
Indians for this robbery. After spending two days
in desolated lodges of the town the party again
boarded their canoes and continued on their way
down the river. About five leagues below La Van-
turn, at the mouth of a stream supposed to have been
Bureau Creek, the voyageurs landed and sent out
their hunters in search of buffalo. The following
day being New Year, 1680, it was agreed to spend
it in camp, saying mass and taking the sacrament in
accordance to an old custom in the Catholic church.
Before leaving Canada Father Hennepin provided
himself with a miniature altar, which folded up like
an army chair and could be carried on the back the
same as a knapsack. With this altar on his back
Father Hennepin started off through the woods in
search of a suitable place for worship, followed by
the other priests and the rest of the party. A place
was selected, a cross raised, the altar erected, and the
holy father preached to his companions, causing the
wild woods to resound with exhortations arid songs
of praise. After preaching and saying mass the
sacred emblems were placed by the side of the altar,
preparatory to taking the sacrament. But great was
56 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
Father Hennepin's astonishment to find the wine
vessel empty, as one of the party, a blacksmith by
trade, nicknamed La Forge, had drank it up while
on the road. For this act of sacrilege Father Henne-
pin pronounced against him a curse equal to the one
the Pope pronounced against Martin .Luther.
FRENCH AT PEORIA LAKE.
According to history, on the 3d of January, 1680,
the inhabitants of an Indian village situated on the
west bank of Peoria Lake were surprised to see
eight canoes filled with armed men opposite their
to\vn. These canoes were all abreast, presenting a
formidable appearance, and the men seated in them
held guns in their hands ready for an attack or de-
fense. The canoes rounded to and landed at the
village, causing a great panic among the Indians,
some of whom fled in terror, while others seized
their arms and were prepared to defend themselves.
Amid the confusion that followed La Salle sprang
ashore and presented to the astonished -natives the
calumet (a token of friendship), while Father Hen-
nepin caught several frightened papooses and
soothed their fears with kindness and small presents.
The French pitched their tents in the Indian vil-
lage and remained there for some days ; but discon-
tentment among the men, and fearing treachery of
FORT CREVE CCEUR. 57
tHe Indians, caused La Salle to remove to a place of
greater security. A site to build a fort was selected
and all the valuables at the camp transferred thereto.
On account of the gloomy prospect, the discontent-
ment and desertion of some of the men, La Salle
named this fort Creve Coeur, which in English is
Broken Heart.
FORT CREVE CCEUR.
Father Hennepin, in his journal, says in Jan-
uary, 1680, he went with La Salle down the river in
search of a suitable place to build a fort. An emi-
nence on the south side of the river being selected,
which was defended on two sides by ravines cut deep
by rains, and on one side by a steep bank, so the site
was accessible from only one way. A ditch was dug
on the land side connecting the two ravines, and the
site inclosed by palisades. The soldiers were lodged
in huts within this inclosure, and two cabins built,
one for La Salle and Tonti, and the other for the
three friars.
Much has been written about the site of Fort
Creve Creur, but the only place in this vicinity an-
swering the above description is at the village of
Wesley, which is located on the east side of the
river, three miles below Peoria, and this is generally
conceded to have been the site of the old fort.
Father Hennepin lamented the loss of wine, which
58 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
prevented him from administering the sacrament,
but each morning and evening all the occupants of
the fort were summoned to his cabin for prayers.
Fathers Gabriel and Zenobe spent most of their time
in the Indian village, preaching and instructing the
natives in the ways of Christianity, but they made
but few proselytes.
About the 1st of February Father Hennepin,
in a canoe, accompanied by two of his countrymen,
left the fort on a voyage of discovery ; passing down
the Illinois River to its mouth, they ascended the
Mississippi to the Falls of St. Anthony ; here Hen-
nepin and his comrades were made prisoners by the
Indians, and remained in confinement for several
months, but afterward they were liberated and re-
turned to Canada. On arriving at Montreal Father
Hennepin sailed for France, and published a book
of his adventures in the new world.
CHAPTER V.
LA SALLE IN AN INDIAN CAMP.
WAR having existed for a long lime between the
Illinois and Iroquois Indians, La Salle had
now to use his influence to make peace between the
contending parties, as this hostility would endanger
his enterprise. The Illinois Indians regarded this
interference on the part of La Salle as treachery to
them, and in council they had decided to put him
and his comrades to death. On learning of this de-
cision of the Indians, La Salle formed and executed
a bold and hazardous project, of going alone, un-
armed, to the Indian camp, for the purpose of vindi-
cating his conduct. His bravery and eloquence
astonished the natives, and completely changed their
purposes. The calumet was smoked, presents ex-
changed, and a treaty of amity concluded between
the French and Indians.
In March, La Salle, accompanied by two of his
countrymen, returned to Canada to obtain supplies,
as he was now convinced that the Griffin, with her
cargo, had been lost. While they were forcing their
canoe up the rapid current they noticed on the south
n
60 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
bank a remarkable cliff of rocks rising from the
water's edge and towering above the forest trees.
Landing from their canoe they ascended this rock
and found it to be a natural fortress, where but little
labor would be required to make it impregnable, so
that a few soldiers could hold it against a host of
savages. When La Salle arrived at Mackinaw he
sent word back to Tonti to fortify this rock and
make it his stronghold. Although circumstances
prevented Tonti from obeying the orders of his
superior, nevertheless a fort was built here two
years afterward, and around it clustered the first
colony in the Mississippi Valley.
When La Salle left for Canada Tonti took com-
mand of the fort, which he was expected to hold
until the return of his superior. Mutiny arose
among his command, and a short time after La Salle
left, all the soldiers except three deserted and made
their way back to Canada. Tonti being left with
only three soldiers and two Jesuit priests, abandoned
Fort Creve Coeur, and it was never occupied by
troops afterward.
HENRI DE TONTI.
Among the many adventurers who accompanied
La Salle to America, and took in exploring the
wilds of the west, was a young Italian of noble birth
HENEI DE TONTI. 61
by the name of Henri de Tonti. Young Tonti with
his father's family were banished from Italy on ac-
count of having taken part in a revolution of that
country, and they found a home at Rouen, France.
Tonti having a military education joined the French
army and served five years, part of the time as cap-
tain of National Guards. At the close of the war
he was discharged from service, came to America
with La Salle, and took part in his enterprise. La-
Salle made Tonti his lieutenant, second in command,
and the sequel shows that he was worthy of the
trust placed in him.
Part of Tonti's right hand having been shot off
in the Sicilian war its place was supplied by an iron
one, which he always kept covered with a glove.
With this iron hand Tonti on two different occasions
broke the heads, or knocked out the teeth, of disor-
derly Indians, which caused them to believe that he
possessed supernatural power. Tonti brought with
him from France a large sum of money, which was
used in common with La Salle in exploring and
taking possession of the country, and also in trade
with the Indians.
The late Dr. Sparks says history never can do
ample justice to Tonti, as his life was one of patriot-
ism, self sacrifice, and the discovery and settle-
ment of the Great West belongs mainly to him.
62 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
Forty years of Tonti's life was spent in the wilds
of the west, enduring hardships, dangers and depri-
vations, associating with savages, and without the
benefits or comforts of civilization. His fortune
squandered, his health and manhood sacrificed,
stripped of his hard-earned laurels, he became a wan-
derer along the Gulf of Mexico, but at last returned
to die at Fort St. Louis, and his bones now rest on
the bank of the Illinois River, at the west end of
Starved Rock.
In one of the Louvre picture galleries in Paris
can be seen a full length portrait of a youthful look-
ing man, dressed in a French uniform, with epaulets
on his shoulders and an eagle on his breast. His
left hand holds a sword, while the right one presents
a singular appearance, as though deformed, but hid-
den by a glove. This tall, graceful figure, and the
piercing black eyes, never fail to attract the attention
of strangers, and inquiry would naturally arise for the
history of the person here represented. Below this
portrait is painted, in large letters, the name "Henri
de Tonti, la voyajeur des Amerique."
THE FRENCH AT LA VANTUM.
Soon after the troops deserted their post at Fort
Creve Cceur, Tonti, with those remaining, consisting
of Fathers Gabriel and Zenobe and three soldiers,
abandoned the place. All the valuables in the fort
THE FRENCH AT LA VANTUM. 63
were put into two canoes, when the party ascended
the river as far as La Yantum, and here they found
quarters among the Indians with the intention of
awaiting La Salle's return from Canada. Tonti ap-
plied himself in learning the Indian languages, the
two priests were engaged in preaching to the In-
dians, while the soldiers spent the honeymoon with
their squaws, whom they had recently married.
About three miles from the town, in the midst of
a thick grove of timber, Fathers Gabriel and Zenobe
erected a temporary altar, and every third day they
repaired thither for prayer and meditation. Here
in this lonely spot, far away from the noise and
bustle of the town, the two holy friars would spend
long summer days from early morning until late at
night communing with the Yirgin, and with saints
and angels. Notwithstanding these priests preached
and prayed with the Indians almost daily, promising
them great success in war, hunting, etc., if they
i
would embrace the Christian religion, but few con-
verts were made. Chassagoac, the head chief, hav-
ing been converted several years before under the
preaching of Marquette, still continued in the faith.
This chief with his family and a few of his friends
had taken the sacrament from the hands of the
priests, but all other chiefs and warriors adhered
to the religion of their fathers.
64 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
The wine brought from Canada for sacramental
purposes having been drank by La Forge, as pre-
viously stated, it became necessary to procure
a substitute, as the administration of the sacred
rites could not be dispensed with. During the
winter the priests gathered a quantity of wild
grapes, pressed out the juice, and put away in the
sacramental cask for future use. This wine an-
swered the purpose very well so long as the
weather remained cool, but during the summer it
soured and became unfit for use. When the time
came to administer the sacrament Tonti, the three
soldiers with their wives, Chassagoac and family,
with a few of his friends, were assembled in the
council-house on the Sabbath day to receive the
sacred embiems. Father Gabriel, wrapped in his
long black robe, with a gold cross suspended from
his neck, preached to them, telling them of Christ,
of the Virgin, of the apostles, saints, and of the
kingdom to come. After preaching all knelt around
the altar, engaged in prayer, while Father Gabriel
made preparations to administer the sacrament, but
was horrified to find the wine sour, and the miracle
of transubstantiation, that is, converting the wine
into the real blood of Christ, could not be per-
formed, consequently the sacramental service for the
present had to be dispensed with.
RECEPTION OF EVIL TIDINGS. 65
Time hung heavy with the French, days and
weeks passed away, spring was gone, the summer
almost ended, and still no news from La Salle. In
an Indian village, where there is neither hunting,
war parties to fit out, nor national festivals to keep
rip an excitement, it has a^dull, monotonous appear-
ance. Warriors lay under shade-trees sleeping, or
amusing themselves in games of chance, while
squaws were at work in cornfields, or preparing food
for their families. Naked papooses were playing
on the green or rolling in the dirt, while young
maidens with their lovers were gathering flowers in
the grove, fishing on the river bank, or rowing their
canoes across its waters, unconscious of the great
calamity that was about to befall them.
RECEPTION OF EVIL TIDINGS.
It was near the close of a warm day in the latter
part of the summer when a scout arrived with his
pony in a foam of sweat, shouting at the top of his
voice that the Iroquois were marching against the
town. All was now excitement and confusion,
squaws screamed, papooses quit their plays on the
green and ran away to their homes, warriors caught
their weapons, and preparations for defense. The
warriors greased their bodies, painted their faces,
and ornamented their heads with turkey feathers,
66 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
and spent the night in singing and dancing. Morn-
ing at last came, and with it came the savage Iro-
quois armed with rifles and other implements of war-
fare. On receiving notice of the approaching enemy
a crowd of excited savages collected around Tonti
and his three companions, whom they had previously
suspected of treachery, and charged them with being
in league with the Iroquois. A report having
reached them that a number of Jesuit priests and
La Salle himself were with the enemy leading them on
to the town. The enraged warriors seized the black-
smith forge tools, with all the goods belonging to the
French, and threw them into the river. One of the
warriors caught Tonti by the hair of the head, and
raised his tomahawk to split open his skull, but a
0
friendly chief caught the savage by the arm, and
thereby his life was spared. Tonti, with boldness
and self possession which was characteristic of him,
defended himself against these charges, and in order
to convince them of his good faith offered to accom-
pany them to battle.
Fathers Gabriel and Zenobe at the time of the
alarm were away at their altar spending the day
in prayer and meditation, and had no warning of
the danger that awaited them. On their return
home late at night they were surprised to find the
town in a whirlpool of excitement, squaws crying,
RECEPTION OF EVIL TIDINGS. 67
bewailing their fate, warriors dancing, yelling, bran-
dishing their war-clubs to keep up their courage,
and offering up sacrifices to the Manitou of battle.
On the arrival of the two priests the savages charged
them with treachery, and of being the cause of
the Iroquois invading their country. The priests
with uplifted hands called God to witness their inno-
cence of the charge, but their denial did not change
the minds of the excited Indians. A loud clamor
was raised for their blood, when a number of war-
riors sprang forward with uplifted tomahawks to
slay them, but as they drew nigh and about to strike
the fatal blow Father Gabriel drew from his bosom
a small gold image of the Holy Virgin, and held
it before the faces of the would-be murderers. On
seeing this sacred talisman in the hands of the priest
the executioners paused a moment, and then
returned their tomahawks to their belts. Father
Zenobe in after years said this was only one of the
many instances of the Holy Virgin protecting the
Jesuits of North America.
During the night all the squaws and papooses,
with the aged warriors unable to bear arms, were
placed in canoes and taken down the river about
three leagues, to a large, marshy island. About sixty
warriors were left here for their protection, and all
of them secreted themselves among the reeds and
68 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
high grass, but the sequel shows their hiding place
was discovered by the enemy, and this place of sup-
posed safety became their tomb.
BATTLE AND MASSACRE.
At the time of the Iroquois invasion there were
only about five hundred warriors in La Yantum,
the head chief, Chassagoac, and a portion of his
braves having gone to a distant village for the pur-
pose of attending a religious feast. But this band,
small as it was, boldly crossed the river at daylight
and met the enemy, whose number was five times
their own. While they were ascending the bluft a
scout met them saying the enemy were crossing the
prairie close at hand, and as the invaders approached
the river timber they were surprised to meet the
Illinoisans who were lying in ambush, and received
them with a deadly fire. At this unexpected attack
the Iroquois were panic-stricken, and fled from the
field, leaving the ground covered with their dead
and wounded. But they soon rallied and the fight
became bloody, arrows and rifle balls flying thick
and fast, while the woods far and near resounded
with the wild whoops of contending savages. In
the midst of the fight Tonti undertook the perilous
task of mediating between the contending parties.
Laying aside his gun, and taking a wampum belt in
BATTLE AND MASSACRE. 69
his hand, holding it above his head as a flag of truce,
and amid showers of arrows and rifle balls, he
walked boldly forward to meet the enemy. As he
approached the Iroquois warriors collected around
him in a threatening manner, one of whom at-
tempted to stab him to the heart, but the knife
striking a rib made only a long, shallow gash. As
the savage was about to repeat the blow, a chief
came up, and seeing the victim was a white man,,
protected him from further assaults, and applied a
bandage to the wound to stop the bleeding. The
fighting having ceased, a warrior took Tonti's hat,
and placing it on the muzzle of his gun started
toward the Illinoisans, who on seeing it supposed
the owner was killed, and again renewed the fight.
While the battle was raging a warrior reported that
three French men, armed with guns, were with the
Illinoisans and firing on them. On making this an-
nouncement the Iroquois warriors became enraged
at Tonti, and again gathered around him, some for
killing and others for protection. One of the war-
riors caught him by the hair of his head, raising it
up, and with his long knife was about to take off his
scalp, when Tonti, with his iron hand, knocked
down his assailant. Others attacked Tonti with
knives and tomahawks, but he was again rescued
from death by the principal war chief. For a long
70 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
time the battle raged with fearful strife, many of the
combatants on both sides being slain, but at last the
Illinoisans were overpowered and driven from the
field. The vanquished fled to their town with the
intention of defending it or perish in the attempt.
On the river bank, near the center of the town,
stood their great council-house, surrounded by earth-
works and stockades, forming a kind of fortification.
To this place the remnant of the warriors fled, and
in great haste tore down some of the lodges and
used the material in strengthening their works of
defense.
The Illinoisans had crossed the river in canoes,
but their pursuers, having no means of crossing at
this point, were obliged to go up the river to the
rapids to ford it. In a short time the enemy attacked
the town, setting fire to lodges and fortifications,
which were soon a mass of flames. Many of the
besieged were burned, others slain or made prisoners
as they escaped from the flames, and only a few
succeeded in making their escape.
When the victory was completed the conquerors
bound the prisoners hand and foot, and commenced
torturing them to make them reveal the hiding place
of the squaws and papooses, and on obtaining the
necessary information a party of warriors went in
search of them. While these defenseless beings
BATTLE AND MASSACRE. 71
were secreted among the reeds and sage grass of
the island, they were discovered by the savage Iro-
quois, and all of them slain. The sixty warriors
left as guards fled on approach of the enemy, and
some of them succeeded in making their escape.
CHAPTER VI.
t
TORTURING PRISONERS.
»
ON the following day after the battle the victors
made preparations to torture the prisoners, and
their acts of barbarity probably have never been
equaled by any other savages of the west. The
warriors were formed into a large circle, and the
prisoners, bound hand and foot, conveyed thither ;
when the work <>f. torture commenced the doomed
victims were seated on the ground awaiting their fate,
some of whom were weeping or praying, others en-
gaged in singing their death song. The executioner,
with his long knife, cut off the nose and ears and
pieces of flesh from the body while the prisoners sat
writhing with agony, and the ground around them
red with human gore. This work of torture contin-
ued for some time, limbs and pieces of flesh were cut
from different parts of the body, and in some cases
the bowels were taken out and trailed on the ground,
while the groans and screams of the victims in their
agonies of death were terrible to witness. Tonti
and his companions looked on in horror at these
72
DEATH OF FATHER GABRIEL. 73
barbarous acts of the Iroquois, but dare not remon-
strate, as they, too, were prisoners, and did not know
but a like fate awaited them.
While the torture was going on the two priests
were engaged in baptising tl e victims in order to
absolve them from past sins, and as each one was
about to expire they held the crucifix before his
eyes so he might look on it while giving up the ghost,
and through its divine efficacy his soul would be
saved from perdition.
When the prisoners were all dead the warriors
cut out their hearts, roasted and ate them so as to
make them brave.
For a number of days the Iroquois continued to
rejoice over their victory, spending the time in sing-
ing and dancing around the scalps, causing the
timbers and surrounding bluff to re-echo with their
wild whoops and yells.
DEATH OF FATHER GABRIEL.
Two days after the Iroquois' victory, the French
were set at liberty, and they departed eastward in
an old leaky canoe. After going about six leagues,
they stopped at the mouth of a creek to repair the
canoe and dry their clothing; while thus engaged,
Father Gabriel, who was always fond of solitude,
wandered off among the thick timber for the purpos6
74 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
of prayer and meditation. When the canoe was
repaired, clothes dried, and the time of departure
came, Father Gabriel being absent search was made
for him, but he could not be found. During the
night fires were kept burning along the river bank,
and guns discharged to direct him to camp, but all
in vain. During the tollowing day they searched
the woods far and near for the missing priest, but all
to no purpose, so they gave him up for lost, and
continued on their journey. For clays they mourned
the loss of the holy father, as he was an old man of
nearly three score and ten, and much devoted to the
interest of the church.
It was afterward ascertained that Father Gabriel
was taken prisoner by Indians, carried off to their
camp to be executed, and while his friends were
searching for him these savages were dancing around
his scalp. While Father Gabriel was at prayer in
the thick timber two Indians approached him in a
threatening manner, and with his head uncovered
he arose to meet them. In vain he told the savages
that he was their friend, having come from afar
across the big waters to teach them in the ways of
truth and happiness; but regardless of his entreaties,
they bound his hands behind his back and led him
off a prisoner to their camp. A council was held
over the captive, and it was decided that he should
A SCENE OF HORROE. 75
die. A stake was driven into the ground, and
Father Gabriel, with his hands and feet pinioned,
tied to it. Here he sat on the ground, bound to the
stake, with his long hair and flowing beard, whitened
with the snows of seventy winters, waving to and
fro in the wind.' The Indians formed a circle around
their victim, singing and dancing, and under re-
peated blows of the war-club he fell to the ground
and expired. Thus perished Father Gabriel, the
only heir of a wealthy I'urgundian house, who had
given i.p a life of ease and comfort in the old world
to preach the gospel to the heathens of the west,
and who, at last, became his murderers.
Four years after the tragedy above narrated a
trader at Fort St. Louis bought of an Indian a
small gold image of the Virgin Mary, with Father
Gabriel's name engraved thereon. This image had
been presented to the holy father by the bishop of
Normandy, on the day he sailed for America, and
he had carried it in his bosom near his heart until
the day of his death. Many years after the recovery
of this golden image it was carried back to France,
and is now to be seen in the museum of Rouen.
A SCENE OF HORROR.
It was midwinter, three months after the mas-
sacre of the Illinois Indians, when La Salle with
76 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
twelve companions returned from Canada to I6ok
after his little colony, on the Illinois River. As the
canoes passed rapidly down the swollen stream the
eyes of the travelers were directed to Starved Rock,
where they expected to tind Tonti within his fortifi-
cation. But no palisades were there; no smoke
ascended from its summit, nor signs of human habita-
tion could be seen. Passing down the rapid current
a mile and a half, the travelers were surprised to find
the great town of the west had disappeared. The
large meadow formerly covered with lodges and
camping-tents, and swarming with human beings,
was now a lonely waste, a fit representative of death
and desolation. On the charred poles which had
formed the framework of lodges were many human
heads partly robbed of flesh by birds of prey. Packs
of wolves fled at their approach, and flocks of buz-
zards raised from their hideous repast and flew
squawking away to distant trees. E\ en the bury ing-
grounds showed marks of the vindictive malice of
the victors having made war on the dead as well as
the living. Graves had been opened and bones
taken out and piled up in heaps, or broken into frag-
ments and scattered about over the prairie. The
scaffold containing the dead had been torn down
and their contents thrown hither and thither on the
meadow. Everywhere the ground was strewn with
A SCENE OF HORROR. 77
mangled bodies and broken bones of the unfortunate
Illinoisans.
In the midst of the ruins the conquerors had
erected an altar to the god of war, and the poles sur-
rounding it were capped with heads of victims, whose
long hair and ghastly features were sickening to look
on. The stench arising from putrefaction was so
offensive, and the scene so horrifying, that La Salle
and his party turned away from it and encamped for
the night on the opposite side of the river. During
the long winter night the loneliness was made in-
tolerable by the howling of wolves, and buzzards
winging their way back and forth through the dark
domain.
On the following morning La Salle returned to
the ancient town and examined the skulls of many
of the victims to see if he could find among them
the remains of Tonti and his party, but they all ap-
peared to have been the heads of Indians. On the
bank of the river were planted six posts painted
red, and on each of these was a figure of a man
drawn in white. La Salle believed these figures
represented six white men, prisoners in the hands
of the Indians, it being the number of Tonti's party.
La Salle and his comrades again boarded their
canoes and started down the river, hoping to learn
something in relation to the fate of their country-
V8 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS,
men, but nothing was discovered. As the travelers
passed down the river they saw on the island where
the squaws and papooses had taken refuge many
human figures standing erect but motionless. With
great caution they landed from their canoes to ex-
amine these figures, and found them to be partly
consumed bodies of squaws who had been bound to
a stake and then burned. Fires had been made at
their feet, consuming the flesh off their legs and
crisping their bodies, but leaving the remains bound
to the stake, standing erect as though in life. Poles
were stuck into the marsh and papooses placed
thereon, while others were hanging by the neck
from limbs of trees, with the flesh partly eaten off
their bodies by birds of prey. The sight of these
dead bodies was so revolting to look upon that the
French turned away from them in horror, and con-
tinued on their way down the river.
STARVED ROCK.
This remarkable rock is so closely identified with
the early history of the Illinois country, and so
often referred to in our story, the reader will par-
don me for this digression from the narrative in
describing it.
On the south bank of the Illinois River, eight
miles below Ottawa, and near the foot of the rapids,
STARVED ROCK. 79
is a remarkable cliff known as Starved Rock. This
rocky cliff rises almost perpendicularly from the
water's edge to the height of one hundred and
thirty-six feet, and is separated from neighboring
cliffs by a wide chasm, which shows signs of hav-
ing been produced by some convulsion of nature.
Three sides of this rock rise like a watch-tower, but
the fourth, side, next to the bluff, recedes inward,
and at one place can be ascended by a steep, rocky
pathway. The walls of this cliff consist of grey
sandstone, partly hid by forest trees, and when
viewed from a distance has the appearance of an
old castle of feudal times.
Starved Rock is of a circular form, and in view-
ing it from every standpoint it has a bold, majestic
appearance. On the north side, next to the river,
the cliff is perpendicular, rising in towering masses,
one rock upon the other, and overlooking the rapid
stream which flows at its base. In some places the
walls of this cliff are smooth, and thick layers of
rock look like the work of art, while at other places
they are rough with overhanging crags, under which
are many dark, dismal looking caverns, at one time
the abode of wild animals. Out of the many crev-
ices in the rocks stunted cedars grow, and under
their branches can be seen patches of cactus and
mountain ivy.
80 PIONEEES OF ILLINOIS.
The summit of Starved Rock contains about
three-fourths of an acre, some of it smooth sand-
stone, on which are engraved many names of visit-
ors; but the larger portion is covered by earth, with
grass and small evergreen trees growing thereon.
Here, by the river side, stands this high, isolated
rock, the same as it stood centuries ago, overlooking
the broad plain below and the many . wood-clad
islands which divide the swift current of the Illinois
River, and here it will continue to stand, a monu-
ment of past ages and the admiration of the present.
Its bold, towering walls, its high, majestic summit, and
its isolated position, make it the most picturesque
object on the Illinois River, and for historic remini-
scences it is without a parallel in the western country.
The view from the summit of Starved Rock is
very fine, and will remind a person of a grand land-
scape painting or a beautiful panorama. To the
north and west is a large bottom prairie, bounded
on each side by bluffs covered with forest trees.
Through tlys great meadow flows the Illinois River,
which can be seen many miles distant winding about
in its serpentine course. On looking down into the
river at the base of the rock catfish and turtles can
be seen sporting over the sand and rocks in the
clear, shallow stream, while shoals of pike and red
horse ascend the swift current.
STARVED ROCK. 81
By the early French explorers Starved Rock,
known as Le Rocher, has figured extensively in the
early history of western discoveries. Two centuries
ago La Salle built a fort on its summit, the relics of
which are still to be seen, and around this fort was
1
clustered the first colony in the Mississippi Valley.
The summit of this rock was at one time the abode
of gay and joyous French, where balls, gay parties
and wine suppers were held, and here, too, was
heard, morning and evening, the songs of praise
from the lips of devout Jesuit priests. At another
time it was a scene of strife, carnage and desola-
tion, stained with human blood and covered with
the bodies of the slain. Of late years pleasure
parties have frequent dances on this rock; but they
do not consider that here was once the dance of
death, where the infant, the mother, the young
maiden, the brave warrior and aged chief suffered
ami died, and their bones, bleached white by rain
and sun, could be seen for many years afterward.
Two hundred years has made but little change
in the appearance of Starved Rock. The same fort-
like walls remain, and probably the same stunted
cedars . crown its summit ; but the surroundings
have undergone a great change. The great meadow
which it overlooks, once covered with grass and
wild flowers, and sometimes blackened with herds
82 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
of buffalo, is now occupied by farms in close suc-
cession. To the north, across the wide bottom
prairie, is seen the village of Utica, with its cement
mills and warehouses, by the side of which pass
the canal and railroad. To the west, five miles^
below but in plain view, are the flourishing cities
of Peru and La Salle, with their church steeples
glittering in the sunbeams. Steam and canal boats
are seen in the river, and trains of cars passing and
repassing on the different railroads. Evidences of
agriculture, commerce and civilization are now seen
from the summit of this rock, and the familiar
peals of church and school bells are heard, instead
ot the wild war-whoop of savages while engaged in
a bloody strife, leaving the great meadow below
strewn with the dead, as in former times.
CHAPTER VII.
BUILDING OF FORT ST. LOUIS.
LA SALLE met Tonti and his comrades at Macki
naw, and with them descended the Mississippi
to its mouth, after which they returned to build a fort
on the Illinois River. In the fall of 1682 La Salle,
with about forty soldiers under his command, built a
fort on the summit of Starved Rock. The place of
ascending this rock was improved by breaking off
projecting crags and cutting steps in the steep, rocky
pathway. The stunted cedars that crowned the
summit were cut away to make room for fortifica-
tions, and the margin of the rock for about two-
thirds of its circumference was encircled by earth-
works. Timbers were cut on the river bottom
below, and by hand dragged up the stair-like pathway
to build a block-house, store-house and dwelling, also
to protect a large portion of the summit of the rock
with palisades. They built a platform on the trunk
of two leaning cedars which grew on the margin of
the cliff, on which a windlass was placed to draw
water out of the river to supply the garrison. The
84 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
two small cannon brought from Canada in a canoe
were mounted on the wooden ramparts, and all the
arms, stores, etc., belonging to the French, were
carried here and placed within the stockades. When
the fort was completed, and the French flag swung to
the breeze, the cannons fired three salutes in honor of
Louis XIV, and all the soldiers shouted vive le roi.
The fort was named St Louis or Rock Fort, and
in its dedication Father Zenobe called on the Hoi j
Virgin to bless and keep it in the true faith, and
protect it from the enemies of the cross.
From the wooden ramparts of Fort St. Louis,
which were as high and almost as inaccessible as an
eagle's nest, the French could look down on the
Indian town below, and also on the great meadow
which lay spread out before them like a map. Two
years before this meadow was the scene of carnage,
a waste of death and desolation, blackened by fire, and
strewn with the ghastly remains of the slain in the
Iroquois victory. But now it was changed: Indians
to the number of six thousand had returned, and the
river bank for a mile in extent was covered with
lodges. Many of the inhabitants of other villages
came here to trade, bringing with them venison, buf-
falo meat, furs, pelts, etc., to exchange for goods.
At one time there were encamped around the fort
not less than twenty thousand Indians, who came
TRADE WITH THE INDIANS. 85
here to trade and seek protection from their much
dreaded enemies, the Iroquois. Emigrants from Can-
ada came here and built cabins near the fort, some of
whom married squaws, lived in the village with the
Indians, and adopted their dress, habits and cus-
toms. The colony was called Louisiana, in honor of
the king of France, and according to maps drawn at
that time it included all of the Mississippi Valley.
TRADE WITH THE INDIANS.
La Salle being now established within his stockades
he turned his attention to trading with the Indians,
supplying them with goods, and taking furs in ex-
change. He claimed dominion over all the country
west of the lakes by virtue of his patent, and he
divided it out among his friends by giving them per-
mits to trade with the Indians. He authorized
Richard Bosley to establish a trading pose at Caho-
kia, and Phillip de Beuro one at Green Bay, but
compelled them to pay him a royalty on all goods
sold and furs bought.
Indians from different parts of the country came
to the fort for the purpose of trade, carrying with
them large quantities of furs, which were exchanged
for goods at a large profit to the trader. Toma-
hawks, axes, knives, etc., made of flint, were super-
seded by those of steel, guns took the place of bows
86 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
arid arrows, and blankets as a wearing apparel the
place of heavy buffalo robes. Blankets worth three
dollars in Montreal would bring one hundred dollars
in furs, and a tomahawk that cost fifty cents sold for
twenty dollars among the Indians.
LA SALLE'S SUCCESS, FAILURE AND DEATH.
Two years after Fort St. Louis was built La Salle,
leaving Tonti in command, returned to Canada, and
from thence sailed for France. Obtaining assistance
from the court of France La Salle in the following
year, with three ships loaded with emigrants, sailed
for the mouth of the Mississippi River, with the in-
tention of establishing a colony there. Being
unsuccessful in finding the mouth of the Mississippi
he landed in Texas, and while traveling across the
country on his way to the colony on the Illinois
was assassinated by his own men.
In the summer of 1686 Tonti with forty men. in
canoes, descended the river to the Gulf of Mexico in
search of La Salle, but found no traces of him.
Again in 1669 he made a like tour in search of the
remnant of the colony, and for the purpose of finding
the bones of the great explorer in order to carry
them back with him to Fort St. Louis, but this ex-
pedition, like the first one, proved a failure.
Although La Salle was dead his colony on the
FORT ST. LOUIS ATTACKED BY IROQUOIS. 87
Illinois River continued to flourish, and the fur
trade became a source of great wealth. For eighteen
years this trade was conducted by Tonti and La-
Frost, the former living at Fort St. Louis, and the
latter in Canada.
FORT ST. LOUIS ATTACKED BY IROQUOIS.
Two years after the building of Fort St. Louis it
was attacked by two thousand Iroquois warriors, and
by them held in siege six days. At that time Tonti
was in command of the fort, which contained only
fifty soldiers and one hundred Indian allies, and
with this small force he put the besiegers to flight.
On a bright, clear day in the latter part of May
the great meadow was green with grass, intermixed
with flowers of various hues, the forest trees were in
full leaf, and the air made fragrant with blossoms of
the wild plum a id crab-apple. Birds were singing
among the branches of trees, and squirrels chirping
in the thick river timber, while at a distance was
heard the musical notes of the robin and meadow-
lark. In the shade of willows and outspreading
elms, along the bank of the river, lay the doe and
her fawn, lulled to slumber by the hum of the wild
bee and grasshopper. All was quiet at Fort St.
Louis, and the occupants were delighted with the
beauty of the surrounding scenery. To the west, in
88 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
plain view, lay the great town of LaVantum, with its
hundreds of lodges built along the bank of the river,
and around which were passing masses of human
beings. On the race-track above the town warriors
mounted on ponies were practicing horsemanship,
while far in the distance squaws were seen at work
in their corn fields or gathering greens for the family
meal.
It was Sabbath morning, the fourth after Easter;
all the inmates of the fort were dressed in their best
apparel and seated under the shade of cedars
awaiting religious services. Father Zenobe, dressed
in his long black robe, with a large gold cross hang-
ing from his neck, was about to commence services
when a lone Indian was seen on the bottom prairie
going westward, and urging his pony forward at the
top of its speed. Father Zenobe after concluding his
sermon was about to administer the sacrament when
the sentinel at the gate fired his gun to give an
alarm. At this unexpected signal the meeting broke
up, and every one ran to his post thinking the fort
was about to be attacked. On looking in the direc-
tion of the town everything appeared in commotion,
warriors mounted on ponies riding back and forth at
full gallop, squaws and papooses running hither and
thither in wild confusion, drums beating, chiefs yell-
ing in giving command, while the cries and lamenta-
FORT ST. LOUIS ATTACKED BY IROQUOIS. 89
tions of the frightened people could be heard even
at the fort. Tonti, with three companions, came
-down from the fort, boarded a canoe, and with all
haste proceeded down the river to ascertain the
cause of this excitement, when the mystery was ex-
plained.
A scout had arrived with the intelligence that a
large body of Iroquois were only ten leagues distant,
.and marching on the town. The tragedy of four
years previous was fresh in their minds, and fearing
a like result caused them to go wild with terror.
The chiefs and warriors collected around Tonti
beseeching him to protect them from the tomahawks
.and scalping knives of their enemies in accordance
with La Salle's promise. In reply Tonti said his
force was not sufficient to afford them protection,
but advised them to collect their warriors and
defend the town. The French who lived in the
town with their families, and a few Indian friends,
fled to the fort, while the inhabitants being panic-
stricken left in great haste down the river. Soon
after their departure the invaders came, but found a
barren victory, as not one living soul was left in the
town.
When the Iroquois found their intended victims
had fled they attacked the fort, and held it in siege
six days. For a number of days the Indians contin-
90 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
ued to fire on the fort from the neighboring cliffs,
but without producing any effect. The occupants of
the fort not returning the fire emboldened the as-
sailants, and each day they came closer and secreted-
themselves in the timber near the base of the rock,
with the intention, no doubt, of making an assault ;
but when they came in close range the guns were
brought to bear on them, receiving the fire of' both
musket and cannon. Many were killed, others
wounded, while the survivors, being panic-stricken,
fled in all haste, leaving their dead and wounded
behind. For many days after the Indians were
repulsed the French remained within their fortifica-
tions, and did n'ot venture down from the rock until
convinced that the enemy had left the country.
No Iroquois Indians were ever seen in that vicin-
ity afterward, and they never made another raid on.
the Illinoisans.
RETURN OF TONTI'S VICTORIOUS ARMY.
In 1687 Tonti, with fifty French soldiers and two
hundred Illinois warriors, went to Canada and
joined Gen. Denonville in an expedition against the
Indians south of Lake Ontario. This army was vic-
torious; many towns along the Mohawk River were
burned, and a large number of scalps taken. After
completing the victory the army returned to Canada,
RETURN OF TONTl's VICTORIOUS ARMY. 91
when Tonti with his soldiers and Indian allies left
for Illinois. On their return they were accompanied
by a number of emigrant families, among whom were
wives, sons and daughters of soldiers and fur
traders belonging to the colony. For many weeks
the voyageurs in their bark canoes coasted along the
lake shores, — at night dragging their frail barks on
the beech and sleeping in the open air. On reaching
the mouth of Chicago River they ascended it ; then
crossed the portage into Des Plaines, and down the
Illinois River to their destination.
It was a bright, clear morning in midsummer, the
silver rays of the sun reflected from the rippling
waters of the river as it glided swiftly by. The
fresh morning breeze was cooled by passing through
branches of forest trees, and the songs of birds added
enchantment and loveliness to the surrounding
scene. The occupants of Fort St. Louis, after the
morning prayer and an exhortation by Father Allo-
uez, were collected along the brink of the rock
watching the finny tribe as they sported over the
sand and rocks in the clear, shallow wafer. While
thus engaged they were startled by hearing the
sound of a bugle up the river, and on looking in
that direction they saw the broad stream covered
with canoes all filled with human beings. On came
this fleet of canoes, with flags flying, drums beating,
92 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
: and the loud cheering of both French and Indians
announced the return of Tonti's victorious army.
As this large fleet of canoes passed rapidly down the
swift current the cannons on the fort boomed forth
loud peals of welcome to returning friends.
There was great rejoicing at Fort St. Louis,
wives and children of soldiers and fur traders had
come thither to join husbands and fathers after
many years of separation, and the meeting was an
affecting one.
On the following night a ball and wine supper
was given in honor of the occasion, and the great
hall of the fort rang with martial music, songs, toasts,
with various demonstrations of joy. Ladies from
fashionable society of Montreal gave an air of refine-
ment to the ball, and such a gay party was never
before witnessed in the wilds of the west. Much
wine was drank, the sound of music and joyous
laughter of the dancers rang forth on the clear night
air. Father Allouez, having spent twenty years
among savages in the west without mingling in
refined society, became so overjoyed by the gay
party and effects of the wine that he passed to and
fro among the ladies, encircling their waists with his
arms and offering to bestow his blessings upon
them.
CHAPTER VIII.
LE FORT DES MIAMIS.
IN the year 1684 La Barre, governor of Canada,
being jealous of La Salle's power and influence,
concocted a plan to defeat his enterprise, and there-
by appropriate to himself and friends the great
wealth to be derived from the fur trade, under a plea
that La Salle had forfeited his charter by granting
other parties permits to trade with the Indians. He
sent an army officer, Capt. De Bougis, to Illinois
with authority to take command of Fort St. Louis.
Tout! being in command of the fort at the time, sur-
rendered it to the usurper, who took possession of
all the goods and furs at the trading-post also. A
few months after Capt. De Bougis assumed com-
mand he became convinced that he was holding the
fort without authority, consequently he gave it up to
Tonti and returned to Canada.
On the following year after De Bougis returned
to Canada Capt. Richard Pilette made his appear-
ance at Fort St. Louis. Pilette remained at the fort
a number of days without letting his business be
93
y-t PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
known, but when the proper time came he drew
from his pocket a commission under the Governor's
seal authorizing him to take command. Tonti
denied the power of the Governor to appoint a com-
mander, as the fort was private property, having
been built and maintained by La Salle at his own
expense in accordance with a charter from the King
of France. In a pompous manner Pilette proclaimed
himself commander of the fort by virtue of his com-
mission, and addressing the soldiers in a tone of
authority ordered them to lay hold of Tonti and
place him under guard. Tonti with his iron hand
knocked down the would-be commander, relieving
him of three front teeth, and before the usurper
could regain his feet the soldiers carried him outside
of the gateway, setting him on the rock and giving
him a start downward. The rock being covered
with sleet Pilette could not recover his footing or
stop his descent, and in that position slid to the bot-
tom, tearing his pantaloons into fragments and
bruising himself on the sharp crags of rocks. Capt.
Pilette, bruised and bleeding, made his way to La
Vantum, where he found sympathy among his coun-
trymen and their Indian friends. With eighteen
Frenchmen and fifty warriors he went to Buffalo
Rock, and on its summit commenced building a fort
in defiance of La Salle's charter or Fort St. Louis.
*LE FORT DBS MIAMIS. 95
Here he built a block-house, a store-house, and sur-
rounded it with earthworks and palisades. Indians
to a large number came here, and built lodges with-
in the stockades, and it became a large town. The
place took the name of Le Fort des Miamis, and was
occupied by the Indians long after the French left the
country. The remains of this fort were plain to be
seen in the early settlement of the county, and were
mistaken for the relics of Fort St. Louis.*
For many years Pilette traded with the Indians,
but was compelled to pay a duty to Fort St. Louis
in accordance to La Salle's charter. Having married
a squaw he raised a family of half-breed children, to
whom he left a large fortune, made in the fur trade.
After his death the family removed to Peoria, and
one of his grandsons, Louis Pilette, was a claimant
for the land where the city now stands. Hypolite
Pilette, a great-grandson of the captain, who is now
living on the American Bottom, has in his posses-
sion many articles that once belonged to his distin-
guished ancestor. From Hypolite Pilette I obtained
* Fifty years ago the relics of this fort were plain to be seen on the summit
of Buffalo Rock, and were pointed out by early settlers as the remains of Port
St. Louis. These remains consisted of low earthworks enclosing three sides of
about one acre of land, the margin of the rock forming the fourth. The many
raids of the Iroquois caused the Indians to take refuge on Buffalo Rock, where
they would be secure within the stockades of the fort.
A short distance from the fort were a number of sepulchral mounds, the
largest of which, according to tradition, was raised over the grave of Capt.Pilette.
These old relics have been plowed over for many years by Mr. A. Betger,
the owner of the land, and most of them leveled down, but still their outlines
-can be traced out.
96 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
most of the traditionary account of Le Fort des Mia-
mis, as well as many other items relating to the
French and Indians of former times.
THE LAST OF TONTI.*
For fifteen years after the death of La Salle the-
fur trade was carried on by Tonti and La Frost. The
latter spent most of his time in Canada, and the for-
mer at Fort St. Louis, shipping 'each year a large
quantity of furs, and receiving goods in exchange.
In 1702 the Governor of Canada, claiming that:
the traders had forfeited their charter by collect-
ing furs at various points on Lake Michigan, and by
force of arms took possession of Fort St. Louis, con-
fiscating to the Government all their stock in trade.
By this act of injustice Tonti was not only deprived'
of his right to command the fort but ruined in for-
tune. Calling his friends together he took leave of
them, saying that he was about to depart from the
country never to return. Both French and Indians
collected around Tonti beseeching him to remain.
with them, but he had decided to do otherwise, and
with many tokens of friendship he bade them r.dieu.
Accompanied by two companions he boarded a canoe
* For the two sketches relating to the death of Tonti and burning of Fort
St. Louis I am indebted to Jacques Matte, whose great -grandfather was a sol-
dier in the fort and was present at Tonti's death and burial also when the-
fort was burned by the Indians a few months afterward.
THE LAST OF TONTI. 97
and started down the river in search of new adven-
tures.
On reaching the lower Mississippi country Tonti
joined D'Iberville, and assisted him in establishing
a colony. For sixteen years he remained south,
part of the time entrusted with an important mission,
but when the colony was broken up by sickness and
Spanish invasion he became au outcast and a wan-
derer. Broken down in health, forsaken by friends,
and feeling that his end was nigh, he employed two
Indians to take him to Fort St. Louis so he could
once more look upon the scene of his vigor and man-
hood, and leave his bones among people by whom
he had long been honored and obeyed.
On a warm afternoon in the summer of 1718,
while the occupants of Fort St. Louis were lounging
around under the shade of evergreens, they discovered
a canoe coming up the river rowed by two Indians.
In the bottom of the canoe a man lay on a buffalo
robe but on nearing the fort he raised himself into
a sitting position, and gazed wildly around him.
The canoe landed at the base of the rock, and the
travelers commenced ascending it. Between the
two Indians was a feeble old man whom the conduct-
ors held by each arm, and slowly assisted him up
the rocky pathway. On reaching the summit the
old man was placed on a bunk, where he lay for some
98 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
time overcome by fatigue and- unable to speak.
After taking some stimulants he revived, and in-
quired of those around him who commanded the
fort. On being told it was Captain La Mott he gave
a sigh saying La Mott was a usurper, and himself the
rightful commander. Those in attendance thought
him crazy, or his mind wandering, and they bathed
his head with cold water. When sufficiently recov-
ered from exhaustion he told them that his name
was Tonti, and he had returned here to die.
Sixteen years had made a great change in the ap-
pearance of Tonti, and he was scarcely recognized
by his most intimate friends. His tall, manly form
was bent by disease, his piercing black eyes were
dimmed with age, and his raven locks were as white
as snow. News of Tonti's arrival spread throughout
the country, and French and Indians from distant
villages came to see him. But those who knew him
while in the vigor of manhood could scarcely be con-
vinced that the feeble old man was the proud, brave
and fearless Tonti of former years. A few days
after Tonti arrived at the fort lie took the sacra-
ment at the hand of a priest, and while looking
upon a gold crucifix which was held before his face
he breathed his last. A grave was dug on the river
bank, at the west end of Starved Rock, in which his
remains found a resting-place.
FORT ST. LOUIS BURNED. 99
For many years after Tonti's death both French
and Indians, while passing up and down the river,
would stop to visit the grave, sometimes placing
flowers or mementoes on it in memory of him who
sleeps beneath.
FORT ST. LOUIS BURNED AND COLONY BROKEN UP.
So long as the fur trade was conducted by Tonti
and La Frost the Indians were well pleased, but
when it came under the supervision of the Governor
of Canada they became dissatisfied. The Gov-
ernor appointed unscrupulous agents to conduct the
trade, who swindled the Indians by selling them
worthless articles such as counterfeit jewelry, knives,
tomahawks, etc., made of pot metal, but the princi-
pal cause of ill feeling was on account of their social
relation. A Frenchman having married a young
squaw would put her away as soon as he found one
more attractive, thus changing his wife at will ac-
cording to his fancy. Although the priest would
not tolerate bigamy among their countrymen, yet
they were willing to accept a marriage fee once a
month or as often as the applicant desired a new
wife. It was the height of a young squaw's ambition
to marry a white man, notwithstanding they were
liable to be put away at any time. Under the
Indian code of morals if a squaw was found unchaste
100 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
she was punished by cutting off one ear, or branded
on the forehead, but there was no law to prevent
them from marrying once a week, or as often as an
opportunity occurred.
Captain La Mott commanded the fort, and being
a man devoid of conscientious scruples converted it
into a regular harem, in open violation of both
French and Indian code of morals. Young Indian
maidens were in the habit of spending nights at the
fort under the pretext of being married to the sol-
diers, returning home in the morning with their
heads adorned with worthless trinkets, and their
minds poisoned by vile associations. The squaws
became so fascinated with the French that many
refused to marry among their own people, having
come to the conclusion that children were not worth
raising unless they had white blood in their veins.
Things had come to such a state in their social rela-
tion that the head chief, Jero, called a council of
chiefs and warriors, at which it was decided to expel
the French from among them.
On a bright morning in the latter part of the sum-
mer of 1718, while the occupants of Fort St. Louis,
after a night of revelry and debauch, were still
asleep in their bunks, they were aroused from slum-
ber by the presence of savages. Captain La Mott on
awakening from his morning nap was astonished on
CHASSAGOAC, AN INDIAN CHIEF. 101
being confronted by some 300 warriors armed and
painted for war. rl he Captain inquired of Jero, the
head chief, the object of their visit, who in reply
said they had come to burn the fort. The chief or-
dered the warriors to fire the buildings, and in a
few minutes the block-house, store-house and dwell-
ing were in flames, all of which were consumed.
Thus Fort St. Louis was destroyed, after standing
thirty-six years, and during that time it was the
head center of the French settlement in Illinois. On
the destruction of the fort the colony was broken up,
some of the settlers returned to Canada, others to
Peoria and Cahokia, a few only who were identified
with the Indians by marriage and half-breeds con-
tinued to live in the town.
Three years after the burning of Fort St. Louis,
in 1721, Charlevoix, a Jesuit priest, visited Illinois
and found the palisades still standing but no French-
men living here.
CHASSAGOAC, AN INDIAN CHIEF.
For forty years Chassagoac, the head chief of
the Illinois Indians, was identified with the French
colony, and became celebrated as a friend of the
white man. He embraced Christianity under the
preaching of Marquette, and continued in this faith
until the time of his death. On account of his re-
102 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
ligious faith and fidelity to the French the Bishop
of Rouen sent him many presents, consisting of
gold images, crosses, crucifixes, with many other
emblems of the Christian religion. These presents^
were kept sacred, many of them worn on his per-
son, and at his death they were buried with him.
In a gallery of the Jesuit collections in the city
of Rouen, France, can now be seen a life-size por-
trait of Chassagoac, which shows him to have been
a fine specimen of his race, physically as well as
mentally. Whether the artist painted this portrait
from life or description is not known, but it is a
good representation of the person described in his-
tory. This chief died in the year 1714, and a large
mound raised over his grave, on which Father Felix
erected a cross. Back of the old town of Utica
the mound supposed to have been raised over this
noted chief can still be seen, as well as the cavity
in the earth near by from which the dirt was taken
to erect it. About sixty years ago "Waba, an In-
dian chief of some note, learning from tradition that
valuable trinkets had been buried in this mound,
opened it and robbed it of its treasures.
LOUISIANA COLONY.
This colony, as has been previously stated, was
founded by La Salle at Fort St. Louis in the year
1682 under a charter from Louis XIV, and called
LOUISIANA COLONY. 103
Louisiana in honor to his name. The colony re-
mained here until 1718, a period of thirty-six years,
and had it continued permanently La Salle county
would have been the oldest settled place in the
Mississippi Yalley.
In 1711 the King of France gave Crozat a pat-
ent covering all of the Louisiana country, over
which he was to have control for twenty years.
Col. La Mott, an agent of Crozat, took possession
of the country, assuming the title of governor,
and made Kaskaskia the capital. A large corps of
miners came from France, and two years were
spent in the northern country in searching for gold
and silver, but without success. Copper and lead
were found in great abundance, but none of the
precious metal for which they were in search.
After five years' experience in mining and trading
with the Indians Crozat found it unprofitable, con-
sequently he surrendered his patent to the crown,
•
and Col. La Mott with many of the miners re-
turned to France.
In 1717 a new patent was granted to a Louis-
iana company, with George Law, a Scotch banker
of Paris, at its head; and by this company Fort
Chartres was built. This company issued large
grants of land to each village, including many
thousand acres known as common field and com-
104 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
mons. They also made and enforced just laws
regulating village ordinances, which superseded
some of the arbitrary code brought about by the
Jesuit priests.
FRENCH SETTLEMENT AROUND FORT ST. LOUIS.
According to tradition, a number of cabins were
built around the base of Starved Rock and occu-
pied by people engaged in the fur trade. In my
researches among the descendants of the early pio-
neers I found three families whose ancestors lived
at Fort St. Louis, and from whom I obtained many
of the items given in this sketch. When the fort
was burned in 1718 all the settlers left for other
places ; the cabins rotted down, but the under-
ground furnaces for heating them still remain, nine
of which have been discovered within the last few
years.
By an order of Father Zenobe, all persons be-
longing to the colony, both soldiers and civilians,
were required to assemble once a day in the chapel
of the fort for prayers, and for that purpose men,
women and children each morning were seen as-
cending the Rock.
The cemetery was located on the river bank at
the west end of the Rock ; and here on this ro-
mantic spot, shaded by outspreading oaks, over-
FRENCH SETTLEMENT. 105
looking the broad, rapid stream, Henri de Tonti,
two Jesuit priests, with a number of soldiers and
civilians, found a long resting-place. In the early
settlement of the country human bones were seen
sticking out of the river bank at this place, where
the dirt had been washed away by a flood.
The French settlers cultivated an island in the
river and a field on the prairie north of it, also a
small piece of ground west of the Rock, between
the river and bluff, showed unmistakable marks of
having been cultivated. A large portion of the
grain and vegetables to supply the garrison were
raised by the French and half-breeds on the Indian
fields at La Vantum, while the meat, which con-
sisted of buffalo, elk and deer, was furnished by
Indian hunters.
On the north side of the river, a short distance
above Starved Rock, are three sulphur springs, one
of which is large, boiling up among white sand
and sending forth an immense volume of water.
Indians from a distance came here to be healed of
their maladies, and during the summer the springs
were surrounded with camping-tents. These poor
benighted people entertained the same foolish no-
tions as people of the present day regarding the
medical qualities of mineral water
In 1853 a large stone building, called ''Sulphur
106 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
Spring Hotel," was built here, with the expecta-
tion of making it a great watering-place. Notwith-
standing a large amount of money was spent in
building and advertising by those interested, they
did not succeed in making it a Saratoga or a Hom-
burg.
CHAPTER IX.
JESUIT MISSIONARIES OP THE WEST.
Jesuit missionaries in their zeal abandoned
-L home, friends and all the comforts of civiliza-
tion for the purpose of converting heathens. Gov-
erned by religious fanaticism they carried their faith
and works to the most remote parts of the west, and
among the lowest degraded savages. -They were
found along the ice-bound shores of Lake Superior,
clothed in deer or buffalo skins, and with snow-shoes,
struggling through thick timber, or crossing wide
prairies, to lodge in a filthy, smoky den with sav-
ages. Again at the south among bogs and swamps
filled with vermin and wild beasts they adminis-
tered the sacrament to painted and plumed pros-
elytes. To accomplish their purposes they traveled
through various parts of the country from Canada
to the Gulf of Mexico, — sometimes suffering from
cold and hunger, deprived of all the luxuries of civil-
ized life, all for the purpose of converting the hea-
then and saving their souls from eternal perdition.
These enthusiastic priests with their black robes
107
108 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
could be seen toiling with half naked natives build-
ing lodges, or forcing their canoe up the rapid
stream ; sometimes carrying their baggage on their
backs to and from distant villages, or lounging
around a camp-fire on a bear or buffalo skin amid
scores of squalling papooses and half famished dogs.
The stories of their labors are replete with romance,
miracles of heroic self-sacrifices, and with daring
adventures.
Everywhere these priests were the pioneers of
the French settlements in the west, keeping in
advance of civilization, and preparing the way for a
friendly intercourse between the white and red man.
Many of these missionaries were well educated, with
superior mental ability, possessed of wealth, which
made them efficient bearers of the cross, and whose
whole life was spent in converting heathens.
Father Marest in his correspondence says, "Our
life is spent in rambling through thick timber, among
briers and thorns, crossing wide prairies, climbing
over hills, or paddling a canoe across lakes or up
rapid rivers, to save the poor benighted Indian
from eternal perdition."
Father Nicollet lived twenty years among sav-
ages, most of the time without meeting a white man,
and became an Indian in dress, habit and language.
Still he remained a zealous Catholic, and at last
JESUIT MISSIONARIES OF THE WEST. 109
returned to civilization because he could not live
without the sacrament.
From the Jesuit missionaries the Indians learned
the story of Christ's crucifixion, and with a trem-
bling voice repeated it to their friends. They not
only received baptism from the hands of the priest
but allowed themselves to be sprinkled with holy
water', which they were taught to believe blotted out
all past sins, and saved them from everlasting punish-
ment. The medals, crosses and crucifixes which the
priest gave the warriors pleased their fancy, as they
were fond of adorning their persons with glittering
trinkets, and with these representations of man's
salvation suspended from their necks they remain
heathens still. In addition to decorating their per-
sons with emblems of Christianity some of the war-
riors wore a necklace made of dried skeleton fingers
taken from an enemy whom they had slain in battle.
The former trinkets represented their religion, and
the latter their patriotism.
Father Meurain, the last of the Jesuit priests in
Illinois, died at Prairie du Rocher in 1778, and the
monument over his grave can still be seen. In
France and her territories the order of Jesuits was
suppressed in 1764, when most of the priests in Illi-
nois returned to their native country. But by the
solicitation of the Indians, with whom he had labored
110 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
for a long time, Father Meurain consented to remain,
and among them he ended his days. Father Meu-
rain was a man of fine literary attainments, and wrote
a manuscript dictionary of the French and Indian
languages, which is preserved in the antiquarian col-
lection at Rouen.
FATHER SENAT AND COMRADE BURNED AT THE
STAKE.
One of the most devoted Jesuit priests in Illi-
nois was Father Senat, who spent a long life among
savages for the purpose of converting them to
Christianity, and at last fell a victim of these ruth-
less barbarians. This zealous priest lived many
years at Peoria, where he built a chapel and dedi-
cated it to the Holy Virgin. He preached at dif-
ferent villages along the river, where he had many
converts, and exercised great influence over his red
brethren. While on a visit to a neighboring vil-
lage a war party returned from the battle-field with
a number of prisoners, and made preparation to
burn them at the stake in accordance to Indian
custom. Father Senat, on finding all efforts to
save the prisoners from the flames a failure, offered
himself a sacrifice to die in their stead a ransom
for the captives. This proposition had the desired
effect. The prisoners were liberated, furnished with
many presents, and returned to their people.
FATHEE SEN AT AND COMRADE BURNED. Ill
In the spring of 1736 D'Artaguette, Governor
of Illinois, collected all the French troops in the
territory, with about one thousand Indian allies,
and with them went to Louisiana to assist Gov-
ernor Bainville in- prosecuting a war against the
Chickasaw Indians. Among these recruits was
Capt. Yincennes with a small company of soldiers
from St. Vincent on the Wabash, which place now
bears the name of the valiant captain. Among the
Indian allies from the Illinois River were many of
Father Senat's converts, and he was prevailed upon
to accompany them in their excursion to the south.
This expedition descended the Mississippi River
to the lower Chickasaw ' bluffs, from which they
crossed the country to Tallahatchie River, where
they expected to meet the army under Bainville
from Louisiana. But these troops failed to come
to time agreeable to appointment, and d'Artaguette,
not being able to restrain his Indian allies any
longer, was forced to attack the enemy. The army
was defeated, the Indian allies fled, while the French
were taken prisoners and burned at the stake.
While the flames encircled their bodies Father
Senat passed from one to the other amid blazing
fagots, exhorting his friends to die as became
Frenchmen and Christians, and while they were
racking with torture he administered to his dying
112 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
countrymen the last rites of the Catholic church.
The Indians offered to liberate Father Senat, but
he disdained their clemency, telling them his work
in this world was done, and he desired to be sacri-
ficed for his Master's sake.
EARLY FRENCH SETTLEMENTS IN ILLINOIS.
The first permanent settlers in Illinois came from
Canada, and they were connected either with the
Jesuit mission or fur trade. In after years emi-
grants came direct from France by the way of New
Orleans, and established colonies in different In-
dian villages on the American Bottom. All the
settlers lived in villages, and their farms were in
a common field, in accordance with the custom of
their native country. The leaders of the French
colonies were men of education and energy of char-
acter, while the masses were illiterate and ignorant,
having no enterprise and but little property; never-
theless they were frank, open-hearted, happy peo-
ple. They took possession of so much of the va-
cant land aroimd them as they could till, but no
more, and appeared to have had no desire to accu-
mulate wealth. Their agricultural implements were
rude, mostly of their own manufacture, and the
same kind of tools are now in use by some of their
descendants. The early settlers lived in harmony
EARLY FRENCH SETTLEMENTS. 113
with the Indians, intermarrying among them, and
in part adopting their habits and customs. For
forty years they built no forts, and those erected
in after years were not intended for protection
against Indian hostilities but from the fear of Span-
ish invasion, France and Spain being then at war.
The oldest document found in Kaskaskia (except
the church records) is dated June 18, 1725, and con-
tains the signatures of fifty persons, who are repre-
sented as heads of families. This old document is
in the form of a petition to the King of France for
assistance, — setting forth the suffering condition of
the people on account of the great flood the year be-
fore, which washed away most of the improvements,
and obliged the people to flee to the bluffs.
By the Louisiana Company horses were brought
from the Spanish settlements in Mexico to take the
place of Indian ponies, and cattle, hogs, sheep, and
chickens were brought from Canada. Wild geese,
ducks and turkeys were domesticated, and from this
stock most of the fowls of the present day sprang.
It is said two pigs were brought from Montreal to
Cahokia in a canoe, and from these pigs hogs to
supply the different settlements originated. Many
efforts were made to domesticate buffalo, but it
proved a failure, as the tame ones would go off with
wild herds. But they succeeded in crossing them
114 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
with cattle, and at the present time some of the
progeny show strong marks of buffalo origin, and
their pelts are tanned for robes. Horses ran in large
droves in the canebreaks along the Mississippi River,
became wild, and in after years many of them were
caught with a lasso and brought into use.
In 1721 Phillip Raynault brought five hundred
slaves from St. Domingo to Fort Chartres, and by
this means slavery was introduced into Illinois.
Raynault with a large number of slaves and a few of
his countrymen ascended the .Mississippi River to
the lead mines, and erected a furnace for smelting
lead on or near the present site of Galena. A por-
tion of this lead was shipped to New Orleans, and
sold to the Spaniards in Mexico.
Father Vevier, a Jesuit missionary, writing from
Prairie du Rocher under date of June 10, 1750, says
"there are between the Mississippi and Ivaskaskia
Rivers, within twenty-one leagues, five French and
three Indian villages. Most of the French settlers
till the soil, raising wheat, maize, with various other
products, some of which are shipped to !New Or-
leans, where it finds a ready market."
In the early settlement of the country the French
made wine from the wild grape, but in after years
they cultivated vineyards, and built wine-presses.
The buffalo was of great service to the early pio-
EARLY FRENCH SETTLEMENTS. 115
neers ; the flesh they used for food, the hides for
robes or tanned into leather, and the hair they spun
and wove into a fine fabric for clothing.
The Royal Louisiana Company gave large tracts
of land to each village which belonged jointly to the
inhabitants, and this title has been confirmed by
subsequent laws. These grants were divided into
two tracts, known as Common Field and Commons,
and included many thousand acres to each village.
The common field consisted in farm land all fenced
into one field, the boundaries of each person's prem-
ises were designated by landmarks, and these tracts
belonged to the occupant in fee simple, and could
be bought and sold the same as other landed prop-
erty. A village ordinance was in force regarding
making and repairing fences, the time of excluding
stock in the spring, gathering the crops, and open-
ing the field for pasture in the fall. The commons
was a tract of land granted to each town for wood and
pasture, of which every owner of a village lot has an
interest. The French villages at the time of early set-
tlement were governed by the priest, who, besides at-
tending to their spiritual wants, dispensed justice, and
from his decision there was no appeal. Although
the authority of the priest was absolute there appears
to have been no abuse of this power, as the holy
father watched over his flock with paternal care.
116 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF ST. LOUIS.
In 1763 Pierre Laclade obtained from the gov
ernor of Louisiana a charter giving him the exclu-
sive right to trade with the Indians on the west side
of the upper Mississippi River. Laclade organized
a company at New Orleans under the title of La^
clade, Maxon & Co., and aboard of boats loaded with
goods for the Indian market ascended the river in
search of a suitable place to locate. On reaching
Fort Chartres the goods were stored, and Laclade
with some of his party, accompanied by two young
men named Pierre and Aguste Chouteau, ascended
the river in a canoe in search of a good site for a
town, and on the 15th of February, 1764, their tents
were pitched at St. Louis, which was the commence-
ment of the great city in the west. Here a cluster
of cabins was built, enclosed by stockades, and
occapied by traders and hunters. Many of the
inhabitants of Illinois towns crossed the river and
located at St. Louis in order to be under the rule of
their native country.
AVhen Captain Stirling, in accordance with a
treaty, took possession of Fort Chartres in July,
1765, its former commander, Captain St. Ange, with
the French troops and military stores, removed to-
St. Louis, and for a number of years the colony was;
BRITISH RULE IN ILLINOIS. 117
under French rule, notwithstanding the country had
been ceded to Spain some time before. .
In 1780 St. Louis was attacked by a large body
of Indians, accompanied by a few British soldi.ers
from Detroit, but they were repulsed by the citizens
and soldiers.
BRITISH RULE IN ILLINOIS.
In the summer of 1764 Major Loftus with three
hundred British soldiers ascended the Mississippi
River in boats from Bayou Manchea to take posses-
sion of Illinois, as France had ceded it to England a
short tilne before. While these troops were on their
way up the river, and before reaching their destina-
tion, they were attacked and defeated by a body of
Indians, which compelled them to abandon the enter
prise and return to the fort at Bayou Manchea.
In the spring of 1765 an expedition under Captain
Croghan left Fort Pitt to take possession of Illinois,
but on reaching the mouth of the W abash they were
taken prisoners by the Shawnee Indians, and carried
to a village near Yincennes. In the following fall the
third expedition against Illinois left Fort Pitt, under
the command of Captain Stirling, who took pos-
session of the country without opposition, and from
that time the British flag waved over Fort Chartres.
In the following year Captain Stirling died, and
different ones at short intervals acted as governors
118 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
of Illinois, the last one, M. Rocheblaue, was in com-
mand when Colonel Clark took possession of the
country. The British rule was very unpopular with
the French, many of them went west of the Missis-
sippi so they could be under the laws of their native
country. This change of government displeased the
Indians, and they would have attacked the British
for the purpose of driving them out of the country if
their friends among the French had not counseled
otherwise. When the British took possession of
Illinois Captain Pitman, of the army, by the au-
thority of his government visited all the French vil-
lages except Peoria, and gave a description of them,
including population, trade, public buildings, etc.
The French inhabitants were living in six villages,
all except one on the American Bottom, and estimates
the inhabitants at three thousand, the most of whom
were engaged in agricultural pursuits.
CHAPTEK X.
TOM BRADY'S WILD ADVENTURES.
THOMAS R. BRADY, better known as Tern
Brady, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a
brother of Captain Samuel Brady, who distinguished
himself as an Indian fighter in the border wars of
Ohio. Brady was a reckless fellow, fond of wild
adventures, a great hunter (spending much of his
time in the woods in search of bear and panthers;,
and occasionally exchanging a shot with an Indian.
In the summer of 1YT6 Tom Brady went to Cahokia
accompanied by three other young men as wild and
reckless as himself, and who were willing to accom-
pany him in any enterprise he might undertake.
On the following summer Brady fitted out an expe-
dition, consisting of sixteen soldiers including him-
self, for the purpose of capturing the British garri-
son at St. Joseph. This little band of adventurers
he called the western division of the Continental
army, and with it he intended to attack and capture
the British garrison. Among those who took a part
in this remarkable expedition was M. Boismenue, a
120 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
native of Caliokia, and to whose grandson I am
indebted for many incidents given in this nar-
rative. Many of Brady's recruits were French half-
breed members of the Catholic church, and they
were unwilling to embark in so hazardous an enter-
prise unless accompanied by a priest to absolve them
from their sins. Father Beson, an old, bald-headed
priest, was prevailed on to accompany the troops,
and before leaving Cahokia he offered up prayers to
the throne of grace for their success.
Brady's little band, armed and equipped for war,
— on board of three canoes — left for St. Joseph,
about four hundred miles distant. On reaching an
elevated piece of ground, on the west side of the Illi-
nois River, below the mouth of Bureau Creek, where
tradition says a century before Father Hennepin
landed from his boat, raised a cross, and consecrated
the place to the Virgin Mary. Father Beson could
not be prevailed upon to pass this hallowed spot
without offering up prayers and saying mass.
Here the adventurers landed from their canoes, and
a day was spent in preaching, praying, taking the
sacrament, and singing songs of praise, causing the
wild woods to resound with their melody. On
reaching the mouth of Chicago River the party spent
another day in religious exercises around a large
wooden cross, said to occupy the spot where Father
TOM BRADY'S WILD ADVENTURES. 121
Marquette erected one more than a century before.
After many weeks of toil and exposure in forcing
their frail crafts up the Illinois and Des Plaines
Rivers, and buffeting the angry winds and waves
on Lake Michigan, they reached their destination.
The fort at St. Joseph was garrisoned by twenty-one
soldiers, while the attacking party consisted of only
sixteen ; but Brady, relying on the prestige of sur-
prise, felt confident of success. Accordingly they
attacked the fort during the night while all were
asleep, and the astonished soldiers, without making
any resistance, surrendered themselves prisoners
of war.
A few days after taking possession of the fort at
St. Joseph the victors learned that two companies of
British soldiers with many Indian allies were march-
ing upon it. On receiving this intelligence Brady
and his comrades in all haste loaded their canoes
with furs and merchandise (taken out of the fort)
and left for home ; but on reaching the mouth of
Calumet River they were overtaken by three hun-
dred British and Indians. Here a battle was fought,
at which Brady's army was defeated, having two
killed and two wounded; one made his escape, while
the remainder were made prisoners and carried back
to St. Joseph. Some time after, becoming a pris-
oner, Tom Brady made his escape, and' on foot, and
122 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
alone, he traveled through the forest back to his
former home in Pennsylvania.
After reaching his old home in Pennsylvania
Tom Brady raised a company of scouts, and with
them made many excursions into the Indian coun-
try, in one of which he was severely wounded. He
joined Colonel Crawford's expedition against the
Indians on the Sandusky River, and participated in
that disastrous affair. On arriving in the enemy's
country Colonel Crawford sent Brady, accompanied
by two companions as daring as himself, forward to
reconnoiter while the army remained in camp await-
ing their return. AVhen the scouts came near the
Indian village on the bank of the Sandusky River
they heard loud whoops and yejls, and occasionally
firing of guns. With great caution the scouts
crawled on their hands and knees through the thick
underbrush until they came in plain view of a large
body of warriors engaged in a scalp-dance. By the
side of these dancers* were seen three white men on
horseback looking on and enjoying the sport. These
men were recognized by the scouts as Alexander
McKee, Simon and James Girty, three noted des-
peradoes.
At one time the Girtys lived in the same neigh-
borhood with Brady, and consequently he was well
acquainted with them. As Tom Brady looked at
ST. JOSEPH AND DETROIT. 123
Simon Girty he was reminded of the many raids in
which that cut-throat had led the Indians into his
own neighborhood, murdering defenseless women
and children. In one of these raids Brady's father
and one of his brothers were killed, and bringing a
rifle to his shoulder was about to shoot him from his
horse. But before Brady could effect his bloody
designs one of his comrades caught the gun and
thereby prevented the rash act, as it would have been
certain death to all of the party. After the war
closed Tom Brady returned to Illinois, again became
a resident of Cahokia, and in the year 1790 was
sheriff of St. Clair county.
On a recent visit to Cahokia I spent some time
among the tombs in the old church-yard where so
many distinguished early pioneers were buried.
Among the graves distinguished by sandstone slabs
was one to the memory of Thomas R. Brady.
TWO EXPEDITIONS AGAINST1 ST. JOSEPH, AND ONE
AGAINST DETROIT.
In the spring of 1778, two months before the
country was invaded by Virginians under the com-
mand of Colonel Clark, a Frenchman named Puelette
Maize, of Kaskaskia, enlisted about three hundred
men in different French towns, and marched through
the country to St. Joseph, which they took by sur-
124 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
prise. All the fur, pelts and merchandise found at
the fort and trading-houses were carried off as tro-
phies of war, and divided among the soldiers. After
collecting all the valuables to be found at the post
the victors with their spoil returned home, and were
disbanded. It is generally believed that this expe-
dition was fitted out more for plunder than patriot-
ism, as Congress in after years refused to recom-
pense those engaged in it.
In the fall of 1780 LaBalme, a native of France,
raised a small company of soldiers at Kaskaskia for
the purpose of taking Detroit. At Yincennes they
were reinforced by a few of their countrymen, and
from here they marched direct for the British post.
While encamped on the Maumee River they were
attacked by a large body of Miami Indians, led by a
British officer, when La Balme and many of his sol-
diers were killed, and the rest taken prisoners.
In June, 1781. Don Eugenie Pierre, a Spaniard of
St. Louis, with sixty-five soldiers, most of whom
were French who lived at Cahokia, marched against
St. Joseph, as England and Spain were then at war.
The fort was taken without resistance, when the
commanding officers went through with the cere-
mony of taking possession of all the lake country in
the name of the King of Spain. A few days after
performing this idle ceremony the Spanish com-
SEARCHING FOR COPPER MINES. 125
mander* learned that British troops were on their way
from Detroit to reinforce St. Joseph, consequently
the troops left the conquered territory in all haste,
and returned to St. Louis.
PAT. KENNEDY AND COMRADES IN SEARCH OF
COPPER MINES.
For many years the citizens of Kaskaskia and
other French towns believed' there were copper
mines somewhere in the upper Illinois country, as
specimens of pure metal, in a native state, were fre-
quently brought there for sale by the Indians. On
July 23, 1773, Kennedy, with a party of adventurers,
left Kaskaskia in a boat and ascended the Illinois
River in search of copper mines. On the 7th of
August they reached Peoria, where they found the
stockades of the fort burned, but the block-houses
still standing. On arriving at the foot of the rapids,
and finding the current too strong to ascend, they
left their boat and proceeded up the river on foot
forty-five miles further. Before reaching the mouth
of the Fox River they noticed a number of high,
rocky cliffs, one of which (Starved Rock ^ has figured
extensively in the history and traditions of the coun-
try. On an island thirty miles above the mouth of
Fox River they fell in with a party of French traders,
who brought them down the river in their canoes to
the place where their boat had been left. While at
126 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
the foot of the rapids they fell in with a Frenchman
by the name of Jenriette. who piloted them in an
excursion through the country in search of copper
mines, but finding none these adventurers went
aboard of their boat and returned to Kaskaskia, after
being absent about four months.
Kennedy published a journal of his travels up the
river, which contains many things of interest and
confirms some of the traditions given elsewhere.
This journal gives a geographical and topographical
description of the country, size and names of rivers,
lakes, bluffs, rapids, etc. It speaks of a saline
spring by a lake, where the French and Indians
were engaged in making salt; also refers to a cliff of
rocks near the mouth of Fox River, from which the
French obtained their mill stones. On the large
meadows were seen herds of buffalo, elk and deer,
while pelicans, swans, geese and ducks were swim-
ming in the rivers and lakes. The journal refers to
Peoria Lake, town and fort, but throws no light on
the history of the French settlement at this place,
says nothing about the size of the town, nor its gen-
eral appearance at that time.
CHAPTER XI.
COLONEL CLARK'S CONQUEST OF ILLINOIS.
ON the 4th of July, 1778, during the shades of
the night, the citizens of Kaskaskia were aston-
ished by hearing it proclaimed throughout the town
"If any man enter the streets he shall be shot."
Next morning soldiers were seen along the^ streets of
the town, and the stars and stripes instead of the
lion and unicorn waived from the flag-staff on Fort
Gage. The people were in a transport of joy, bells
rang, patriotic songs were sung, while demonstra-
tions of rejoicing with tokens of mirth and gayety
reigned throughout the town. The annals of ro-
mance furnish nothing more remarkable than the
achievement of this bloodless conquest of Illinois.
The origin of this expedition, the long, tedious jour-
ney performed by the adventurers, with its perils
and hardships, the manner of attack on the British
garrison, and its final success, appears more like a
story of fiction than of reality.
Kaskaskia at the time of the revolutionary war
contained about 250 houses, being the largest and
127
128 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
most important town west of the Alleghany moun-
tains, and not only the seat of government of Illi-
nois but the center of trade, wealth and political
influence.
Although an account of Colonel Clark's conquest
of Illinois has been written many times, and appears
in almost every western history, nevertheless a very
important matter has been overlooked, and the real
facts relating thereto have never been published.
The early historian, probably ignorant of the facts,
fell into an error, and subsequent ones copied after
him. Pepple are now living in Randolph county
whose ancestors were a party to the secret move-
ments of the patriots of Illinois, and whose tradi-
tions to some extent supply the missing links in his-
tory, as well as correct its errors. The people in
Illinois being far away from the seat of war knew
very little of what had transpired at the east, but
they hated the British yoke, embraced the first op-
portunity to throw it off, and their manner of doing
it will be shown in the sequel.
In the summer of 1777 John Duff, a resident of
Martinsburg, Virginia, in his rambles in the west
came to Kaskaskia and remained here for some
months engaged in hunting along the river. Duff
being of French descent spoke that language, min-
gled freely with the people, and found them very
COL. CLARK'S CONQUEST OF ILLINOIS. 129
much dissatisfied with the British rule, and only
waited for an opportunity to change the government.
Late in the fall Duff returned home, and while on
his way, at the falls of Ohio, he fell in "with George
Roger Clark, a Kentucky pioneer, and told him of
the state of affairs in Illinois. Clark became fired
with enthusiasm. Seeing an opportunity, as he
thought, of immortalizing himself, he accompanied
Duff to Williamsburg, and together they laid the
case before Patrick Henry, then Governor of Vir-
ginia. The governor and his counselors after hear-
ing Duff's statements agreed to send an armed force
to that distant country to take possession of the
British post. Clark received a commission of lieu-
tenant-colonel, appointed commander in chief of this
expedition, and authorized to enlist 500 men for that
purpose. Colonel Clark commenced enlisting his
men for, as he represented it, the defense of Ken-
tucky, keeping the true destination a secret. The
governor issued orders to the commander of Fort
Pitt for arms, military stores, and boats for trans- '
portation.
In the spring of 1778 three companies of volun-
teers were collected at Fort Pitt, and in four boats
they descended the river to the Falls of Ohio, where
they expected to be joined by a company of Ken-
tuckians. Being detained here some time waiting
130 PIONEEKS OF ILLINOIS.
for. recruits a part of one company deserted, and it
was the middle of June before they were ready to
proceed on their journey. Clark's army consisted
of four companies in all, one hundred and fifty-
three men, and when their true destination was an-
nounced it created much enthusiasm among the
volunteers. After dispatching a messenger to Will-
iamsburg notifying Governor Henry of their depart-
ure the troops went aboard of their boats and pro-
ceeded down the river.
John Duff returned to Illinois early in the spring
to prepare the way for Clark's reception, and also to
make arrangements to meet the army with a com-
petent guide at the mouth of Tennessee River, On
Duff's arrival at Kaskaskia a consultation was held
with a few leading patriots, M. Gibault, the priest,
among the number, when it was agreed to keep
everything a secret, leaving the masses in ignorance
of what they expected to transpire. Duff, with John
Saunders, a noted hunter, and two Frenchmen, pro-
vided with tents, arms, provisions, etc., left Kaskas-
kia in a canoe, leaving the impression among the
people that they were going to hunt bear and elk
along the Ohio River. The hunters descended the
Mississippi, and forced their frail barque up the swift
current of the Ohio to the mouth of the Tennessee
River, where they awaited the arrival of the army.
COL. CLARK'S CONQUEST OF ILLINOIS. 131
Here on the bank of the river they erected a bark
shanty, occupying their time hunting during the
daytime, and keeping up a bonfire at night so the
boats might not pass without knowing of their pres-
ence. Days passed away without hearing anything
from the army, and the hunters had about come to
the conclusion that the project had failed when four
boats filled with soldiers, and flags flying, came
around a bend in the river. The hunters fired a
salute, which was returned by the soldiers, who with
martial music, loud cheering, rounded to their boats
and came on shore. After passing down the river a
few miles farther, near the ruins of old Fort Massac,
they secreted their boats in the mouth of a creek,
and taking all their baggage on their backs they
proceeded across the country to Kaskaskia, one hun-
dred and twenty miles distant.
John Saunders acted as guide for Clark's army,
but in passing through the country among the lakes
and swamps of Cache River he lost his reckoning,
and days were spent in rambling through thick tim-
ber, among bogs and briers, without knowing where
they were.
Some of the soldiers believed the pilot a traitor,
and threatened to put him to death, but he asserted
his innocence, and asked for an escort to accompany
him in searching out the way. After rambling
132 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
about all day through groves and prairies Saunders
at last exclaimed " I know that point of timber, and
beyond it is Kaskaskia."
Fort Gage, at Kaskaskia, was garrisoned at that
time by twenty soldiers under the command of Gov-
ernor Rocheblave, but no sentinels were kept on
duty; being, as they believed, far away from the
enemy, it was thought unnecessary.
Colonel Clark on coming within a few miles of
Kaskaskia, in the afternoon, remained secreted in.
the thick timber until late at night, when he divided
his army into three parts, two of which took posses-
sion of the town, while the third, commanded by
himself, marched on the fort. A soldier who was in
sympathy with the Americans, and entrusted with
the secret, conducted the troops through a back gate
into the fort, where they found a light burning but
all the inmates asleep. The commander had no
knowledge of what was going on until awakened
by Captain Kenton informing him that he was a
prisoner. The soldiers rejoiced at this turn of
affairs, all of whom took the oath of allegiance to the
United States Government, and a number of them
joined Clark's army. Governor Rocheblave was
probably the only royal person in Illinois. Being in
a bad humor he cursed the Yankees, the treacherous
French, and his disloyal soldiers. The refractory
COL. CLARK'S CONQUEST OF ILLINOIS. 133
governor was put in irons, and under the charge of
Captain Montgomery carried to William sburg, the
capital of Yirginia, where he was kept a prisoner of
war until exchanged. His slaves were sold by
Colonel Clark, and the proceeds being considered
prize money was divided among the soldiers. The
wife of Governor Rocheblave, on the night the fort
was taken, destroyed all the public papers, including
the archives of the territory, which gave people
much trouble in after years. She remained at Kas-
kaskia for some time after her husband was made a
prisoner, and Governor Henry wrote to Colonel Todd
to see that she was provided for.
Colonel Clark dispatched a company of men under
the command of Captain Bowman, accompanied by
many citizens of Kaskaskia, to Prairie du Rocher,
Cahokia, and other villages, and everywhere the in-
vaders were received with acclamations of joy.
Ten days after Clark's army arrived at Kaskaskia
M. Gibault, the village priest and leader of the pa-
triots in Illinois, accompanied by a few friends, went
to Yincennes, and explained to his French country-
men the state of affairs in Illinois. All the people
of the village assembled at their church, headed by
their priest, and agreed to throw off the British rule,
taking the oath of allegiance to the United States
Government and the commonwealth of Virginia.
134 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
There was no garrison at the fort, the troops having
been removed a short time before, consequently a
commander was appointed from among the church
communicants, the British flag taken down, and the
stars and stripes put in its place.
On the first of August M. Gibault and party re-
turned to Kaskaskia, after an absence of fourteen
days, with the joyful intelligence of having adjusted
everything at Vincennes in favor of American
interests, which caused much rejoicing among the
people. Colonel Clark sent Captain Helm to Vin-
cennes to take charge of the fort, but a short time
afterward the British troops, commanded by Colonel
Hamilton, took possession of the place and made
Captain Helm and a private named Henry prisoners
•of war.
In February following Colonel Clark, with the
combined forces of Virginians, French and Indians,
retook the place, and again the stars and stripes
waived from the flag-staff of the fort, all of which
is a matter of history.
France at that time was an ally of the United
States, the first nation to acknowledge her independ-
ence, and all the inhabitants of Illinois were in
union with the mother country. The patriots of Illi-
nois had already fitted out two expeditions, one
commanded by Tom Brady and the other by Pue-
COL. CLARK'S CONQUEST OF ILLINOIS. 135
lett Maize, both of which captured the British post
at St. Joseph. The people everywhere through the
French settlements hailed Colonel Clark as a libera-
tor, and furnished his army with provision free of
charge as he had no money to pay for supplies.
Many of the French joined his army; a company
was raised at Kaskaskia commanded by Captain
Charlesville, and another at Cahokia under Captain
McCarty, and both of these companies rendered
good service on the "Wabash in retaking the British
post at Vincennes.
While Colonel Clark was engaged in reorganizing
his army for the purpose of marching against Vin-
cennes an unexpected trouble arose which for a time
threatened to defeat his enterprise. The Indians
had always been opposed to the British rule in Illi-
nois, and would have made war against them had
not the council of their French friends prevailed.
When Clark's army came into the country the Indi-
ans w.ere told that the Americans were the friends
and allies of the French, and they would live together
as one people. For awhile this appears to have
given satisfaction, but the stars and stripes continued
to float from the flag-staff of the forts at Kaskaskia,
and Cahokia, and the Indians insisted that these
should be taken down and French flags put in their
place. In order to reconcile the Indians a council
136 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
was called at Cahokia for the purpose of effecting a
compromise, but the leading chiefs insisted that the
French should be reinstated in authority. For a
time the Indians refused to accept of any compro-
mise that did not put the French in authority, and
an attempt was made among the leaders to assassinate
Colonel Clark. Previous to the meeting of this
council Colonel Clark had sent Captain Helm to the
great chief Grand Door, for the purpose of effecting
a compromise, and he agreed on conditions that if his
band were furnished a certain amount of goods at a
given time the Americans would not be molested.
A messenger arrived at the council with the intelli-
gence of Grand Door having consented to let the
Americans keep possession of the country, the chiefs
of other bands acquiesced, and a reconciliation was
effected.
As soon as the Indian trouble was settled Colonel
Clark collected his forces, marched to the "Wabash,
and took possession of Vincennes.
Colonel Clark has been much eulogized for brav-
ery and heroism in the conquest of Illinois, but the
fact is, no enemy opposed him, therefore he took
possession of a country occupied by friends, as has
already been shown.
P
CHAPTER XII.
PONTIAC.
ROB A ELY no North American Indian has
acquired such fame and notoriety, and whose
power was so much felt by the early settlers of the
country, as Pontiac. This Indian, so often referred
to by historians, was born and raised near Detroit,
and for many years head chief of the Ottawa In-
dians. Like Phillip of Mount Hope his power and
influence extended over neighboring tribes, which
made him more like a king than a chief. So long
as the French controlled the fur trade of the lake
country Pontiac lived on friendly terms with his
white neighbors, but when the English took pos-
session of the country he denounced them as ene
mies. While Major Rogers, of the British army, was
marching westward with a regiment of soldiers to
take possession of Detroit he was met by Pontiac,
who inquired of the commander by what authority he
invaded the country. "With his tall figure raised to its
full height, and holding his right hand before the face
of Major Rogers, said to him "I stand in your path,
and you can go no farther without my permission."
137
138 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
However, Pontiac allowed the English to take
possession of the French trading-posts along the
lakes, and for a time appeared friendly, but a few
years afterward he made war on the invaders with
the intention of driving them from the country. He
united with him many of the neighboring tribes, form-
ing with them an alliance, which is known in his-
tory as "Pontiac's Conspiracy," and a long, bloody
war resulted from it. In order to carry on the war
successfully he issued checks cut out of birch bark, on
which were painted a picture of an otter, and calling
for various amounts payable in furs or pelts. These
checks were taken by diiferent tribes in payment for
munitions of war, and all of them redeemed accord-
ing to promise.
Pontiac, according to accounts, was an -Indian of
gigantic stature, with a towering intellect, and exer-
cised almost unlimited power over his people. He
pretended to commune with the Great Spirit, who
on one occasion said to him " Why do you let these
dogs in red clothing take possession of your coun-
try ; rise in your might and drive them from the
land." At another time, in addressing his warriors,
said: "•Although the red-coats have conquered the
French they have not conquered us ; we are not
slaves nor squaws, and as long as the Great Spirit is
our ruler we will maintain our rights. These lakes
AN ERROR OF HISTORY. 139
and these forests were given us by our fathers, and
we will part with them only with our lives."
For a time Pontiac was victorious, but eventually
the fortune of war turned against him, many of the
allies abandoned the cause, which compelled him
to make overtures for peace. In 1766 he attended
the great Indian council at Oswego, brought about
by Sir William Johnson, and here signed a treaty of
peace, in which he agreed to bury the tomahawk
forever. On returning from this council to his native
forest in Michigan Pontiac prevailed on many of his
friends to accompany him westward, telling them he
could not think of living neighbors to these red-
coated dogs, — meaning the British. About two
hundred warriors with their families consented to
emigrate, and with this little band of followers the
great chief left forever his native land. "With this
remnant of his tribe Pontiac came to Illinois, and
located a village on the Kankakee River. This
band formed an alliance with the Pottawatomies,
who occupied at that time the lake and "Wabash
countries, and from that time they became as one
people.
AN ERROR OF HISTORY.
The great mistake made by early historians in
relation to the fate of Pontiac has been copied by
every writer of western annals, but when all the
140 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
facts are examined this error must be admitted by
every candid reader. I have given this matter much
attention by collecting the traditions both among the
French and Indians relating to it, and these accounts
are susceptible of only one conclusion.
In the fall of 1769 a large, prepossessing Ottawa
Indian, dressed in a French uniform, with a big white
feather in his cap, came to St. Louis, and repre-
sented himself to the commander of the fort, Captain
St. Ange, as Pontiac. For a number of days this
Indian remained at the fort, drinking whisky, boast-
ing of his great exploits, and telling of the many
scalps taken by his own hands. Pierre Chouteau, a
young Indian trader of St. Louis, became very much
interested in this pompous chief, made him many
presents, and in return for these articles the chief
promised that in future his people should trade only
with Chouteau's agents.
This Indian after remaining some days at St.
Louis took a canoe and went to Cahokia, where he
was much lionized by French Indians and half-
breeds, all of whom believed him to be the great
Ottawa chief, Pontiac. Indians from a neighboring
village came to see him and listen to his boasting
harangues, in which he stated his plans of uniting
all the tribes of the west in a war, drive the British
from the country, and restore to the French all their
AN ERROR OF HISTORY. 141
former trading-posts. An English trader at Caho-
kia, named Williamson, being afraid that the reputed
Pontiac would persuade his new-made friends to
destroy his stock-in-trade, gave a drunken Indian a
barrel of whisky to assassinate him, and while the
pompous Indian was sitting on the ground at the
root of a tree in drunken revelry, explaining to those
around him the plans by which he intended to drive
the red-coats from the country, this assassin em-
ployed by Williamson came up behind him and
buried his tomahawk in his skull. After the assas-
sination Captain St. Ange caused the remains to be
brought to St. Louis and buried near the fort. Pierre
Chouteau, out of respect for the fallen chief, caused
a mound to be raised over the grave in accordance
with Indian custom, on which was placed a stone
with the inscription of the name, time of his
death, etc.
Many years after the event above related Pierre
and his brother, Auguste Chouteau, having extended
their trade into the upper Illinois River country,
learned from the Indians the true fate of Pontiac, and
0:1 being convinced that the Indian buried at the fort
was an impostor removed the stone placed to his
memory and leveled down the mound.
An account of the killing of Pontiac at Cahokia
found its way into newspapers of that day, and the
142 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
chief coming to his death about the same time ac-
counts for this error in history.
Both history and tradition agree thai; the war
against the Illinois Indians grew out of the assas-
sination of Pontiac, but the former fails to show any
connection between the two events. History says
Pontiac was killed by a Kaskaskia Indian in a
drunken row at Cahokia, and in avenging this crime
a war was inaugurated against the Illinois Indians.
The Kaskaskia Indians were not engaged in the war
with the allied forces which terminated so fatally to
the northern bands, and they continued to live in
the country for more than fifty years after that occur-
rence. The Kaskaskia and Cahokia bands spoke the
same language as those at the north, and by some his-
torians called Illinoisans, but it is a well-known fact
that these bands were not engaged in the many wars
with the Iroquois before and after the French came
to the country, and they took no part in the war
that followed the assassination of Pontiac. The
Illinois Indians proper, against whom the allies made
war, included only those bands living between the
Sungamon Kiver and Lake Michigan. It was against
these northern bands that the different tribes made
war, which terminated in their annihilation, the last
of whom perished on Starved Rock, an account of
which will be narrated in a subsequent chapter.
AN ERROR OF HISTORY. 143
According to history Pontiac was killed in the
fall of 1769, and the traditions of both French and
Indians agree that the Starved Rock tragedy oc-
curred in the fall of the same year. All accounts
agree that a bloody war intervened between the for-
mer and latter events, and this establishes a connect-
ing link between the two. For the purpose of show-
ing that the Indian killed at Cahokia was not Pontiac
I give the statement of an old gentleman, still liv-
ing, who was born and raised where this event oc-
curred, and his statement harmonizes with others.
Auguste Binet says in his boyhood days a party
of Indians were in the habit of making almost daily
visits to Cahokia for the purpose of trade, drinking
whisky, etc. Among these visitors was an old In-
dian who witnessed the assassination of the reputed
Pontiac, and made many statements in relation to
it. He said the Indian killed at Cahokia was a petty
Ottawa chief from Michigan who is said to have re-
sembled Pontiac both in face and form. This In-
dian representing himself to be Pontiac had spent
some time at St. Vincent, on the "Wabash, in trying
to raise a force for the purpose of capturing the Brit-
ish garrison at that place. But failing in this he
came to St. Louis, and offered his services to Cap-
tain St. Ange in retaking of Illinois by enlisting a
large band of warriors to capture Fort Chartres, but
144 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
meeting with no encouragement from the commander
he left for Cahokia, where he was assassinated a few
days afterward.
The assassin was a drunken, worthless vagabond
name Spawse, who suffered the penalty of his crime,
being condemned and executed according to law.
Williamson, who was accused of being accessory to
the murder, sold out his stock-in-trade a few days
after the assassination, and fled from the country to
escape punishment for his crime.
THE OTTAWAS ORDERED OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
It has already been stated that Pontiac with a
remnant of his band established a village on the
Kankakee River, and here the great warrior, hero
of many battles, intended to end his days in peace
and quiet far away from the English, whom he so
much hated. But the country of his adoption be-
longed to the Illinois Indians, who regarded the
Ottawas as intruders. Kineboo, the head chief of
the Illinoisans, accompanied by a retinue of warriors
all mounted on ponies, went to the Ottawa camp,
and found the new-comers engaged in building
lodges and making preparations to plant corn. The
chief notified Pontiac' s band that they were tres-
passers, and gave them two moons to leave the
country, and if found there at the expiration of that
MASSACRE OP A HUNTING PARTY. 145
time he would remove them by force. But when
the Illinoisans learned that the Ottawas were backed
by the powerful tribe of Pottawatomies they did not
molest them.*
MASSACRE OF A HUNTING PARTY.
On account of the green-headed flies the buffalo
would leave the W abash country and range west
and north of the Illinois River during the summer
months. In the east part of the state buffalo were
seldom seen, while the prairie westward for miles in
extent was frequently blackened by large herds of
them. On this account the Pottawatomies and Ot-
tawas were in the habit of hunting west of the river,
which gave offense to the Illinoisans, who regarded
it as a trespass on their rights.
A party of about thirty Ottawa hunters, among
whom was Pontiac, had been killing buffalo during the
day on the prairie eight leagues west of La Yantum.
At night the hunters camped in a grove of timber,
with the intention of renewing the hunt on the fol-
* The above facts relating to Pontiac I obtained from Shaubona, a cele-
brated chief who was well-known in this part of the country, and whose verac-
ity has never been questioned. Shaubona's father belonged to Pontiac's band,
came to Illinois with them, and here at this village on the Kankakee River the
old chief was born. Rev. David K. Foster, an educated half-breed now living
in Allegan county, Michigan, is a nephew of Shaubona, and has furnished me
many items in relation to his grandfather. He says his grandfather was a
chief under Pontiac, also engaged in subsequent wars, and one of the signers
of the treaty at Greenville in 1795. The speech made at that time by him has
been handed down by tradition, of which Foster has written out in full and
furnished me with a copy of it.
10
146 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
lowing day. Next morning while the hunters were
sitting around a camp-fire unconscious of danger
they were attacked by a large party of Illinois war-
riors, and many of them slain. Pontiac was wound-
ed., but by the swiftness of his pony made good his
escape.*
A bloody war followed this massacre, and for a
time both parties met with victories and defeats.
The Pottawatomies and Ottawas would send war
parties into the Illinois country, burn their towns,
destroy corn, kill squaws and papooses, and carry
off ponies, furs, etc. Then the Illinoisans would
retaliate on their enemies by making raids into their
country, killing defenseless squaws, burning and
destroying everything that lay in their way. After
this war had continued for some time the Illinoisans
* The grove referred to is supposed to have heen the head of Bureau tim-
ber, near the village of La Moille. and known in the early settlement of the
country as Dimmick Grove. In the spring of 1830 Daniel Dimmick made a
claim here, and built a cabin near the head of the grove, on what is now known
as the Collins farm. He lived on this claim about two years, until the begin-
ning of the Black Hawk war, when he left it and never returned, but for many
years the grove bore his name.
A short distance below Dimmick's cabin, near the bank of Pike Creek, and
by the side of a spring, was an old Indian camping-ground, and during the fall
and winter hunting parties were frequently found here. In the winter of 1830-
31 a party of Indians from the Illinois River, among whom was the noted chief
Shick Shack, were encamped here for many days, while hunting deer in the
grove.
Shick Shack said to Dimmick, while in conversation, that a long time ago a
hunting party of Ottawa Indians were encamped on this very spot, when they
were attacked by the Illinoisans, a large portion of them killed, and their great
war chief, Pontiac, wounded. From that time, continued the old chief, the tribes
were at, war with each other, which continued until all the Illinoisans were slain,
the last of whom perished on Starved Rock.
PONTIAC ASSASSINATED. 147
sued for peace, and a council was called by the con-
tending parties to agree on terms.
INDIAN COUNCIL. PONTIAC ASSASSINATED.*
A council met at the great mound on the Des
Plaines River, near the present site of Joliet, and was
attended by all the principal chiefs of the respective
tribes. For a time the deliberations of the council
were harmonious, but when the allies claimed a part
of the Illinois territory as the only condition of
peace, ill feelings were, manifested. Kineboo, the
head chief of the Illinoisans, in a speech said:
" Rather than submit to these terms we will sacrifice
the last drop of blood in our veins, and leave our
squaws and papooses to be tomahawked and scalped
by a barbarous enemy." Pontiac next addressed
the council, and great attention was given to what
he said. His tall, manly form, unimpaired by age,
was an object of admiration, and his sprightly elo-
quence carried all his friends with him. With much
enthusiasm he called on his brother chiefs to stand
by him, and never lay down the tomahawk until
their terms were acceded to. . "While Pontiac was
. — The assassination of Pontiac, the war which followed it, and the
tragedy of Starved Rock, are compi'ed principally from traditionary accounts
recently collected among the Pottawatomies and Ottawas of western Kansas,
whose ancestors lived on the Illinois River. The accounts given of these events
were gathered by Colonel Joseph N. Bourassa, an educated half-breed of Silver
Lake Kansas, expressly for this book, and there can be no doubt about the
principal facts.
148 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
thus speaking Kineboo drew his scalping-knife and
stabbed him to the heart. Thus perished the greatest
warrior of his day.
Over the remains of Pontiac the warriors held a
council, at which it was agreed to avenge his death,
and they made preparations for its execution. They
cut off the head and legs of the dead chief, boiled
them to separate the flesh from the bones, and with
the skull and cross-bones placed on a pointed pole
they were prepared to go forth to victory. Miamis,
Kickapoos, Shawnees, Chippewas, and other tribes
who had fought with Pontiac, came forward to avenge
his death. Even the white outlaw Bernett, who had
long since become a savage and chief of a small band,
marshaled his warriors and took a part in the bloody
strife. The combined forces of these tribes consti-
tuted the most formidable Indian army ever collected
in the west, and for savage brutality it has no parallel
in the annals of Indian warfare. Their motto was
victory or death, no quarter to the enemy, and never
lay down the tomahawk until the Illinoisans were
annihilated.
A WAK OF EXTERMINATION.
The allied forces attacked and destroyed all the
villages along the Illinois River, killing and scalping
defenseless squaws and papooses, but the principal
A WAR OF EXTERMINATION. 149
town, La Yantum, which was fortified and defended
by the bravest warriors, they had not molested. At
this town the remnants of the different bands were
collected, and here they intended to make their last
defense against the victorious invaders. Small tim-
bers and brush were brought from a neighboring
grove with which barricades had been erected around
three sides of the town the river bounding the fourth.
Inside this fortification ' were collected from many
distant towns all that was left of the Illinois Indi-
ans, numbering perhaps about ten thousand, of
whom two thousand were warriors.
Days and weeks passed away, the summer almost
ended, and the enemy had not appeared, and it was
thought they had left the country. Preparations
were made for holding a great feast, offering up sac-
rifices to the gods of war for deliverance from their
enemies. Music and dancing were again introduced
into the great Illinois town, and people old and
young gave themselves up to enjoyment as in former
days. The warriors brought forth scalps taken from
the enemy, and in merry glee danced around them.
Naked papooses played in the dirt, running to and
fro in their childlike sports. Young maidens and
their lovers amused themselves with songs and
dances, and talking of happy days in the future.
Thus for many days the Indians gave themselves up
150 PIONEERS OF ILLIXOIS.
to feasting and amusements, unconscious of the great
calamity which was about to befall them.
It was near the close of a warm day in the early
part of Indian summer when the Indians, old and
young of both sexes, were arrayed in their best ap-
parel, ornamented with beads, feathers, rings, etc.,
were collected on an open square to celebrate the
marriage of the head chief's daughter. But while in
the midst of gaiety they were horrified to see the
great meadow to the east covered by the enemy, who
were moving on them with great rapidity. In front
of tlie invaders on a red pole was carried the skull
and cross-bones ot Pontiac, showing that no quarter
would be given. The drums beat, warriors grasped
their arms and in a moment were ready for battle,
while a wail of lamentation was raised by the fright-
ened squaws and papooses. On came the allied
forces with such rapidity that a large number of
them scaled the breastworks, and entered the town
without opposition. But here the assailants were
met by the defenders, and most of them slain before
they could recross it to join their comrades. When
the invaders witnessed the fate of their comrades they
were spell-bound, and before recovering from the
panic the Illinoisans with a large force attacked
them, when in confusion they fled, leaving behind
them their dead and wounded.
A WAR OF EXTERMINATION. 151
The invaders, having been repulsed with great
slaughter, retired to Buffalo Rock, where a con-
sultation was held, at which they agreed to renew
the attack in the morning and continue the fighting
until the Illinoisans were exterminated. Morning
came, and with it also came blood and carnage un-
equaled in Indian warfare.
After the invaders were repulsed the victors
spent the night in dancing over the scalps, and offer-
ing up sacrifices to the Great Manitou for success in
battle. Having spent the night in rejoicing they
were found asleep in the morning, and while slum-
bering they were again attacked, and before they
could marshal their hosts the invaders in large num-
bers entered the town, killing all that lay in their
way, sparing neither squaws, papooses, aged or in-
firm. But the assailants were again met by brave
warriors, and repulsed with great slaughter. Again
and again the town was entered, when a hand-to-
hand conflict raged with fearful strife, the allies fall-
ing back only for reinforcements. For twelve long
hours the battle raged, a large portion of the Illinois
warriors were slain, and hundreds of squaws and
papooses lay lifeless in their bloody gore. Night at
last came, but the battle continued. Against the
large invading force the defenders could make but a
feeble resistance, and soon all must be slain. But
152 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
fortunately a heavy rain-storm came on, and in the
darkness of the night it became impossible to distin-
guish friends from foes, consequently for a time fur-
ther slaughter was suspended. '
CHAPTER XIII.
THE ROCK OF REFUGE.
DURING a rain-storm, and in the darkness of
the night, the Illinoisans launched their canoes
across the river, and ascended Starved Rock. Here
on this rock were collected the remnant of the Illinois
Indians, consisting of about twelve hundred, three
hundred of whom were warriors. On the summit
of Starved Rock the fugitives felt secure from their
enemies, and they offered up prayers and sang-
songs of praise to the Great Manitou for their safe
deliverance. Many years before, Tonti with fifty
French soldiers and one hundred Indian allies held
this rock when attacked by two thousand Iroquois
warriors, and put them to flight, consequently on
this spot they felt secure from their enemies.
Morning came, and with it a clear sky and a
bright sun, and from their elevated position they
looked down on their enemies encamped on the
groat meadow below. Soon the allied forces were
in motion, moving on the town to complete their
bloody work, but soon discovered their intended vic-
153
154 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
tims had fled. The wounded, sick, and infirm by
age, who could not escape with their friends, were
slain, the town burned, and the dead bodies left un-
buried, where their swollen and distorted remains
were found many days afterward.
The allied forces forded the river on the rapids,
surrounded Starved Rock, and made preparations to
ascend it to complete their victory. With deafening
yells the warriors crowded up the steep, rocky path-
way, but on -reaching the summit they were met by
brave Illinoisans, who with war-clubs and toma-
hawks sent them bleeding and lifeless down the
rugged precipice. Again and again the assailants
rallied, and rushed forward to assist their friends,
but one after another were slain on reaching the
summit, and their dead bodies thrown from the rock
into the river below. On came fresh bands of assail-
ants. The fearful struggle continued until the rock
was red and slippery with human gore, and the yells
of the victors could be heard above the shrieks and
groans of the dying. Connected with this bloody
battle on Starved Rock is a romantic story, which
was current at the time among the French and half-
breeds at Peoria,. and is now narrated by their de-
scendants. A .young warrior named Belix, a half-
breed, who. had distinguished himself in previous
battles, and wore on his breast a badge of honor,
THE BESIEGERS AND BESIEGED. 155
which designated him the bravest of the brave. This
young warrior having wooed and won a beautiful
maiden, a daughter of the head chief, Kineboo, and
the time had arrived to celebrate the marriage rites.
But in the midst of the marriage festival, and before
the bride was given away, the ceremony was brought
to a close by the alarm of approaching enemy, as
previously stated. When the allied forces assaulted
the fugitives on Starved Rock foremost among the
warriors in repelling the assailants was young Belix,
and with his war-club cleaved the skulls of many of
the enemy. During the fight his fancied bride
stood near by witnessing the bloody strife as one
after another fell before his magic war-club, but at
last saw her lover's skull split open with a tomahawk.
With a wild scream she sprang from the rock down
the fearful precipice, her body falling from crag to
crag until it landed mangled, bleeding and lifeless
in the river below.
THE BESIEGERS AND BESIEGED.
On a high, rocky cliff south of Starved Rock,
known as Devil's Nose, the allied forces collected
during the night small timbers, with which they
erected a temporary breastwork. From this breast-
work they fired on the besieged, killing some and
wounding others, and among the latter was Kineboo,
156 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
head chief of the tribe. The fortification protecting
the south side of Starved Rock had fallen into de-
cay, fifty-one years having elapsed since the French
abandoned Fort St. Louis. The palisades had rotted
off, and earth-works moulded down to one-half their
original height, consequently they afforded but little
protection. To remedy the defect the besieged cut
down some of the stunted cedars that crowned the
summit of the rock, with which they erected barri-
cades along the embankment to shield themselves
from the rifle-balls and arrows of the enemy.
The besieged were now protected from the mis-
siles of their assailants, but another enemy still more
dreadful — that of hunger and thirst — began to
alarm them. When they took refuge here on the
rock they carried with them a small quantity of pro-
vision, but this supply was now exhausted, and star-
vation stared them in the face. At first this rock
was thought to be a haven of safety, but it now ap-
peared likely to be their tomb, but without a mur-
mur brave warriors made preparations to meet their
fate. Day after day passed away, mornings and
evenings came and went, and still the Illinoisans
continued to be closely guarded by the enemy, leav-
ing them no opportunity to escape from their rocky
prison. Famishing with thirst caused them to cut
up some of their buckskin clothing, out of which
THE BESIEGERS AND BESIEGED. 157
they made cords to draw water out of the river, but
the besiegers had placed a guard at the base of the
rock, protected by a projecting crag, and as soon as
the vessel reached the water cut the cord, or by giv-
ing it a quick jerk pulled the water drawer over the
precipice, and his body fall headlong into the river
below.
As days passed away the besieged sat on the rock
gazing on the great meadow below, over which they
had ofttimes roamed at pleasure, and they longed for
freedom once more. The site of their town was in
plain view, but instead of lodges and camping-tents
with people passing to and fro, as in former days, it
was now a lonely, dismal waste, blackened by fire,
and covered with the swollen and ghastly remains of
the slain. Buzzards were hovering around, flying back
and forth over the desolated town, and feasting on
the dead bodies of their friends. At night they looked
upon the silent stars toward the spirit land, and in
their wild imagination saw angels waiting to receive
them. While sleeping they dreamed of roaming over
woods and prairie in pursuit of game, or cantering
their ponies across the plains, but on awaking from
their slumber they found it all a delusion. Their sleep
was disturbed by the moans and sighs of the suffer-
ers, and when morning came it was but the harbin-
ger of another day of torture. From their rocky
158 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
prison they could see the ripe corn in their fields,
and on a distant prairie a herd of buffalo were graz-
ing, but while in sight of plenty of food they were
famishing with hunger. Below them at the base of
the rock flowed the Illinois River, and as its clear,
rippling water glided softly by it appeared in mock-
ery to their burning thirst.
They had been twelve days on the rock, closely
guarded by the enemy, much of that time suffering
from hunger and thirst. Their small stock of provi-
sion had long since become exhausted, and early
and late the little ones were heard crying for food.
The mother would hold her infant to her breast to
soothe its wailing, but alas, the fountain that sup-
ported life had dried up, and the little sufferer would
turn away with a feeble cry. Young maidens whose
comely form, sparkling eyes and blooming cheeks
were the pride of the band, became pale, feeble and
emaciated, and with a feeling of resignation they
looked upward to their home in the spirit land. One
of the squaws, the companion of a noted chief, while
in a fit of delirium caused by hunger and thirst threw
her infant from the summit of the rock into the river
below, and with a wild, piercing scream followed it.
A few brave warriors attempted to escape from their
rocky prison, but on descending were slain by the
vigilant guards. Others in their wild frenzy hurled
THE BESIEGERS AND BESIEGED. 159
their tomahawks at the fiends below, and singing
their death song laid down to die.
The last lingering hope was now abandoned, hun-
ger and thirst had done their dreadful work, the cries
of the young, and lamentations of the aged, were
heard only in a whisper, their tongues swollen and
their lips crisped from thirst so they could scarcely
give utterance to their sufferings. Old white-headed
chiefs, feeble and emaciated, reduced almost to a
skeleton, crept away under branches of evergreens
to breathe their last. Proud young warriors pre-
ferred to die upon this strange rocky fortress by star-
vation and thirst rather than surrender themselves
to the scalping knives of a victorious enemy. Many
had died, their remains lying here and there on the
rocky summit, and the effluvium caused by putrefac-
tion greatly annoyed the besiegers. A few of the
more hardy warriors for a time feasted on the dead,
eating the flesh and drinking the blood of their com-
rades as soon as life was extinct.
A party of the allied forces now ascended the
rock and tomahawked all those who had survived
the famine, scalping old and young, and left the re-
mains to decay on the rock, where the bones were
seen many years afterward. Thus perished the
large tribe of Illinois Indians, and with the exception
of a solitary warrior they became extinct.
160 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
Near the close of the Starved Rock siege a young
warrior during a severe rain-storm and darkness of
the night took a buckskin cord, which had been used
for drawing water, and fastening'it to the trunk of a
cedar tree let himself down into the river, and thus
made his escape, being the only survivor of this fear-
ful tragedy. This young warrior was partly white,
being a descendant, on his father's side, from the
French, who lived at Fort St. Louis many years be-
fore. Being alone in the world, without friends or
kindred, he went to Peoria, joined the colony, and
there ended his days. He embraced Christianity,
became an officer in the church, assuming the name
of Antonia La Bell, and his descendants are now liv-
ing near Prairie du Rocher, one of whom, Charles
La Bell, was a party to a suit in the United States
court to recover the land where Peoria now stands.
VARIOUS TRADITIONARY EVIDENCE.
Colonel Joseph K. Bourassa, of Silver Lake,
Kansas, who collected from among his people, whose
ancestors lived on the Illinois River, a large amount
of traditionary matter relating to the massacre on
Starved Rock, says no incident in Indian warfare
made so lasting an impression on their minds as this,
and the main facts relating thereto will be kept in
remembrance for many generations to come. The
VARIOUS TRADITIONARY EVIDENCE. 161
many accounts collected by Colonel Bourassa differ
somewhat in detail, but all agree on the principal
events — that it occurred in the fall of 1T69, and the
Illinoisans were all annihilated. Bourassa says when
a boy he heard two aged warriors, who had partici-
pated in the massacre of Starved Rock, narrate many
incidents which took place at the time, and this ac-
count corresponds with other stories that have come
down through several generations.
In the early settlement of the country an old In-
dian named Mashaw frequently visited the trading-
houses at Hennepin and Ottawa, and through an in-
terpreter made various statements in relation to the
Starved Rock tragedy. He said at the time it oc-
curred he was a small boy, accompanying his father;
was present at the siege, and saw the destruction of
the Illinois Indians. He said after many days' fight-
ing a number of warriors during the night descended
from the rock, and attempted to fight their way
through the lines, but were all slain except seven,
who succeeded in effecting their liberty.
As late as 1828 a small band of Indians had a
village on the north side of Lake Depue, and raised
corn on a little bottom prairie now included in the
farm of Charles Savage. Among these Indians was
a very old man, who frequently accompanied his
grandson in a canoe to Hartzell's trading house near
11
162 PIONEEKS OF ILLINOIS.
the present site of Hennepin. This old Indian said
he was born on the Wabash, and was ten years old
at the time of the Starved Rock tragedy. His father
participated in this affair, and two of his uncles were
killed in the fight before the Illinoisans took refuge
on the rock. He said the fight at the town lasted
two days, and hundreds of warriors on both sides
were slain. Two years after this affair the band to
which this old Indian belonged emigrated to Illinois,
and built a town on the south side of the river op-
posite Lake Depue. At that time, and for many
years after, where the great battle was fought acres
of ground were covered with human bones, and the
summit of Starved Rock almost covered with skulls
and bones of the victims. Medore Jennette, an em-
ploye of Auguste and Pierre Chouteau, fur-traders
at St. Louis, lived many years in an Indian village
at the mouth of the Fox River, and has left his
numerous descendants many traditions relating
to early times. Jennette came to the country in
1772, three years after the Illinois Indians were an-
nihilated, and found the summit of Starved Rock
covered with human bones. The Indians believed
an evil spirit stood guard over these bones, and on
account of this superstitious notion they could not be
i
prevailed on to go near the rock.
A short distance below Starved Rock, on what
A GHASTLY SPECTACLE. 163
was then known as the great battle-field, many acres
of ground were whitened by bones and skulls.
An old Indian called Shaddy, who was born and
raised on the Illinois River, went west with his
band in 1834. Two years afterward he came back
to look once more upon the scenes of his youth, and
during the winter of 1836-7 hunted in the river tim-
ber and along Bureau Creek. In conversation with
this old Indian I obtained many interesting items in
relation to past events. He said his father was at
the siege of Starved Rock, and all the Illinois In-
dians perished except one. This was a young half-
breed who let himself down into the river by a buck-
skin cord during a severe rain-storm, and in the
darkness of the night made his escape.
A GHASTLY SPECTACLE.
A few days after the destruction of the Illinois
Indians a party of traders from Peoria, among whom
were Robert Maillet and Felix La Pance, while re-
turning from Canada with three canoes loaded with
goods, stopped at the scene of the late tragedy. On
approaching Starved Rock they noticed a cloud of
buzzards hovering over it, and at the same time were
greeted with a sickening odor. On landing from
their canoes and ascending the rock they found the
steep, rugged pathway leading thereto stained with
164 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
blood, and among the stunted cedars that grew on
the cliff were a number of human bodies partly de-
voured by birds of prey. But on reaching the sum-
mit they were horrified to find it covered with dead
bodies, all in an advanced state of decomposition.
Here was the aged chief with silver locks, lying by
the side of young warriors whose long raven hair
partly concealed their ghastly and distorted features.
Here, too, were squaws and papooses, the aged grand-
mother, and the young maiden, with here and there
an infant still clasped in its mother's arms. Some
had died from thirst and starvation, others by the
tomahawk or war club ; of the latter their remains
were partly enveloped in a pool of clotted blood. All
the dead, without regard to age or sex, had been
scalped, and the remains divested of clothing.
The swollen and distorted remains of the slain
were hideous to look upon, and the stench from them
so offensive that the traders hastened down from the
rock, and continued on their way down the river.
On reaching La Vantum, a short distance below
Starved Rock, the traders met with a still greater
surprise, and for a time were almost ready to believe
what they saw was delusion instead of reality. The
great town of the west had disappeared ; not a lodge,
camping-tent, or one human being, could be seen.
All was desolate, silent and lonely. The ground
A GHASTLY SPECTACLE. 165
where the -town had stood was strewn with dead
bodies, and packs of hungry wolves were feeding
upon their hideous repast.
Five months before these traders while on their
way to Canada stopped at La Vantum, for the pur-
pose of trading with the Indians. At that time the
inhabitants, about five thousand in number, were in
full enjoyment of life, but now their dead bodies lay
mouldering on the ground, food for wolves and birds
of prey. The traders had bought of these people
two canoe loads of furs and pelts, which were to be
paid for in goods on their return from Canada. The
goods were now here to make payment according to
contract, but alas, the creditors had all gone to their
long home.
The smell from hundreds of putrefied remains waa
so offensive that the traders remained .only a short
time, and with sadness they turned away from this
scene of horror. The traders again boarding their
canoes passed down the river to Peoria, conveying
thither to their friends the sad tidings.
CHAPTER XIV.
RELICS OF THE TRAGEDY.
,
IN the following spring, after the Illinois Indi-
ans were annihilated, a party of traders from
Cahokia on their way to Canada, in canoes loaded
with furs, stopped at Peoria. On reaching this point
they heard of the destruction of the Indians on
Starved Rock, and were afraid to proceed further on
their journey. After remaining a few days at Peoria
they proceeded on their way, accompanied as far as
Starved Rock by twenty-one Frenchmen and a num-
ber of Indians. With this escort was Father Buche,
a Jesuit priest of Peoria, and an account of his ob-
servations are preserved in his manuscript*
"When the voyageurs arrived at La Vantum they
found the town site strewed with human bones, and
fragments of broken pottery, and a few charred poles
alone marked the location of the great town of the
west. Scattered over the prairie were hundreds of
skulls, some of which still retained a portion of flesh,
and partly covered with long black hair, giving to
*An account of this manuscript will be found in the succeeding chapter,
and from which many extracts have been taken.
166
RELICS OF THE TEAGEDY. 167
the remain's a ghastly and sickening appearance.
This party also ascended Starved Rock, and found
its summit covered with bones and skulls, among
masses of putrefied flesh. Here among the remains
of the dead were found knives, tomahawks, rings,
beads, and various trinkets, some of which the trav-
elers carried with them to Canada, and can now be
seen among the antiquarian collection in Quebec.
Various accounts are given in after years both by
French and Indians of seeing relics of this fearful
tragedy on the summit of Starved Rock. Pierre
Bulbona, an Indian trader known by many of the
early settlers, said when a small boy he accom-
panied his father in ascending Starved Rock, and
saw many relics of the slaughtered Indians. This
was only fifteen years after the massacre, and the
rock was covered with skulls and bones, all in a
good state of preservation, but bleached white by the
sun and rain. Persons are still living among the
French fur traders who have seen these bones on
the summit of Starved Rock, and at the present time
small fragments of human remains are occasionally
found. On my first visit to Starved Rock, forty-
five years ago, I found a number of human teeth,
and small fragments of bones. Some years ago a
human skull was found at the root of a tree, buried
up with leaves and dirt, also a tomahawk and a large
168 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS. .
scalping knife. At different times visitors have
found relics of the past, consisting of weapons of
war and trinkets of various kinds, and still retain
them as trophies of the past.
Whoever will take the trouble to examine the
soil on Starved Rock will find in many places a pecu-
liar dusty sediment among the dirt, showing decom-
posed animal matter, which, without doubt, is the
remains of human beings. I have visited the cata-
combs belonging to different Italian cities, also those
around Jerusalem, and walked over the dust made
frbm the remains of human beings, and find the
sediment among the dirt on Starved Rock to be of
the same kind.
SEARCHING FOR GOLD.
When the Governor of Canada took possession
of Fort St. Louis all the goods, furs, etc., belonging
to the traders were confiscated to the government,
and report says divided between thp governor and
friends. Tonti having in his possession at that time
a large sum of gold dug a pit hole within the stock-
ades and buried it, to prevent its falling into the
hands of his enemies. Sixteen years afterward, as
Tonti was about to die, he told a priest, who was
holding a gold cross before his face, about the gold
being buried within the fort. The priest kept this
SEARCHING FOR GOLD. 169
matter a secret, waiting for an opportunity to resur-
rect the gold, but was drowned soon after by the
upsetting of a canoe. A short time after the death
of the priest the fort was burned by the Indians, and
the French driven away, as previously stated.
In the summer of 1765, forty-seven years after
the burning of Fort St. Louis, a party of French at
Peoria, among whom were Captain M. De Fond and
Father Buche, believing the story about gold being
buried in the fort came up the river in search of it.
This party of gold hunters encamped at the base of
Starved Rock, and spent some days in digging holes
on its summit, which accounts for the many pit holes
now to be seen. No gold was found by these ad-
venturers, but in a vault near where the store-house
stood they found a large number of tomahawks,
guns, knives, beads, and various kinds of trinkets,
intended for the Indian trade.
An account of -searching for gold on the summit
of Starved Rock is given in Father Buche's manu-
script, in which he says: " We had spent five days
in digging holes on the top of Le Rocher, and found
a large quantity of articles which were intended for
the Indian trade, but of the precious metal, the object
of our search, we found none. On the last day of
our stay we dug a large hole close to the old earth-
works, and continued at work until it was quite dark,
170 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
when the devil appeared to us in the form of a huge
bear. On seeing this monster we dropped our tools,
and hurried down from Le Rocher, put our camp kit
in a canoe, and started down the river for home."
In the summer of 1805 a party of adventurers
at Kaskaskia learning from tradition that a large
amount of gold had been buried within the stock-
ades of Fort St. Louis went in search of it. At that
time the location of the old fort was unknown; his-
tory and tradition alike failed to point it out, but
they knew it was on a high rock washed by the rapid
current of the Illinois, and a short distance above
the great bend in the river. On Buffalo Rock they
found what they believed to be the relics of Fort St.
Louis, and here they spent many days in searching
for the hidden treasures, but finding none they re-
turned home. An account of this expedition was
published in the newspapers of that day, which de-
scribe the remains of the fort on a large rock on the
north side of the river, and from that time it was
believed that Fort St. Louis had been built on Buf-
falo Rock.
The story of gold having been buried within the
stockades of Fort St. Louis is also among the In-
dian traditions, and some years ago a party of Pot-
tawatomies came from Kansas in search of it. Peo-
ple in the vicinity told them that the fort had stood
FOET ST. LOUIS. 171
on Buffalo Rock, and on its summit they dug many
pit holes, but finding none of the precious metal they
returned to their homes in the west.
FORT ST. LOUIS, ROCK FORT, AND LE ROCHER.
In former times people of the west generally be-
lieved that Fort St. Louis was built on Buffalo Rock,
as relics of an ancient fortification were found here
in the early settlement of the country. But in com-
paring the various historical accounts, as well as
French and Indian traditions, it is shown conclusively
to have stood on Starved Rock, and here its remains
can still be seen. Buffalo Rock does not answer the
description of the place spoken of in history, and the
natural advantages between it and Starved Rock for
a fort could not escape the observation of a man
with La Salle's shrewdness. Buffalo Rock contains
on its summit several hundred acres, is only about
sixty feet high, whereas Starved Rock is one hun-
dred and thirty-six feet high, containing less than
one acre on its summit, and accessible only at one
place. Thus it is a natural fortress, where but little
labor would be required to make it impregnable, so
a few soldiers could hold it against all the savages
of the west. Fort St. Louis, Rock Fort and Le
Rocher, so often referred to in history, are without
doubt all one and the same place.
172 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
South of Starved Rock, about one hundred and
fifty yards distant, is a high knoll, isolated from the
neighboring bluff, covered with scattering trees, and
known in early times as Devil's Nose.*
Eastward across a chasm two hundred yards wide
is a rocky cliff as high as Starved Rock and covered
with stunted evergreens. This cliff rises almost
perpendicular from the water's edge, connects with
the main bluff, and from an old Indian legend is
called Maiden's Leap.f
These two cliffs are within gun-shot of the fort,
therefore it became necessary to protect the side of
the rock next to them with earth- works and palisade.
A more romantic place for building a fort could
not be found in the western country, and for natural
defenses or picturesque appearance it is without a
parallel in history. The many remarkable events
connected with this old relic of antiquity if given to
the world would rival the works of fiction, surpass-
ing even the wild romance of feudal times.
The river at this point assumes a different char-
acter, no longer a dull, sluggish stream, but is wide,
shallow and rapid, and its broad channel divided by
* For many years after the Starved Rock tragedy a superstitious notion
prevailed among the Indians, who believed that an evil spirit had taken posses-
sion of this eminence, and every night when the winds blew and rain fell he
could be heard blowing his nose.
t It is said a young and beautiful Indian maiden, a daughter of a noted
chief, having been crossed in love jumped off this cliff, and her mangled body
was found in the ravine below some days afterward.
RELICS OF FORT ST. LOUIS. 173
many beautiful wood-clad islands. Some of these
islands are now under cultivation, while others are
covered with forest trees, the tall cottonwood and
outspreading elms adding beauty and romance to the
surrounding scenery.
These islands in the river, with the land on which
Starved Rock stands, belong to Colonel D. F. Hitt,
of Ottawa, who entered it nearly half a century ago.
4
RELICS OF FORT ST. LOUIS.
In the summer of 1721, thirty-nine years after
Fort St. Louis was built, Charlevoix, a French Jesuit
priest, visited Illinois, and in his journal gave some
account of the scenery along the river. On Buf-
falo Rock he found an Indian village surrounded by
a rude fortification, consisting of low earth-works
with stockades, and known as Le Fort des Miamis.
About one league below Buffalo Rock, on the oppo-
site side of the river, is Le Rocher, rising from the
water's edge like a castle wall, to the height of one
hundred and fifty feet, and can be ascended only at
one point. On this rock, says Charlevoix, La Salle
built a fort, and part of the palisade was still stand-
ing. The block-house, store-house and dwellings
had been burned by the Indians, and everything
about the fort was in ruins, although it had been oc-
cupied by his countrymen only three years before.
174 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
The remains of earth-works can still be seen, en-
circling about two-thirds of the rock, and following
around it on the brink of the precipice. These
works commence on the western angle, following
the margin of the rock to the extreme eastern curve^
leaving an open gateway at the place of ascending
the rock, and are one hundred and twenty-two yards
in length. On the south side of the rock, along
these earth-works, are many pit holes, two of which
are very large, and in all probability one of these
was the magazine, and the other a cellar of a store-
house. The smaller pit holes which are found here
and there among the evergreens, according to
Buche's manuscript, were dug forty-seven years after
the destruction of the fort, by persons while search-
ing for gold.
INDIAN AND FRENCH RELICS.
In the vicinity of Starved Rock, and near the site
of the old Indian village, many relics have been
found, consisting of gun flints, arrow-heads, etc.
Earthen pots, kettles, and various kinds of pottery,
have been found, also tomahawks, axes, knives, hoes,
with various kinds of farming and war implements
made of stone. Burton Ayres, one of the pioneers
of La Salle, collected many curious relics of Indian
antiquities, among which was an image in the form
of a man cut out of limestone, and supposed to have
INDIAN AND FRENCH RELICS. 175
been an idol of heathen worship. On the site of La-
Vantuin many curious relics have been found, and
every year in plowing the ground new trinkets are
discovered. People living in that locality have col-
lected a large amount of Indian relics, some of which
have been placed in the Ottawa Academy of Natural
Science for preservation.
On and around Starved Rock many relics of the
early French occupants have also been found, con-
sisting of farming implements of European manufac-
ture, rifle and cannon balls, gold and silver crosses,
with various trinkets of more or less value. A few
years ago a small cannon was found imbedded in the
river bank, where it had lain perhaps for nearly two
centuries. This cannon is made of wrought iron,
hooped with heavy rings to make it strong like those
used in Europe centuries ago. This ancient piece of
ordnance in all probability was brought from Canada
by. La Salle or some of his men to be used on a forti-
fication, and may have been the one mounted on the
ramparts of Fort St. Louis at the time of its dedica-
tion, and fired a salute in honor of the King of
France.
A short time ago an old cedar tree was cut down
on the summit of Starved Rock, and within its trunk
was found imbedded a gun barrel partly destroyed by
rust. How this gun barrel came here will forever
176 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
remain a mystery, but in all probability it was the
work of an ingenious Frenchman, during the occupa-
tion of Fort St. Louis. This gun barrel, with a por-^
tion of the tree which surrounded it, also the old
cannon found in the river bank, with many other
curiosities, are preserved among the collection of
relics at Ottawa Museum of Natural Science.
A short time ago David "Walker, of Ottawa, found
near Buffalo Rock a piece of copper about the size
and shape of a half dollar, on which was engraved
in rude characters the name of Tonti. It is quite
probable this trinket is one among the many medals
which the commander of Fort St. Louis distributed
among his Indian friends as a token of remem-
brance.
On Starved Rock were found two bronze medal-
lion heads of noted persons of those days, one of
King Louis XIY and the other of Pope Leo X.
Colonel D. F. Hitt, of Ottawa, has now in his
possession a double cross made of pure gold, three
inches in length, but without name or date. This
cross is said to be an insignia of an Archbishop, and
was probably lost by one of the holy fathers who
frequented Fort St. Louis.
This cross was found seven years ago, about two
hundred feet west of Starved Rock, and an account
of its size and engraving has attracted much atten-
INDIAN AND FRENCH RELICS. 177
tion. On one side of this emblem are four hearts
and four open links, with a human figure represent-
ing Christ nailed to the cross. On the opposite side
are six hearts and four links, with an image of the
Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ in her arms.
The figures and images on this cross are well en-
graved, being of the same style of work as those
ancient Christian emblems now on exhibition in the
Vatican, at Koine.
It has been a matter of much speculation how a
cross representing this high order in the Catholic
church came to Fort St. Louis, as no one higher than
a priest had officiated as chaplain during thirty-six
years of its occupation. There is an incident con-
nected with the fort which may throw some light on
it, and were all the facts known might possibly ex-
plain this mystery. The Archbishop of Rouen
sent to Canada a fine satin robe, a large gold cross,
with other sacred emblems, to be presented to the
most devoted priest in North America. The priests
at Quebec awarded these gifts to Father Chrisp,
chaplain of Fort St. Louis, but he died before their
arrival, and in the fall of 1688 these things were pre-
sented to Father Gaudier, brother of La Salle. It is
possible that the cross found here may be the one
referred to, and lost by the owner during his' ram-
bles around the fort.
12
178 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
Colonel Hitt has two other crosses which were
found in the vicinity of Starved Rock, but they are
of the kind usually worn by priests and monks, and
do not differ materially from those found elsewhere.
In the vicinity of Starved Rock are found many
under-ground furnaces consisting of a large flue
built of stone and mortar. The French in those
days were in the habit of building flues under their
dwellings to warm them, and this, manner of warm-
ing a house is still in use in some parts of Canada.
FATHER BUCHE'S MANUSCRIPT.
This old manuscript, now in the hands of Hypolite
Pilette, consists of twenty-three pages closely written
on large sheets, and from age the paper is yellow
and ink faded. It is in the French language, dated
at La Yille de Maillet (now Peoria), April 1770, and
was written by Jacques Buche, a Jesuit priest. The
writer speaks only of things that came under his own
observation, and relates a number of remarkable in-
cidents, which are worth preserving. The manu-
script speaks of the destruction of La Vantum, the
perishing of the remnant of the Illinois Indians on
Starved Rock, and from its pages are taken a num-
ber of incidents narrated in this book. It also gives
an account of digging for gold within the stockades
of Fort St. Louis, the pit holes of which can still be
seen.
FATHER SUCRE'S MANUSCRIPT. 179
Father Buche speaks of visiting an Indian village
fifteen leagues north of La Yille de Maillet, where lie
remained many days teaching the people the ways of
Christianity. The inhabitants of this village said he
was possessed of the devil, indulging in vile prac-
tices, and idolatrous worship. The chiefs had many
wives, and put them to death if they proved barren
At their religious feast an infant was burned on the
altar as a sacrifice to the Great Manitou, in order
that the band might be successful in war hunting,
etc., and be protected from the power of the evil
one.
Father Buche said he preached many times to
these benighted people, and many of them were con-
verted, their names enrolled in the church book, and
their souls saved from perdition. He also speaks of
accompanying a large party of hunters in slaughter-
ing buffalo, having been run over by the herd, and
trampled under the feet of the beasts, but saved from
death by the interposition of the Holy Virgin.
T
CHAPTER XV.
OLD FORT CHARTRES.
HIS old landmark of former times was located
near the Mississippi River, and in the north-
west corner of Randolph county. The fort was built
by the Louisiana company in 1719, and continued to
be the seat of government as long as the French
were in possession of Illinois. It stood about one-
half mile from the river, but connected with it by a
slough or bayou, through which boats passed to and
from the fort. It was originally a wooden structure,
but in 1756 a stone one with high thick walls, con-
taining towers and bastions, took its place. The
walls enclosed about four acres of ground, and within
this arena were many large buildings for officers and
soldiers' quarters. This fort was built of faced
blocks of limestone, brought from a cliff on the op-
posite side of the river, three miles above, and the
structure is said to have made a very fine appear-
ance.
Fort Chartres at the time of its construction was
considered the most imposing fortification in North
America, and over its battlements waved both the
180
OLD FORT CHARTRES. 181
French and British flags. A village of about forty
houses, called St. Anne de Fort Chartres, sprang up
around the fort, and here was not only the seat of
government for Illinois, but it became the center of
wealth, business, fashion and gayety.
During the great flood of 1772 a portion of the
wall, about one hundred feet in length, was under-
mined and fell into the river. In consequence of
this breach in the walls Fort Chartres was aban-
doned and went to ruin, the seat of government
moved to Kaskaskia, and the inhabitants of the vil-
lage of St Anne left for other places. A small por-
tion of the walls is still standing, and the magazine
remains whole, excepting that a part of the main
arch has given way and the great iron door is
gone. The foundation and part of the walls of two
buildings are standing, with forest trees growing
within the enclosure. Most of the large hewed stones
of which the main walls were constructed have been
taken away to build up towns along the river, and
the massive stone arches that encircled the door and
gateways now ornament public buildings elsewhere.
These grand old ruins are now in the midst of a
forest, with trees more than three feet in diameter
standing within their walls ; and were the origin of
these relics of former times unknown, it might fur-
nish a theme for antiquarian speculation.
182 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
In 1788 Congress reserved a tract of land one
mile square around Fort Chartres, and this reserva-
tion came into market in 1849, and sold the same as
other government lands.
FORT MASSAC.
This old landmark of early times was located on
the north bank of the Ohio, then called Ouabaclie
Kiver by the French, thirty-six miles from its month.
The time of its construction is mixed with uncer-
tainty; both history and tradition are alike defective
on this point, but it is generally believed to have
been built about the year 1711. This fort was built
by early French explorers, who came from the lakes
by way of Maumee and Wabash rivers, and had no
connection with the colonies on the Mississippi.
A short time after the French built this fort it
was captured by the Indians through a curious piece
of strategy. One day a number of Indians appeared
on the opposite side of the river, each covered with a
bear skin, walking on all-fours, and imitating the
motion of that animal. The soldiers mistook these
Indians for bears, and many of them crossed the
river in pursuit, while others left their quarters to
see the sport. In the meantime a large body of
warriors, who were secreted in the woods near by,
took possession of the fort without opposition, and
but few of the soldiers escaped massacre.
FORT MASSAC. 183
Some years after this tragical affair a new fort
was built on the same site, and called Massac in
memory of this sad event. This fort was abandoned
by the French about the year 1750, but after the
close of the revolutionary war the Americans had a
garrison here for a short time.
Forty miles above Fort Massac, on the river bank,
now in Hardin county, is a place of much note called
Cave in the Rock, consisting of a large, romantic-
looking cavern at the base of a rocky cliff. For
several years this cave was occupied by a band of
robbers headed by one Mason. These robbers way-
laid boats going to and from New Orleans, murder
ing the crew and confiscating the cargo. In 1797
this band of outlaws was broken up, some of them
captured and executed, while others fled the country
to escape punishment.
AMERICAN BOTTOM.
This section of country, so ofttimes referred to by
the early western historian, lies on the east side of
the Mississippi, extending from Alton to the mouth
.of Kaskaskia River, a distance of about seventy
miles in length, and from three to eight miles in
width. This tract of land consists of timber and
prairie about equally divided, and much of it subject
to inundation, but for fertility of soil it probably is
184 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
unequaled in the western country. During the first
century of the French occupation of Illinois the only
permanent settlement (except Peoria)was made on
this bottom, and here the descendants of the early
pioneers continue to live. The old towns on this
bottom still remain French in language, customs and
habits, and the people have but little intercourse with
those speaking the English language.
The name American Bottom had its origin about
a century ago, at the time Illinois came under United
States jurisdiction, and from the following circum-
stance: the west side of the river being known as
Louisiana, or New Spain, while on the east, in the
river bottom, was called America — hence American
Bottom, which name it continues to bear.
In the early settlement of the country the valley
of the Mississippi from the Gulf of Mexico to the
lakes was known as Louisiana, designated as upper
and lower country. In after years the settlements
on both sides of the Mississippi were known as the
Illinois country, and the same laws were in force, it
being one country. After the west side was ceded
to Spain it became known as Louisiana, and the terri-
tory assumed the name of Missouri about the year
1810, five years after it was ceded to the United
States.
PRAIRIE DU ROCHER. 185
PRAIRIE DU ROCHER.
The old French village of Prairie du Rocher is
located at the foot of the bluff, three miles from the
Mississippi River, and in the northwest corner of
Randolph county. There is a rocky cliff, thirty
miles long and about two liundred feet high, bound-
ing a fertile bottom, which gives to the place a
romantic and picturesque appearance. Its secluded
situation, fine scenery, rich soil and large spring of
gushing water attracted the attention of early pio-
neers, and caused it to become a place of importance.
A short distance above the town, at the base of a
rocky cliff, is a large spring, sending forth an im-
mense volume of water, whose crystal purity might
have been taken for the fountain of life, which gave
immortality to youth and vigor, so much sought after
by the early Spanish explorers. Near this spring is
a remarkable cave in the high rocky cliff, but it has
never been explored to any great extent, as its cham-
bers are filled with foul air, which is thought to be
destructive to life.
According to Jesuit history Prairie du Rocher was
incorporated into a village in the year 1722, and a
large tract of land granted to its citizens, with an
additional tract bounding the Mississippi River for a
number of miles for school purposes.
The old Jesuit chapel of St. Joseph, built in 1734,
186 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
is still standing, and is probably the oldest building
on the American Bottom. Within its portals have
been christened the infants of four succeeding gen-
erations, and the marriage vows of the people of
Prairie du Rocher have been heard at its sacred altar
for a century and a half. The register of the chapel,
commencing in 1734, containing a record of births,
marriages, deaths, etc., was taken to Kaskaskia in
1855 for the purpose of being copied, and, unfortu-
nately, was lost.
CAHOKIA.
When La Salle and his comrades returned from
an excursion to the mouth of the Mississippi River
in the summer of 1682 they stopped some days at
Cahokia, which at that time was a large Indian vil-
lage. Two Jesuit priests, Pinet and Garvier, who
accompanied the expedition, remained here for the
purpose of converting the natives. These priests
built a chapel in the midst of the' village, dedicating
it to St. Peter, and named the mission Notre Dame
des Cahokia. In the following year La Salle au-
thorized Richard Bosley to establish a trading-post
here, and with the traders came many emigrants
from Canada, forming the first permanent settlement
in the Mississippi Valley. The emigrants built
houses in the town with the Indians, and for more
than a century they lived together in peace and har-
KASKASKIA. 187
mony as one people. Marriage between the French
and Indians being legalized by the Catholic church
many of the fur traders and earl/ explorers of the
west found wives among the blooming daughters of
Illinois. Some of the present inhabitants of Caho-
kia can trace their genealogy* back to the time of
La Salle, and, their ancestors having intermarried
with natives, show strong marks of Indian lineage.
The location of Cahokia is unfavorable for com-
merce, being situated on Cahokia Creek, a mile and
a half from the Mississippi, but still not out of the
reach of its floods. In early times the water in the
creek was sufficient to float their small crafts, but a
Frenchman in seeking revenge cut a channel from
the creek into the river, three miles above the town,
leaving it without water communication except in
time of floods. Along Cahokia Creek are a number
of small lakes, and no less than sixty-seven mounds
of various sizes and shapes.
Cahokia at the present time is only a small town,
the houses standing here and there among gardens
and shade trees, the inhabitants mostly engaged in
farming, and but few of them can speak or under-
stand English.
KASKASKIA.
According to the most reliable traditionary ac-
counts Father Allouez established a mission at Kas-
188 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
kaskia in 1686, and built a chapel in the Indian vil-
lage. He gave this mission the sacred name of Im-
maculate Conception of the Holy Virgin, and its
register from 1695 is still preserved among the
church papers of the parish. Emigrants from Can-
ada, with fur traders, came to Kaskaskia, and in a few
years it became a place of great importance. The
congregation continued to occupy the Jesuit chapel
until 1721, when a permanent church was built, and
occupied as a place of worship for nearly a century.
The bell now hanging on the large brick church was
brought from France and placed on this building,
being the first to ring for public worship in the
Mississippi Valley. Its measured strokes have
tolled for marriages and funerals of three successive
generations, and still the bluff and tall timber around
the old town continues to echo its musical peals.
In 1736 a fort was built at Kaskaskia, but never
occupied by troops, and burned down after standing
thirty-six years. When Fort Chartres was aban-
doned, in 1772, the government built a new one here
called Fort Gage, in honor of the commander-in-
chief of the British forces in America, and the relics
of this fort can still be seen on the bluff near the
river.
After Clark's conquest of Illinois, American emi-
grants came to Kaskaskia, it being the seat of gov-
KASKASKIA AND CAHOKIA INDIANS. 189
eminent for the territory, and also for the state, for
about fifty years. People coming to the country
made this a place of stopping until a location could
be selected elsewhere, and for many years it was the
largest and most important town west of the Alle-
ghany mountains ; but owing to many floods in the
Mississippi River its greatness has long since de-
parted, and at present it is only a small town of but
little importance.
KASKASKIA AND CAHOKIA INDIANS.
The Kaskaskia and Cahokia Indians when the
French came to the country lived in the towns that
bore their respective names, but they had other vil-
lages on the American Bottom. These Indians lived
on friendly terms with the early settlers, and it was
the boast of one of their noted chiefs, Ducogna, that
his people had neater shed the blood of a white man.
After the northern bands of the Illinois Indians
were annihilated their country came into the posses-
sion of the victors, consisting of Pottawatomies, Ot-
tawas, Chippewas and Kickapoos. These tribes
made war on the Kaskaskia and Cahokia bands, and
a number of bloody battles were fought between the
contending parties. The hunting-grounds lying be-
tween these tribes, including a large portion of the
central division of the state, became overrun with
190 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
game, and for many years neither part}" would risk
hunting here, as they were liable to be attacked by
the enemy. In 1782 a battle was fought between
these tribes on Battle Ground Creek, twenty -five
miles east of Kaskaskia, and for many years the
ground of this battle-field was covered with human
bones. Another battle between these Indians was
fought about the same time on Cache River, now in
Johnson county, and the bones of the slain can still
be seen in a cave near the battle-ground.
As late as the year 1809 the Kaskaskia Indians
had a village of about eight hundred inhabitants,
near Prarie du Rocher, and one nearly as large on
the Kaskaskia River. At that time the Cahokia Indi-
ans had two small villages near their old town, but
their number is not known.
There was a band of Kaskaskia Indians at one
time on Cache River, known as the wild band, who
were engaged in some of the border wars, and were
a party to Wayne's treaty at Greenville in 1795, and
received annuity from the government. A large
portion of this band fell victims to the Kickapoos
during one of their raids, and in order to be pro-
tected by the whites they left their former home on
Cache River and lived in a village near Prairie du
Rocher.
The Kaskaskia and Cahokia Indians claimed all
PEORIA INDIANS. 191
the land in the state south of a line from the mouth
of the Illinois River to a point on the Wabash near
the present site of Terre Haute. These lands were
ceded to the government at a treaty at Edwards-
ville on September 25, 1818, for a small amount of
money, payable annually for twelve years. As the
country settled up game became scarce. These Indi-
ans went west at different times, the last of them
leaving the country in 1833, and a remnant of these
bands are now living in the Indian territory south
of Kansas.
PEORIA INDIANS.
Indian history is always more or less conflicting,
and not very reliable, as each writer on this subject
.arranges things in accordance to his own fancy. It is
an account of people who left no history, and all
that is known of them are scraps of tradition, which
are more or less veiled in doubt and uncertainty,
therefore due allowance should be made for conflicting
statements. For more than forty years my attention
has been directed to this subject, and statements
here given are the result of long investigations.
The principal village of the Peoria Indians was
on the west side of Peoria Lake, and called Opa by
the French. On La Salle's first visit to this town
Neconope was head chief, who is represented as be-
ing unfriendly to the whites. But in after years this
192 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
chief was succeeded by one named Kolet, who be-
came a Christian, and through his influence Jesuits
established a mission in his village. French traders
built houses in the village, and for more than fifty
years whites lived with the Indians. It is said the
Peorias had other villages in the vicinity of the lake,
but their exact location is unknown.
The Peoria Indians were engaged in the war
against the allied forces in defense of their country,
and most of the warriors were slain at La Vantum or
perished on the summit of Starved Rock. When
those at home, being mostly infirm from age, squaws,
papooses, etc., heard of the slaughter of their friends
they fled to the south to escape a like fate. A few
who had intermarried with the French remained at
the village and. were not molested.
A remnant of a band of Peoria Indians lived at a
village south of Cahokia for many years, and were a
party to the treaty at Edwardsville on the 25th of
September, 1818. At this treaty they sold their
land to the government, except a small reservation,
and received as consideration two thousand dollars
in goods, with an annuity of three dollars for twelve,
years. Some years after disposing of their lands
they sold the reservation, went west of the Missis-
sippi, and mingled with other tribes.
CHAPTER XYI.
INDIAN TRIBES IN ILLINOIS TERRITORY.
A FTER the Illinois Indians were annihilated, in
-L±. 1769, the conquerors took possession of the
country, and occupied it about seventy years. The
Illinois River had long been known as the Indian
country, being more densely inhabited by them than
any other part of the west. Here lived the larger por-
tion of the Illinoisans, and here, too, were found their
successors, the Pottawatomies. Between Peoria
Lake arid the mouth of Fox River were eight Indian
villages, some of which were very large, containing
hundreds of inhabitants. Although their villages
and cornfields were mostly located on or near the
Illinois River they claimed as hunting-ground the
country between the W abash and Mississippi
Rivers, and over this vast tract they roamed in pur-
suit of game.
In the year 1800 the commissioner of Indian
affairs estimated that thirty thousand Indians, in-
cluding all the different tribes, were living within
13 193
194 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
the limits of this state, arid about three-fifths of this
number were on the Illinois River.
In the central portion of the state, on the Mack-
inaw and Sangamon Rivers, were a few villages of
Kickapoo Indians. On the Kankakee River were
two villages of Ottawas, and near Lake Michigan
were a few villages of Chippeways. Near Rock
Island the Sacs and Foxes had two villages, and also
one on the present site of Quincy. In the north
part of the state were Winnebagoes, and at the south
were Kaskaskia arid Cahokia Indians.
These Indians at various treaties sold their lands
to the government for homes in the west, and left
the country at different periods from 1825 to 1836.
MONKS OF LA TRAPPE.
This curious order of religious enthusiasts had its
origin in 1664 through a wealthy nobleman named
Abbe Ranee, who lived in the south of France. For
many years he lived a gay, fast life, but on the death
of h's mistress, Madame Monblazan, he renounced
the world, rejected all the comforts of life, — bread
and water was his food, and a stone his bed. Ranee
used his fortune in establishing the order, and had
many followers. He built a monastery at La Trappe,
and from this fact the name of the order originated.
In the year 1704 about twenty monks of the order
OLD FOET NEAR STARVED ROCK. 195
of La Trappe came to Illinois and established them-
selves on the American Bottom, in St. Clair county.
Colonel N. Jerret, of Cahokia, gave them a farm,
and furnished money to erect buildings thereon.
They built a monastery on the top of a high mound,
now known as Monk Hill, and cultivated a small
farm near by. Some of the Monks repaired watches,
others traded with the people, selling them various
kinds of articles, which they brought from France.
These monks were filthy in their habits, very
rigid in penance, spending three hours each day in
religious exercise, when their songs of praise could
be heard far away. The climate did not agree with
them; two of the priests and five lay brethren died.
They became very unpopular among the people in
that locality, and in 1813 they sold their property
and returned to France.
OLD FORT NEAR STARVED ROCK.
On the river-bluff, one half-mile south of Starved
Rock, are the remains of an ancient fortification,
known as the Old Fort, and consist of low, irregular
earthworks. This relic of antiquity is located on
level land at the intersection of two ravines, and on
two sides follows the curve of the hill above the
ravines in zigzag lines, with an open gateway at the
east, fronting the prairie. These lines enclose about
196 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
one acre of ground, which is of an oblong shape, and
is now covered with large burr-oak trees. This ap-
pears to have been only a temporary fortification,
consisting of an embankment with a ditch on the in-
side, and perhaps enclosed with palisades. There
are many large trees growing on the embankment
and in the ditch, which is conclusive evidence of its
great antiquity. Most all the relics of past ages are
found in favorable localities, where beauty and con-
venience have been consulted, but this one appears
to be an exception to this rule, and it is a mystery
to me why any people would build a fort in such a
place as this.
At what time this fort was built, by whom, and
for what purpose, will in all probability forever re-
main a mystery. It could not have been built by
the French, for it shows no sign of civil engineering,
and neither history nor tradition gives any account
of it. Some people believe it was built by the
French while in possession of Fort St. Louis, and
used as a summer fort to protect themselves from
the Indians while raising a crop on the adjoining
prairie, but this is not probable, as they always lived'
on friendly terms with the natives, and therefore
needed no protection. Jacques Mette and Hypolite
Pilette inform me that their ancestors lived at Fort
St. Louis, the former a soldier and the latter a
THE RUINED CITY OF AZTALAN. 197
trader, and are positive that no out fortification
could have been built by the French without con-
stituting a part of their family traditions. This fort
in all probability is the work of people who pos-
sessed the country many centuries ago, known as
Mound Builders, as many similar relics are found
elsewhere.
About two hundred yards northeast of the old
fort, by the side of a small ravine, is a shaft of coal
near the surface, only a few feet under ground. On
examining this shaft a few years ago it was found
that the coal had been taken out for some distance,
and the embankment on each side of it, made by
throwing out the dirt over the coal, is now covered
with trees. This work must have been done many
centuries ago, and most probably by the occupants
of the old fort near by.
THE RUINED CITY OF AZTALAN.
Ancient mounds, low earthworks, and fortifica-
tions are found in various localities, but are more
common in a favorable place for residence along
large streams or on fertile plains, showing that the
ancient as well as modern inhabitants were attracted
to localities of beauty and convenience. On the
bank of Rock River, where the stream expands into a
beautiful little lake, causing many natural attractions,
198 PIONEEES OF ILLINOIS.
are found the remarkable remains of earthworks,
known as the ruined city of Aztalan. The ruins of
this ancient city were discovered in 1836, and sur-
veyed the following year by N. F. Hyer. At that
.time it attracted much attention, and many extrava-
gant stories were in circulation about its brick walls
and stone arches, etc. , all of which tnere is but little
truth in.
These works consist of irregular embankments,
twenty feet wide on the top, and from three to eight
feet high, and one hundred and sixty-six rods in
length, forming three sides of an enclosure, the river
the fourth, and encircle an area of seventeen and
two-thirds acres. At short intervals are buttresses,
fifty feet in diameter, composed of red clay of a pe-
culiar mixture, which originated the popular belief
that they had been built with brick, and moulded
into clay, as we now see it. On the southwest cor-
ner of these earthworks is a mound, rising like a
pyramid, fifty feet wide at the top, and ascended by
a succession of steps. This is supposed to have been
the most sacred spot, as well as the highest, and prob-
ably contained a temple on its summit. In the
northeast corner of the enclosure is another pyram-
idal elevation, surrounded by rings of small ones
supposed to have been mud houses for dwellings or
other unknown purposes. These structures are be-
FORTIFICATIONS AT MARSEILLES. 199
lieved to have been used for religious or sacramental
purposes, and also for a sepulcher, as beneath these,
imbedded in the earth, were found buried many half-
burned human remains, with fragments of pottery and
charcoal. These works bear a strong resemblance to
temple mounds found elsewhere, but their great ex-
tent, encircling so large a tract of land, is evidence
that they were intended for a fortification as well as
for religious or ceremonial purposes.
ANCIENT FORTIFICATIONS AT MARSEILLES.
On the 'north side of the Illinois River, about
midway of the great rapids, and close to the town of
Marseilles, can still be seen an ancient fortification,
consisting of low earthworks. These works are
located on the river batik fifteen feet above high-
water mark, and partly surrounded by a slough or
bayou, leaving only a narrow tongue of land between
the river and pond, which appears to have been the
only ingress and egress to the fort. The fort is of
an elongated shape, three hundred yards in length,
and will average about thirty yards in breadth, and
contains within this enclosure two and three-fourths
acres. The walls are irregular, running in and out
of a parallel line, with a ditch on the inside. From a
military stand-point these works are well located,
being situated near the river bank, where the strong
200 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
current of the rapids is thrown near the shore, and
boats could not pass up or down the stream without
coming close to the fort.
Northeast of the old fort, on the bluff, about one
hundred rods distant, is the remains of earthworks,
following the brow of the hill in a straight line, and
three hundred feet in length. By some people
this is thought to have been an out-post or signal
station for the fort on the river, but it is more likely
to have been breastworks thrown up by an enemy
while besieging the garrison.
"Within the old fortification and its surroundings
many relics of past ages have been found, but these ar-
ticles throw no light on the perplexed questions of the
time, and by whom these works were constructed.
Among these relics is a sword, two silver crosses bear-
ing the letters R C, and with the word " Montreal "
stamped on them, also pieces of silver plate for orna-
menting gun barrels, knife handles, etc., marked in a
like manner, all bearing the initials of the great ex-
plorer, Robert Cavalier (La Salle being only a title).
In all probability these articles were manufactured at
Montreal for La Salle, brought west as part of his
stock-in-trade and sold to the Indians, as similar
articles marked in like manner have been found
elsewhere.
These old earthworks were surveyed by Colonel
RUINED FORT ON FOX RIVER. 201
D. F. Hitt, of Ottawa, in June, 1876, and a diagram
of them can be found in Baldwin's history of La
Salle county. Dr. J. H. Goodell, of Marseilles, has
made some examination of these relics of antiquity,
and to him I am indebted for many of the items
given above.
THE RUINED FORT ON FOX RIVER.
This ancient fortification is situated on a bluff on
the east side of Fox River, and opposite the mouth
of Indian Creek. The bluff on which the fort stands
is sixty-five feet high. About forty feet of this is a
rock, rising almost perpendicular from the bed of the
river, and affords a commanding view of the sur-
roundings. These works are located at the intersec-
tion of a deep ravine, and partly surrounded on three
sides by a rocky cliff. The land side opposite to the
river and ravine is encircled by three rows of breast-
works, and on the inside of these is a ditch.
Through these rows of breastworks to the eastward
is an open gateway, constituting the only egress and
ingress to and from the fort within.
On the opposite side of the ravine, on a bluff
north of the fort, are a number of mounds. The ob-
ject for which these were constructed has not been de-
termined. Near these mounds is a chasm cut in the
rocky cliff, which is supposed to have been used as
a stairway by the occupants of the fort.
202 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
The Fox Kiver fort differs from all other ancient
works found in this section of the country, as it con-
tains three rows of breastworks, which are close to-
gether and extend all the way around it. These
old ruins are of a circular form, and contain within
the inclosure a little less than one acre of ground.
There are different opinions about the builders of
other fortifications in this section of the country, but
all agree that the Fox River fort is the work of a
prehistoric race, and built centuries ago.
This fort, like the one at Marseilles, was surveyed
by Colonel D. F. Hitt, of Ottawa, June 3, 1877, and
a diagram of it published in Baldwin's history of
La Salle county.
MEDORE JENKETTE, A FUR TRADER.
In 1772 Auguste and Pierre Chouteau, fur traders
at St. Louis, extended their business into the Illinois
country, and established a trading-post at the mouth
of Fox River. Three years before the Illinois Indi-
ans were exterminated, and the country occupied by
Pottawatomies, whose villages were found at differ-
ent places along the Illinois River. For many years
merchants at Peoria had monopolized the fur trade
in this section of the country, but the Chouteaus, who
were doing a large business along the upper Mississip-
pi and Missouri rivers, now came in competit on with
MEDORE JENNETTE. 203
them. Among Chouteau's employes was a yonng
Frenchman named Medore Jennette, who had been
raised near St. Vincent, on the Wabash, among Potta-
watomie Indians, and spoke their language. Jennette
traveled extensively over the country, making the
acquaintance of different bands, and enlisted them in
favor of his employers' enterprise. After roving a
few years he found a home at an Indian village, op-
posite the mouth of Fox River, where he spent the
remainder of his days. Jennette married a squaw,
built a cabin in the village, and raised a family of
half-breed children. His time was occupied in col-
lecting furs and pelts, shipping them to St. Louis, and
the vessel loaded back with goods for the Indian
market. It is a fact worthy of note that while Chou-
teaus and traders at Kaskaskia sent their furs to New
Orleans, and from there received their goods, mer-
chants at Peoria continued to trade at Montreal until
their town was burned, in 1812.
In the summer of 1773, when Pat Kennedy and
comrades ascended the Illinois River in search of
copper mines, they employed Jennette to pilot them
through the country. These adventurers found coal
banks, a saline spring where people were engaged in
making salt, and a flint rock where the French ob-
tained their mill-stones, but copper, the object of
their search, they found none.
204 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
Jennette lived many years among the Indians,
became very popular with them, and through his en-
ergy and industry his employers accumulated much
of their wealth. After his death the family left their
Indian home for a French settlement on the Missis-
sippi, where many of his descendants now live. One
of his sons, Louis Jennette, although having passed
his ninetieth birthday has a vivid recollection of the
country along the Illinois River as it appeared eighty
years ago. Last summer the old gentleman, accom-
panied by his grandson, visited the place of his na-
tivity, in order that he might once more look upon
the scenes of his childhood. Here, on the south side
of the river, is the mineral spring, and here, too, is
the spring of sweet water. By the side of it stood his
father's cabin, in which he spent his infantile years.
North of the river, on the little prairie where he had
gathered flowers, and played beneath the shade of
outspreading oaks in his boyhood days, is now cov-
ered by the city of Ottawa. The river continues to
run as in former times ; Buffalo Rock. Starved Rock
and Maiden's Leap remain the same as in his youth-
ful days, but all the surroundings have undergone a
great change. Instead of a wild country of eighty
years ago farms are seen in close succession, while
towns and cities abound everywhere throughout the
land.
CHAPTEK XVII.
ENGLISH AND FRENCH RELATION WITH INDIANS.
THE French were liberal in their gifts to the
Indians, supplying them with medals and
showy trinkets, with which they decorated their per-
sons. They also lived with them in a wigwam,
adopting their habits and customs, making of them
chums and associates. Many of the French pioneers
abandoned their countrymen, sacrificing every tie of
blood and kindred, identifying themselves with Indi-
ans, and sank into barbarism. In the camp men
were found speaking the French language, yet in
their barbarous costume, face painted, head deco-
rated with feathers, wearing rings and beads, appear-
ing in every respect like those with whom they had
cast their lot, which accords with an old saying, "it
is impossible for an Indian to turn paleface, but it is
e^y for a paleface to turn Indian." Among the Eng-
lish fur traders, hunters and early pioneers were
found men low and brutal in their habits, having
thrown off all restraint of civilization, making them-
selves barbarians, but they did not become Indians.
205
206 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
The English, unlike the French, did not court the
friendship of the Indians, but would encroach upon
their hunting-grounds, treat their rights with con-
tempt, and pay off these injuries in abuse and threats.
The difference in these nationalities was soon ob-
served by the Indians, when they formed a strong
friendship for one and a dislike for the other, conse-
quently the Indian raids on the settlements were
against American citizens only, and no French family
was molested. During the different Indian wars in
the early settlement of Illinois the French traders and
hunters pursued their business unmolested, but if a
person was found among them speaking the English
language, although employed by the French traders,
he would be tomahawked as a common enemy.
AMERICAN PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
A number of persons who accompanied Colonel
Clark in his expedition against Illinois, being pleased
with the country, returned with their families a few
years afterward and became the first American pio-
neers of the territory. Most of these emigrants
were from Kentucky, and they made a settlement
northeast of Cahokia in what is now St. Clair and
Madison counties.
In the summer of 1785 the Kickapoo Indians,
headed by their old chief Pecan, commenced hostili-
EARLY GOVERNMENT OF ILLINOIS. 207
ties against the American settlers, for the purpose
of driving them out of the country. With the ex-
ception of a short interval this war continued for
ten years, and many of the early settlers were killed
or carried off captive by these savages. Among the
emigrants from Kentucky were three families of
Whitesides, who became noted Indian fighters, and
the history of these wars is filled with many of
their heroic acts and wild adventures.
The emigrants who located in or near the French
villages were not molested, as the war was carried
on against the Americans only. During the contin-
uation of this war no French family was molested,
and the traders continued to pass up and down the
Illinois River in the pursuit of their business the
same as in time of peace.
In 1786 the Indians made prisoners of two small
children belonging to Samuel Garrison, carried them
to their village on the Saline fork of Sangamon River,
where they were kept for about a year, but were
finally ransomed by Colonel N. Jarret, of Cahokia.
EARLY GOVERNMENT OF ILLINOIS.
From the early settlement of Illinois there was
no law in force but village ordinances till 1711, when
a patent was granted to Crozat, a Paris merchant,
for the purpose of governing the country. Captain
208 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
La Mott, an agent of Crozat, came to Illinois, acting
as governor, and extended civil jurisdiction over the
different colonies. Five years afterward a new
patent was granted to the Louisiana Mining Com-
pany, with George Law, a Scotch banker, as its head,
and for fourteen years this company governed the
country. The charter of this company having ex-
pired in 1732, the country reverted back to the
crown, and Colonel D. Artaguette appointed gov-
ernor. In 1765 the British took possession of Illi-
nois, by virtue of a treaty between France and Eng-
land made some time before. For a short time
Captain Stirling acted as governor, and was suc-
ceeded by different commanders, who enforced laws
contrary to the wishes of the French people. In
1778 Colonel Clark took possession of Illinois, and
it became a part of the State of Virginia. The same
year the territory was organized by extending over
it civil jurisdiction, and known as Illinois county,
Virginia. Colonel John Todd, of Kentucky, re-
ceived an appointment from the Governor of Vir-
ginia, as Lieutenant-Commandant, with power to en-
force laws, and governed the country for three years,
but while on a visit to Kentucky in 1782 was killed
at the battle of Blue Licks.
Virginia having relinquished her claim to Illinois
in 1784, an ordinance passed Congress transferring it
DISAPPEAKANCE OF BUFFALO. 209
to the general government, consequently it became
a part of the Northwest Territory, and was divided
into two counties, Randolph and St. Glair. In 1809 it
was set off into a separate territory, and Ninian Ed-
wards, of Kentucky, appointed governor. In 1812 it
assumed a second grade of territorial government,
with a legislature and a delegate in Congress. In
1818 Illinois became a state, and Shadrack Bond
elected the first governor.
DISAPPEARANCE OF BUFFALO.
The flesh of the buifalo furnished the Indians
with food, their skins with clothing, bedding, tents,
etc., their sinews for bows, the bones for ornaments,
and the hair they wove into a fine fabric for dress,
consequently the disappearance of these animals
from the country deprived them of many luxuries.
The exact time the buffalo left the country has been
a controverted point, but in comparing various ac-
counts it must have been between the years of 1780
and 1790. In 1778 Antonie Des Champs, a noted
Indian trader, came to Peoria with his parents, and
continued to live there until the town was burned.
He says for many years after he came west buffalo
were plenty throughout the country, and large herds
of them were frequently seen swimming the Illinois
River.
14
210 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
I have conversed with old Indians that were born
and raised in this part of the country, who said in
their youthful days they had seen large herds of buf-
falo on these prairies, but they all perished at the
time of a big snow which covered the ground many
feet in depth, and crusted so hard on top that
people walked on it. Next spring a few buffalo,
poor and haggard in appearance, were seen going
westward, and as they approached the carcasses of
dead ones, which were lying in great numbers here
and there on the prairie, they would stop, commence
pawing and lowing, then start oif again in a lope
westward, and from that time they were seldom seen
east of the Mississippi River.
Forty years ago buffalo bones were plenty on these
prairies and in many places acres of ground were cov-
ered with them, showing where large herds had per
ished. Skulls with horns still on them were fre-
quently found, and their trails leading to and from
watering-places were plain to be seen in the early
settlement of the country.
'EARLY HISTORY OF CHICAGO.
All that is known of the early history of Chicago,
or the place where the city now stands, is taken from
Indian tradition and scraps of the early explorer's
journal, neither of which is considered very reliable.
EARLY HISTORY OF CHICAGO. 211
It is said Father Nicollet, a French Jesuit priest,
preached to the Indians at the mouth of Chicago
River in 1640, and in all probability he was the first
white man that ever rowed a canoe on the waters of
Lake Michigan, or trod the soil of Illinois. In 16T1
Nicholas Barret visited this place, and two years
afterward Marquette and comrades stopped here.
According to tradition a Frenchman named Goris
built a trading-house on Chicago River and sur-
rounded it with palisades, called a fort, but the time
of building it is not known. In the early settlement
of Chicago relics of a fortification were found on the
north branch, a short distance above the forks of
the river. In General Wayne's treaty at Greenville,
in 1796 a purchase was made of the Indians, six
miles square, at the mouth of Chicago River, where
a fort once stood, is the language of the treaty.
About the year 1796 a negro named Jean Baptiste
built a cabin at the mouth of Chicago River and oc-
cupied it for a short time. This cabin was occupied
for some years by a French fur trader by the name
of Le Mai, who sold it to John Kirizie in 1804.
In the fall of 1803 Captain John "Whitler, with a
company of soldiers, came from Detroit in a schooner
and built Fort Dearborn. The next year John Kin-
zie, a fur trader, came to Chicago, and occupied
Baptiste's cabin on the north side of the river, op-
212 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
posite the fort. Antiona Oulmette, Charles Lee
and Mr. Claybourn came here soon after the fort was
built. Kinzie, Oulmette and Claybourn were en-
gaged in the fur trade, but Lee was a farmer, and
made a large farm at a grove of timber on the south
branch called "Lee's Place," afterward Bridgeport.
JEAN BAPTISTE AND FATHER BONNER
There lived near Lexington, Kentucky, a slave
named Jean Baptiste, who had been a captive among .
the Indians, learned their language, and became fas-
cinated with their free and easy manner of living
About the year 1790 Baptiste became dissatisfied
with restraint ; his proud spirit could not be sub-
dued by the whip of the master, therefore he severed
the bonds which made him a slave. Armed with
his master's rifle, a large hunting-knife, and taking
the north star for a guide, he became a free man.
After traveling a long way through a wild country
he came to an Indian village on the Des Plaines
River, where he found refuge, and became an Indian
in life and habit. Here he married a squaw and
raised a family of children. One of his grandsons
is now living in a hewed-log house on the bank of
Cahokia Creek, in St. Clair county, and from whom
I obtained the narrative relating to his distinguished
grandsire.
JEAN BAPTISTE AND FATHER BONNER. 213
The Indians used to say the first white man that
lived in Chicago was a negro. This negro was Jean
Baptiste, whose name is associated with the early
history of the great metropolis of the west. He left
the Indian village on the Des Plaines soon after
coming to the country, and built a cabin near the
lake on the north side of Chicago River. He culti-
vated a small piece of ground, spent much of his
time in hunting and fishing, and concocted schemes
to make himself a chief among the Indians. He told
the Indians that he had been a great chief among
the whites, and expected to become one among
them. He tried to induce liis Indian friends to
move their village to the mouth of Chicago River,
telling them it would be a big town some day, and
they could sell the land to white people at a good
price. His object was to have a village here on the
lake shore, of which he would be the founder, and
by that means become a chief. A few lodges were
built here, in accordance with Baptiste's wishes, but
the scattering trees afforded them but little protec-
tion from the cold winds off the lake, so they left
and returned to their old village on the Des Plaines.
At that time Father Bonner, a missionary, was
living among the Indians, and for many years had
preached to them. Baptiste, aware of the priest's
influence among the Indians, thought he might use
214 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
it to his own advantage, therefore he sought his
friendship and gained his confidence. He also
joined the church, became a zealous Catholic, at-
tended all meetings, and made long and fervent
prayers. Father Bonner thought only of making
Baptiste an instrument in his hands to promote the
cause of Christianity, while the unscrupulous negro
expected to use the priest in advancing his claims to
the chieftainship, therefore the two became intimate
friends and labored for each other's interest.
On St. Jerome's day a big meeting was held
among the Indian converts, and after preaching
Father Bonner told his hearers that it had been im-
pressed on his mind that Baptiste should be a ruler
among them, and went through the process of anoint-
ing him chief. The Indians refused to accept Bap-
tiste as their chief, notwithstanding he had been
appointed by high authority. Failing to be made a
chief Baptis*te became disgusted with the life of a
savage, abandoned his cabin, and went to Peoria,
where he ended his days.
CHAPTER XVIII.
EARLY FRENCH SETTLEMENT AT PEORIA.
A T what time the French commenced a settle-
J_~\. ment at Peoria has long been a controverted
point, on which both history and tradition are alike
defective. Some people believe it commenced' in
1680, when La Salle built Fort CK-ve-Coeur, and
from that time people continued to reside here. Oth-
ers date the permanent settlement in 1760, but from
old letters and manuscripts now in the possession of
the descendants of early pioneers it is evident that
it commenced at an early period. I have given this
subject much attention, by comparing scraps of his-
tory, extracts of letters from Jesuit priests, and con-
versing with the descendants of the early settlers,
some of whom trace their genealogy back to the time
of La Salle. By comparing all the different accounts
relating thereto, I think it is shown conclusively
that the settlement at Peoria commenced in the year
1711, and under the following circumstances :
In the summer of 1711 Father Marest, a Jesuit
priest from Canada, preached to the Indians at Ca-
st 5
216 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
hokia, and by the force of his eloquence many were
converted to Christianity. Among these converts
was a chief named Kolet, from Peoria Lake, who at
that time was visiting friends at Cahokia. This chief
prevailed on Father Marest to accompany him home
to his village and proclaim salvation to his people.
Late in November the priest and chief, accompanied
by two warriors, left for Peoria in a bark canoe, but
after a journey of ten leagues the river froze up, so
that further progress by water was out of the ques-
tion. The travelers hid their canoe, with most of
their baggage, in the thick timber at the mouth of
a creek, and continued their journey on foot. For
twelve days they waded through snow and water,
crossing big prairies, and through thick timber full of
briers and thorns. At night they slept on dry grass
or leaves gathered from under the snow, without
shelter or anything but their blankets to protect
them from the cold winter blasts. The provision
for their journey as well as their bedding was left
with the canoe, consequently they were obliged
to subsist on wild grapes, and game killed by the
way. After many days of fatigue and exposure, their
limbs frost-bitten, and their bodies reduced in flesh
by starvation, they at last reached the village, and
from its inhabitants received a hearty welcome.
This Indian village (afterward called by the
FRENCH SETTLEMENT AT PEORIA. 217
French Opa) was situated on the west bank of Peoria
Lake, one and a half miles above its outlet. On La-
Sal le's first visit to this place, thirty-one years be-
fore, he found h^re a large town, and «was cordially
received by the head chief, Niconape, but this chief
had long since been gathered to his fathers, and his
place occupied by Kolet, above referred to.
Father Marest found quarters in an Indian lodge,
and remained here at the village until spring with-
out meeting with any of his countrymen. He
preached to the Indians almost daily, many of whom
embraced Christianity,- and their names were after-
ward enrolled in the church book.
In the following spring, 1712, the French at
Fort St. Louis established a trading-post here at
Peoria Lake, and a number of families came thither
from Canada and built cabins in the Indian village.
For fifty years French and half-breeds continued to
live in the town with the Indians as one people, and
during that time peace and harmony prevailed be-
tween them. It is true Charlevoix while visiting
this country in 1721 says he found no one living at
Fort Creve-Cceur, which was five miles below this vil-
lage, but met with his countrymen at different places
along the Illinois River.
In 1723 the Royal Louisiana Company granted to
Philip Renault a tract of land fifteen leagues square,
218 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
near the village of Peoria. This grant was bounded
as follows : Commencing at the town of Peoria, run-
ning down the river fifteen leagues, west fifteen
leagues, thence north fifteen leagues, and east to the
place of beginning. This land grant, equal to three
counties, was considered of no value at the time,
an i the claim was not enforced by the heirs of Ren-
ault, like the other two grants near Fort Chartres,
consequently it reverted back to the crown.
Here at the village of Peoria Father Senat built a
chapel, and made many converts among his red
brethren. The time this chapel was built is un-
known, but must have been previous to 1T36, for in
that year he was burned at the stake by the Chicka-
saw Indians in lower Louisiana.
In the course of time the village of Peoria was
abandoned for one which figured in after years more
extensively, and known in history as La Ville de
Maillet.
LA VILLE DE MAILLET.
In the spring of 1761 Robert Maillet, a trader at
Peoria, built a dwelling one and a half miles below
the town, near the outlet of the lake, and moved his
family thither. Here the land raised gradually from
the water's edge until it reached the high prairie in
the rear, forming a beautiful sloping plateau, proba-
bly unequaled by any place on the Illinois River.
LA VILLE DE MAILLET. 219
This location for a town was considered preferable
to the old one, the land dryer, the water better, and
thought to be more healthy, consequently others
built houses by the side of Maillet's, and it soon be-
came quite a village. A short time afterward the
inhabitants deserted the old town for the new, and
no Frenchman remained in the old village after 1770,
but it was occupied by Indians for many years. The
houses vacated by the French were occupied by In-
dians until they rotted down, and the remains of an
old chapel could be seen here long after the dwell-
ings had disappeared.
This new town took the name of La Ville de
Maillet (that is, the city of Maillet) after its founder,
and it was in existence fifty-one years. A fort was
built here consisting of two block houses surrounded
by earthworks and palisades, with an open gateway
to the south, next to the town, and was only in-
tended as a place of retreat in case of trouble with
the Indians. This fort was never occupied, except a
short time by Robert Maillet, who used one of the
block houses for a dwelling and the other for the
sale of goods. Some years afterward Maillet left
the fort for a more desirable place of residence and
trade, and it remained vacant for many years; the
inclosure within the stockades being used by the citi-
zens in common for a cow-yard.
220 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
In 1820 Hypolite Maillet, in his sworn testimony
before Edward Cole, register of the land-office at
Edwardsville, in relation to French claims, said that
he was forty-five years old, and born in a stockade
fort which stood near the southern extremity of
Peoria Lake. In the winter of 1788 a party of In-
dians came to Peoria to trade, and, in accordance
with their former practice, took quarters in the fort,
but getting on a drunken spree they burned it down.
In the spring of 1819, when Americans commenced
asettlement here at Peoria, the outlines of the old
French fort were plain to be seen on the high ground
near the lake, and a short distance above the present
site of the Chicago and Rock Island depot. The
line of earthworks could be traced out by the small
embankments, and in some places pieces of pickets
were found above ground. Back of the fort was the
remains of a blacksmith shop, and near it grew up
a wild plum tree. This plum tree was dug up by
John Brisket, the owner of the land, and under it
was found a vault containing a quantity of old metal,
among which were a number of gun barrels, knives,
tomahawks, copper and brass trinkets, etc. Among
other things found in the vault were pieces of silver
and brass plate for inlaying gun stocks and orna-
menting knife handles. These things appeared to
LA VILLE DE MAILLET. 221
have been the stock-in-trade of a gun-smith, and, for
some cause unknown, buried here.*
According to the statements of Antoine Des
Champs, Thomas Forsyth, and others, who had long
been residents of Peoria previous to its destruction in
1812, we infer that the town contained a large popu-
lation. It formed a connecting link between the
settlements on the Mississippi and Canada, and be-
ing situated in the midst of an Indian country, caused
it to be a line place for the fur trade. The town was
built along the beach of the lake, and to each house
was attached an outlet for a garden, which extended
back on the prairie. The houses were all constructed
of wood, one story high, with porches on two sides,
and located in a garden surrounded with fruit and
flowers. Some of the dwellings were built of hewed
timbers set upright, and the space between the posts
filled in with stone and mortar, while others were
built of hewed logs notched together after the style
of a pioneer's cabin. The floors were laid with pun-
cheons, and the chimney built with mud and sticks.
When Colonel Clark took possession of Illinois
in 1778 he sent three soldiers, accompanied by two
Frenchmen, in a canoe to Peoria to notify the people
that they were no longer under British rule but citi-
zens of the United States. Among these soldiers
*Ballance's history of Peoria.
222 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
was a man named Nicholas Smith, a resident of
Bourbon county, Kentucky, and whose son, Joseph
Smith (Dod Joe), was among the first American set-
tlers of Peoria. Through this channel we have an
account of Peoria as it appeared a century ago, and
it agrees well with other traditional accounts.
Mr. Smith said Peoria at the time of his visit was
a large town, built along the beach of the lake, with
narrow, unpaved streets, and houses constructed of
wood. Back of the town were gardens, stock-yards,
barns, etc., and among these was a wine-press, with
a large cellar or under-ground vault for storing wine.
There was a church with a large wooden cross raised
above the roof, and with gilt lettering over the door.
There was an unoccupied fort on the bank of the
lake, and close by it a wind-mill for grinding grain.
The town contained six stores or places of trade, all
of which were well filled with goods for the Indian
market. The inhabitants consisted of French, half-
breeds and Indians, not one of whom could under-
stand or speak English.
•
FRENCH INHABITANTS OF PEORIA.
The inhabitants of Peoria consisted principally of
French emigrants from Canada, many of whom
were traders, hunters, voyageurs or boatmen. From
that happy faculty of adapting themselves to their
FRENCH INHABITANTS OF PEORIA. 223
situation for which the French people are so remark-
able they lived in harmony with their savage neigh-
bors for three succeeding generations. Being far
away from all other civilized communities they made
friends and associates of the natives, and intermar-
ried with them, consequently their prosperity at the
present time shows strong marks of Indian lineage.
The traders were men of education and energy, but
the masses being illiterate, possessed but little prop-
erty, and less enterprise, enjoying the present with-
out regard to the future. They were a contented,
happy people, never troubling themselves with the
affairs of government, nor indulging in political
strifes, but cheerfully obeying the priests and king's
officer. They lived in a fruitful country, which
abounded in game, where the necessaries of life
could be obtained with but little labor, and having
no tax or tribute to pay to the government they be-
came indolent and spent much of their time in idle-
ness.
Those engaged in merchandising turned their at-
tention almost exclusively to the traffic with the
Indians, adapting themselves to their customs and
habits, and many of them seeking alliance in mar-
riage. The boatmen were active and sprightly. With
all the vivacity of the French character they had but
little of the intemperance and brutal coarseness usu-
224 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
ally found among boatmen and marines. Their boats
were small, many of them bark canoes, and with
skill these light crafts were run up swift currents,
while the toil of the oarsmen was enlivened with
songs and demonstrations of mirth. As hunters
they roamed over the wide plains of the west to the
Rocky Mountains, sharing the hospitality of the na-
tives, abiding with them for a long time, and in some
cases permanently.
The French citizens of Peoria were a quiet, peace-
able people, ignorant and superstitious, and much
influenced by the. priests. Having no public schools
but few of them except the priests and merchants
could read or write, bttt in manners, conversation
and refinement they compared well with educated
people. Out of eighteen claimants for the land
where the city of Peoria now stands all but three
signed their names with a mark, and it is said not a.
woman among them could read or write.
Among the inhabitants of Peoria were merchants
or traders who made annual trips to Canada in
canoes, carrying thither pelts and furs, and loaded
back with goods for the Indian market. They were
blacksmiths, wagon-makers, carpenters, shoemakers,
etc., and most of the implements used in farming
were of home manufacture. Although isolated from
the civilized world, and surrounded by savages, their
FRENCH COSTUMES AND MANNERS. 225
standard of morality was high ; theft, robbery or
murder were seldom heard of. They were a gay,
happy people, having many social parties, wine sup-
pers, balls and public festivals. They lived in har-
mony with the Indians, who were their neighbors
and friends, adopting in part their customs, and in
trade with them accumulated most of their wealth.
FRENCH COSTUMES AND MANNERS.
The dress of both men and women was very
plain, made of coarse material, and the style of their
wardrobe was partly European and partly Indian.
The men seldom wore a hat, cap or coat, their heads
being covered with a cotton handkerchief, folded on
the crown like a night-cap or an Arabian turban.
Instead of a coat they wore a loose blanket garment
called capote, with a cap of the same material hang-
ing down at the back of the neck, which could be
drawn over the head as a protection from rain or
cold. The women wore loose dresses, made mostly
of coarse material, their heads covered with a hood
or blanket, and their long hair hanging down their
back like an Indian squaw. But these women were
noted for sprightriness in conversation, with grace
and elegance of manners, and notwithstanding the
plainness of their dress many of them were not. lack-
ing in personal charms.
12
226 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
Although long since separated from civilized
society they retain much of the refinement and
politeness so common to their race ; and it is a
remarkable fact that the roughest hunter or boats-
man among them could appear in a ball-room or
at a gay party with the ease and grace of a well-
bred gentleman.
The French people at Peoria being isolated from
civilization were free from many of its vices, and
appeared to be perfectly contented with their manner
of living. According to the statements of their nu-
merous descendants they lived a life of alternate toil
and pleasure, with much gayety and innocent amuse-
ments, and were a contented, happy people.
FRENCH LAND CLAIMS.
The French settled at Peoria without a grant or
permission from any government, and the title to
the land was derived from possession only. But
these titles were valid according to usage, as well as
by a village ordinance, and lands were bought and
sold the same as if patented by government. Each
person had a right to claim any portion of the unoc-
cupied land, and when in possession his title was
regarded perfect, and could be bought and sold the
same as other real estate. Each citizen had a vil-
large lot for a garden attached to his residence, and
FEENCH LAND CLAIMS. 227
if a farmer a portion of the common field. On the
prairie west of the town were extensive farms all en-
closed in one field, each person contributing his
share of fencing, and the time of securing the crop
and pasturing the stocks was regulated by a town or-
dinance. The boundaries of these farms could be
traced out in the early settlement at Peoria, and a
large tract of land lying between the river and bluff
showed marks of having been cultivated.
When the French settlement commenced at
Peoria the country belonged to France, afterward to
Great Britain, and lastly to the United States, but
these changes did not effect the people in any way.
"When Illinois came under the British rule, in 1765,
Captain Stirling, commanding, at Fort Chartres, sent
messengers to Peoria to notify the people that they
were British subjects. In 1778, when' Illinois came
under United States authority, they were again noti-
fied of the change in the government, but they still
remained French in feeling and sympathy. They
claimed no allegiance to any government, acknowl-
edged no law except their own village ordinance,
and paid no tax to any power. While these people
were living in peace and harmony (as they believed),
with all the world, being separated nearly two hun-
dred miles from civilization, they were attacked by
an armed force, their dwellings burned, and all the
228 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
heads of families carried off prisoners of war, as will
be narrated in the succeeding chapter.
In 1820 eighteen persons, heads of families, filed
papers in Edwardsville land office, claiming the land
on which the city of Peoria now stands. The depo-
sitions were taken by the register, Edward Coles,
afterward Governor of Illinois, and all the testimony
relating to their claims is now on file among the
state papers. Coles was a man of an inquiring turn
of mind, fond of antique history, and made a full re-
port of the testimony to the land department. For
many 'years the claimants prosecuted their case in
the different courts, and at last succeeded in getting
a large amount of money from the occupants of the
land.
CHAPTEK XIX.
PIERRE DE BEURO, AN INDIAN TRADER.
IN the year 1776 a young Frenchman named
Pierre de Beuro, of Cahokia, came to Peoria, and
for a time clerked in a trading-house. Being of an
enterprising turn of mind, and understanding the
Indian language, he concluded to visit chiefs whose
acquaintance he formed while at Peoria. While on
these visits he married a daughter of a noted chief,
who had a village near the mouth of Fox River, and
concluded to establish a trading-post in the midst of
the Indian country. After getting a promise of pat-
ronage of all the neighboring villages he went to
Cahokia, to make the necessary arrangements to go
into business.
Below the mouth of Bureau Creek is an elevated
piece of land, covered with timber, and known as
Hickory Ridge. This place became a noted land-
mark among the French and Indians, and lias been
the scene of a number of traditionary incidents. It
also became a place of note in the early settlement
230 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
of the country, and during liigh water a landing for
the Hennepin ierry-boat. Here on this ridge, ele-
vated abovet the floods of the river, De Beuro built a
double log-cabin, and laid the foundation of a large
fur trade. Being patronized by all the surrounding
village he had a large trade, sending his furs to Ca-
hokia and receiving goods in return. Antoine des
Champs said that every spring for a number of years
canoes loaded with furs and buffalo robes passed
Peoria from this trading-house. The traders at
Peoria became unfriendly toward De Beuro, as he
injured their business, and offered to buy him out,
but he refused to sell to them.
In the spring of 1790 De Beuro, according to cus-
tom, sent three canoes loaded with furs to Cahokia,
in charge of his clerk and two Indians. The trader
accompanied the canoes down the river about twenty
miles to an Indian village, and from here left for
home on foot, but never reached it. Search being
made for the missing trader, his remains were found
some days afterward, where he had been murdered
and partly devoured by wolves. Report says a
trader at Peoria, whose descendants are now living
near East St. Louis, employed a half-breed to assas-
sinate De Beuro, and thereby break up the rival
trading-post. A large number of warriors went to
Peoria and demanded the supposed murderer, threat-
TECUMSEH AT PEORIA. 281
ening to burn the town if not given up, but on being
convinced that the murderer had fled they left for
their homes. •
When the clerk learned that De Beuro was dead
he appropriated the proceeds of the furs to his own
account, and his wife put the goods in canoes and
took them to her father's village.*
TECUMSEH AT PEORIA.
Tecumseh after meeting General Harrison in
council at Vincennes, in August, 1810, came west for
the purpose of enlisting the different tribes in a war
against the frontier settlements. Pie made an ex-
tensive tour in the western country, going as far
north as Green Bay, and south through Missouri and
Arkansas, and in the following year traveled among
the Creeks and Chickasaws in the southern states.
While traveling through the country he visited
Peoria, and was the guest of Francis Racine, an old
acquaintance of his, who had traded with his band
on the Wabash for many years. Tecumseh was ac-
companied by three chiefs, all dressed in white buck-
skin, with eagle feathers in their head-dress, and
mounted on spirited black ponies. The visitors
made a short stay at Peoria. On learning that the
* A few years ago David Miller cut the timber off Hickory Ridge, and put
the land under cultivation. Where De Beuro's trading-house stood many
relics of civilization, such as pieces of dishes, glass-ware, etc., were plowed up
in cultivating the ground.
232 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
French disapproved of their plans, and not wishing
to offend them, they left without having a talk with
the Indians who were encamped near.the town. At
Gomo's village the travelers were met by a large
number of warriors, many of whom had come from
neighboring villages to listen to Tecumseh's stirring
eloquence in behalf of his great scheme of uniting
all the tribes of the west and driving the palefaces
out of the country.
Gomo, Black Partridge, Senachwine and Comas
were visited by Tecumseh and his friends, but they
all refused to accede to his plans, preferring to re-
main at peace.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS.
In the summer of 1810 a party of Indians belong-
ing on the Illinois River stole a number of horses
from the settlers, who pursued the thieves for two
days. At night while the settlers were asleep around
a camp-fire the Indians returned and fired on them,
killing three and wounding two others. The author-
ities made a demand on the Indians for these mur-
derers, but no attention was paid to it. In the fol-
lowing summer Governor Edwards sent Captain
Samuel Levering, with a company of men, in a keel-
boat to Peoria with instructions to make a formal
demand of the Indians for a surrender of these mur-
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS. 233
derers. Captain Levering and his comrades were
French (some of them half-breeds), understanding
the Indian language, and between whom a friendly
relation existed, even in the time of war. On aniv-
ing at Peoria the visitors were cordially received by
both French and Indians, who prepared a feast for
them, with a ball in the evening. Some of the
guests were fascinated with Indian maidens, two of
whom took wives home with them.
Joseph Trotier, of Cahokia, accompanied by two
half-breeds, ascended the river in a canoe to the
great bend, stopping at all the Indian villages on
their route, and from the chiefs and warriors re-
ceived many pledges of peace and friendship. This
party visited the village of Wappa, on Bureau Creek,
and the head chief, Comas, sent as a present to Gov-
ernor Edwards a large pair of elk horns, also a pair
of dressed bear and'panther'skins, all of which were
taken with his own hands. Trotier made arrange-
ments with the chiefs and principal warriors to meet
in council at Peoria on the following week and hear
the message sent them by the governor read.
At the time appointed the Indians came to Peoria,
heard the governor's message read, and a speech
made to them by Captain Levering. The message
and speech was replied to by talks from a number of
chiefs, in which they pledged themselves to use all
234 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
proper means to capture the murderers and deliver
them up to the authorities for punishment. Captain
Levering after performing his mission, with his com-
rades, returned to the settlement, carrying thither
many presents from the chiefs to Governor Edwards,
together with their pledges of friendship and good
will.
Captain Levering while at Peoria delivered a
commission, signed by the governor, to Thomas For-
syth as justice of the peace, also one to John Bap-
tiste Dufond as captain of militia. These commis-
sions bear date August 8, 1811, and both of these
papers are now in the hands of descendants of the
parties.
General William Clark, of St. Louis, was general
Indian agent for the western country, but Governor
Edwards acted also as sub-agent within the territory
of Illinois.
INDIAN COUNCIL AT CAHOKIA.
During the winter of 1811 and 1812 the Indians
on the Illinois River heard through a half-breed who
carne from the settlement that preparations were
being made to send an army against them in the
spring unless the murderers were given up. On
learning of these facts they became very much
alarmed, and some of the chiefs went to Peoria to
INDIAN COUNCIL AT CAHOKIA. 235
consult with their friends, and procure their assist-
ance in averting the evil which threatened them.
In their behalf Captain Maillet consented to go and
see the governor, and inform him that the murderers
had fled from the country and could not be delivered
up, but the Indians proposed to furnish a like num-
ber of young braves to be executed in their stead.
On arriving at Kaskaskia Captain Maillet laid
the case before the governor, who authorized him
to assure the chiefs that the matter of peace or war
depended entirely upon their own acts.
In the following March Governor Edwards sent
Captain Hebert on a mission among these Indians,
requesting them to meet him in council at Cahokia.
Captain Hebert was also instructed to notify all the
traders at Peoria to close their stores, — giving up
all trade with the Indians until this trouble was set-
tled. The traders were informed unless they com-
plied with the governor's demands they need not
expect any indulgence from the government in case
of war, but they paid no attention to this order.
Captain Hebert collected many of the principal
chiefs and brought them with him to Cahokia, where
the governor by agreement met them in council.
This council was held on the 16th of April, 1812, in
a little grove of timber on the bank of Cahokia Creek,
above the town, and ai tended by a large number of
236 PIONEEES OF ILLINOIS.
citizens.* Speeches were made by different chiefs
in reply to the governor's address, and with new
pledges of friendship the Indians were dismissed
with many presents. After this council for a time
confidence between the white and red man appeared
to have been restored, but this was of short dura-
tion. An evil-disposed person circulated false re-
ports about the Indians making preparations for war,
and the settlers were very much alarmed.
In reading the many letters written by Governor
Edwards to the secretary of war a person would be-
lieve that war with the Indians was inevitable, but
the facts in the case do not warrant this conclusion.
During the summer of 1812 forts were built, militia
kept under arms, and the general government called
on for troops to defend the territory. Rumors were
circulated that a large body of Indian warriors were
collected near Peoria, armed, and painted for war,
and it was believed that they intended to descend
the river in canoes to make a raid on the settlement.
* While on a recent visit to Cahokia the place where this council assembled
was pointed out to me by an old man who attended it. Although a boy of
only twelve years of age at that time he recollects the appearance of tome of the
chiefs, and. understanding the Indian language, can repeat parts of their
speeches. Gomo, Senachwine and Black Partridge were the principal orators,
and their eloquence and commanding appearance made a lasting impression
upon his then youthful mind.
In this grove where the council was held is an old burr-oak tree by the
creek bank which marks the spot where a number of incidents occurred in
early times. At the root of this tree, tradition says. Pontiac (or the Indian
who passed for such) was sitting when a drunken Indian came up behind him
and split his head open with his tomahawk.
INDIAN COUNCIL AT CAHOKIA. 237
To prevent a surprise from these savages Captain
Whitesides, with a company of volunteers, in a heavy
planked gunboat, lay for three months above the
mouth of the Illinois River to prevent the Indians
from descending it to attack the settlements. While
these preparations for war were continued by the
authorities of the territory the Indians were quietly
pursuing their hunting, making no provision for
either an attack or defense, and when troops marched
against them they were taken by surprise.
From what is now known of these affairs it ap-
pears evident that Governor Edward.s was imposed
upon by unscrupulous men, who made false reports
with regard to the Indians. The governor employed
a man named John Hays to examine into Indian af-
fairs to ascertain the number of bands, the name and
location of villages, with their inhabitants, etc.
These reports made by Hays were false in almost
every particular, and, to make the matter worse, the
governor copied these reports in his letters to the
secretary of war, and therefore became a part of the
state papers. While Governor Edwards was a man
of ability, and made a good executive officer, so far
as relates to his duties as governor of the territory,
yet as an Indian agent he proved himself a failure,
having become the dupe of designing men. I have
talked with many of the French residents of Peoria
238 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
and their descendants, also with Indians who were
born and raised in villages along the Illinois River,
and know whereof I write.
ILLINOIS TERRITORY AT THE TIME OF THE
BRITISH WAR.
At the commencement of the late British war
there was within the limits of the Illinois territory
less than twelve thousand people, a large portion of
whom were native French citizens and emigrants
from Kentucky. The settlement extended along the
Mississippi River for about sixty miles, from the
mouth of Kaskaskia River to a station opposite Col-
umbia, eight miles below Alton. There was a set-
tlement on the Ohio River at Shawneetown, also one
at Saline, or United States Salt Works, protected by
a rude fortification and a few soldiers. The extreme
south part of this state was an unbroken wilderness,
a hunting-ground for Indians, while the central and
northern portion belonged to the natives. With the
exception of the country along the Illinois River,
and shores of Lake Michigan, the prairies of this
state had never been explored by white people to
any great extent.
There were but two counties organized, Randolph
and St. Glair, and all the country in the northern
portion of the state, including Wisconsin, was under
A FALSE REPORT CIRCULATED. 23D
the jurisdiction of the latter. Summonses and writs
were issued from the circuit court at Cahokia, the
seat of justice for St. Clair county, against persons
at Prairie du Chien, and in one case property was
sold there under an execution issued from that court.
The citizens of Peoria, however, would not admit
that they were under the jurisdiction of St. Clair
county, claiming to be free and independent of all
foreign power, and the sheriff could not enforce de-
mands against them.
A FALSE REPORT CIRCULATED.
In the summer of 1812 a vagabond named Elijah
Bruce, having committed a lawless act, was driven
from Peoria, and found a refuge at Kaskaskia.
Bruce had been a resident of Peoria for a number of
years, acquainted with all its principal citizens, and,
to retaliate on his enemies for driving him away,
circulated an evil report about them. He said the
French at Peoria were assisting the Indians to make
war on the settlements, that two military men were
engaged in teaching them war tactics, and preparing
them to take the field. He also said the British in
Canada had furnished the traders witli rifles, powder,
tomahawks, knives etc., which were distributed
among the Indians free of charge ; that Captain J. B.
Maillot had stolen cattle from Wood River settle-
240 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
ment to feed warriors who were collected at Gomo's
village. He further said the day before he left
Peoria Francis Racine, a trader, came through from
the Sac village on the Mississippi with five pack-
horses loaded with lead to supply the warriors.
Bruce w.as an Irishman by birth, a man of educa-
tion and general intelligence, a good talker, and his
story was believed by people generally. But it was
afterward proven that these stories were false in
every particular, and without any foundation in fact
so far as assisting the Indians in making war on the
settlement is concerned. It is true the traders at
Peoria for many years had been in the habit of
bringing from Canada various kinds of goods, includ-
ing arms, to supply the Indian market, and also
packed lead on horses from the Sac village, but this
was done in accordance with their legitimate trade.
The story about Captain Maillet stealing cattle orig-
inated from the fact of his bringing a stray drove back
to Peoria that had wandered away down south. The
cattle being crossed with buffalo were inclined to
ramble, and during the hard winter a herd belong-
ing to the people of Peoria strayed off southward.
In the spring these cattle were found on Mackinaw
River by Captain Maillet, and driven back to Peoria, as
previously stated. Instead of Captain Maillet being
a cattle thief, as alleged by the vagabond Bruce, at
A FALSE REPORT CIRCULATED. 241
the close of the war he was rewarded by an act of
Congress for his loyalty to the government.
The evil reports circulated by Bruce are said to
have been confirmed by another person from Peoria,
and by this means a great panic was created among
the frontier settlers. Some of them fled from the
country, while others abandoned farm labor, and be-
gan building forts to protect themselves from threat-
ened hostilities. Governor Edwards believed these
rumors, as may be inferred by his letter to the secre-
tary of war, dated August 4, 1812, in which he says :
"No troops have arrived in the territory yet, and I
think you may count on hearing of a bloody strike on
us soon. I have been extremely reluctant to send
my family away, but unless assistance comes soon I
shall bury my papers in the ground, send off my
family, and stand my ground as long as possible."
The inhabitants of Peoria claimed to be foreign-
ers, owing no allegiance to the government, but by
a treaty between France and this country, made
some years before, all French residents of Illinois
became citizens of the United States, and to assist
the Indians in making war on the settlers was trea-
son. Governor Edwards, believing the common
reports, issued a proclamation calling for volunteers
to march against the Indians along the Illinois River,
and their allies, the treacherous French at Peoria.
16
CHAPTER XX.
BLACK PARTRIDGE, A NOTED INDIAN CHIEF.
noted chief, whose Indian name was Muck-
-L oteypokee, had a village at the foot of the
bluff on the south side of the Illinois River opposite
the head of Peoria Lake. Here he lived and here
he died, and in the early settlement of that section
of the country his grave was pointed out to strangers.
Persons are now living who knew this chief very
well, and from whom I obtained a description of his
person, and many incidents relating to his life and
character.
Black Partridge was tall and slim, with a high
forehead, a large nose, a sharp visage, and piercing
black eyes. His appearance was fine, his form
'erect, and his figure commanding, so a stranger
could see at a glance that he was no ordinarj7- Indian.
The long, coarse hair, once as black as a raven, but of
later years mixed with gray, hung in matted clusters
around his shoulders. On his breast he wore a sil-
ver medal on which was stamped a medallion head
THE FIRST TIDINGS OF WAR. 243
of General Washington, and in his nose and ears
wore large gold rings.
In the border wars of the west Black Partridge
took a part, and with his braves fought against the
whites. In 1795 he attended and signed the treaty
at Greenville, and received from the hand of Gen-
eral Wayne the medal referred to. This medal
as an insignia of peace and friendship was carried
ajbout his person for seventeen years, and he sur-
rendered it to Captain Heald, commander of Fort
Dearborn, on the evening of August 14, 1812, the
day before the troops were massacred, as will be
hereafter narrated.
INDIANS RECEIVING THE FIRST TIDINGS OF WAR.
In the summer of 1812 emissaries from the Wa-
bash, said to have been sent by Tecumseh, visited
the villages along the Illinois River, bringing with
them the startling intelligence that war had been
declared between England and the United States.
These emissaries explained to the chiefs and war-
riors who had met in council at Gomo's village that
the British offered a large amount of gold to each
warrior that joined their standard. They also
pointed out to them the great importance of captur-
ing Fort Dearborn before the troops garrisoned there
obtained intelligence of the declaration of war. The
244 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
war-whoop was raised by many of the young braves
belonging to different villages, and on the next day
they left for Chicago with the intention of attacking
the fort. Black Partridge having failed in prevent-
ing these young bloods from going to Chicago
mounted his pony and followed them.
On arriving at Chicago Black Partridge went to
see his old friend John Kinzie, and after a cordial
greeting he said to him, "My heart is sad; evil
muses have been singing in my ears all day long, —
telling me the friendship which for many years has
existed between us is about to be severed." For a
number of years the old chief had been acquainted
with John Kinzie and his family, having been a fre-
quent guest at his house, ate at his table, and trotted
the little ones on his knee. Believing that his
friends were about to be slain filled his heart with
sadness, and while expressing his fears he could not
restrain his emotions, but frequently gave way to
floods of tears.
On the day before the evacuation of Fort Dear-
born the chiefs and principal warriors met in coun-
cil, and at this council it was decided to massacre
the troops on leaving the fort. In this council the
voice of Black Partridge was heard for peace, but the
war policy prevailed, and with a sorrowful heart
this true friend of the whites returned to his camp,
MKS. HELM'S LIFE SAVED. 245
knowing that the morrow would be a day of blood
and carnage.
On the evening before the Chicago massacre
Black Partridge entered the quarters of Captain
Heald, the commanding ojficer of Fort Dearborn,
and, after a friendly greeting, said to him, " I have
come here to deliver up to you this medal which
was given to me by General Wayne as a token of
friendship. For many years I have worn this medal
on my breast, and it is with a sorrowful heart I now
part with it, but our young braves are resolved on
imbruing their hands in human blood. I cannot
restrain them, and I will not wear an emblem of
friendship while I am compelled to act as an en-
emy."
MRS. HELM'S LIFE SAVED BY BLACK PARTRIDGE.
In Mrs. Kinzie's account of the Chicago massacre
an incident is related of Black Partridge saving the
life of Mrs. Helm, wife of Lieutenant Helm, and step-
daughter of John Kinzie. This story equals, if not
surpasses, the most extravagant nights of romance,
but its truth is confirmed by a person now living,
Mrs. Besson, who was present at the time, and from
whom I obtained in part the following narrative:
On the morning of the 15th of August, 1812, the
sun rose with unusual splendor, and its golden rays
246 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
reflected from the smooth waters of Lake Michigan,
but many of the inmates of Fort Dearborn who
looked upon this enchanting scenery did not live to
see it set beneath the western horizon. At nine
o'clock in the morning the troops left the fort, march-
ing in military array, with martial music, and flags
waving in the morning breeze. Captain Wells, hav-
ing his face blackened after the manner of the In-
dians, with his Miami warriors mounted on ponies,
led the van. The troops on foot followed, and next
to them were the baggage wagons, containing the
sick, with women and children, while the Pottawa-
tomies, five hundred in number, followed in the
rear. This caravan took the road along the beach ^
of the lake, for about a mile and a half, to a range of
sand knolls.* Here the Indians left the road and
took to the prairie, when Captain Wells, with his
horse on a gallop, came back and told the troops to
form for battle, as they were about to be attacked.
Soon the battle commenced, the soldiers defending
themselves bravely, selling their lives as dearly as
possible, but many of them fell by the overpowering
enemy. Mrs. Helm, at that time only seventeen
years of age, having been thrown from her horse at
the commencement of the battle stood spell-bound
* This range of sand knolls was where Twelfth street strikes the lake, and
was a noted landmark forty years ago, but has been graded down in making
the street.
MRS. HELM'S LIFE SAVED. 247
looking on at the scene of blood and carnage around ,
her. Her father and husband were engaged in the
fearful strife, and she expected every moment to see
them fall by the hand of murderous savages. As
she stood awaiting her own fate a warrior with an
uplifted tomahawk approached her, but dodging to
one side the blow intended for the head took eifect
on the shoulder, producing a ghastly wound. She
caught the savage around the neck and tried to get
possession of his scalping-knife, which hung in a
scabbard on his breast, but he threw her to one side,
and was about to use his tomahawk on her head
when she was caught in the arms of another Indian,
.who bore her off struggling into the lake. Here she
was plunged under water, but her head frequently
raised, so she soon discovered that the Indian did
not intend to drown her. On looking into the face
of the captor, although disguised with paint, she
recognized Black Partridge, the well-known, trusty
friend of her father's family. When the battle was
over her protector conveyed his charge to the Indian
camp and delivered her over to a friendly squaw,
who dressed her wounds.
The night after the massacre a large body of hos-
tile savages surrounded John Kinzie's dwelling with
the intention of murdering the inmates, but by the
timely interference of Black Partridge, assisted by
248 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
Shaubona and Sauganash, the would-be murderers
were prevailed on to leave the house without ac-
complishing their bloody purposes, and thereby the
lives of the family were saved. *
EMISSARIES FROM TECUMSEH.
About the first of October, 1812, two emissaries
from Tecumseh, one of whom was a half-breed and
the other a petty chief, came to Peoria for the pur-
pose of enlisting warriors to take part in the impend-
ing conflict. A large body of Indians were encamped
by the town, and they made an effort to induce the
warriors to become allies of Tecumseh, and make
war on the frontier settlements. They carried with
them a quantity of worthless trinkets which they
offered to those who would enlist, with a promise of
a large amount of British gold on reaching the
Wabash. Some of the young braves were in favor of
going to war, also a few worthless half-breeds, who
were too lazy to either work or hunt, imbibed the
war spirit.
When the true mission of these visitors was made
known to the citizens of Peoria they became very
indignant, and decided to drive them out of town.
Thomas Forsyth, Captain Maillet, with others, went
to these emissaries and notified them to leave town
* Memories of Shaubona, page 23.
UNJUST RETRIBUTION. 249
immediately, and if found there next day they would
be arrested and put in prison. On being notified to
leave, the recruiting party departed for other fields of
labor, and the war spirit engendered by them soon
died out.
These emissaries visited the homes of Gomo,
Black Partridge, and other villages along the river,
but met with no success. A messenger was sent
from Peoria by Thomas Forsyth to all the neighbor-
ing villages, notifying the warriors' of the intrigues
of these visitors, and by this means their mission
proved a failure.
UNJUST RETRIBUTION.
When emissaries sent by Tecumseh visited the
different villages along the Illinois River, soliciting
the chiefs to take part in the war, not one of them
would have anything to do with it. Gomo and
Black Partridge drove these agents, who were trying
to enlist young warriors, away from their villages,
and threatened them with death if they returned
again. It is true some of the young braves took
part in the Chicago massacre a few months before,
but this was done contrary to the wish and command
of the chiefs. The Indians having refused to take
part in the war considered themselves at peace with
all the world, and continued in their usual manner
250 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
of living, spending their time in hunting, fishing, and
with various kinds of amusements. While thus en-
gaged in their daily avocations, unconscious of dan-
ger, an armed force was sent against them, as alleged,
in retribution for past offenses.
In October, 1812, an army of two thousand Ken-
t'ucky volunteers, commanded by General Hopkins,
marched from Fort Harrison, on the Wabash, for
the purpose of attacking the Indians along the Illi-
nois River. This army, after two days' march, be-
came frightened on seeing the prairie on fire, the
soldiers mutinied, and refused to go further through
a country full of fire and Indians, consequently they
returned 'to Fort Harrison. About this time Gov-
ernor Edwards with four hundred mounted rangers,
commanded by Colonel Russell, marched to Peoria
Lake, with the intention of joining Hopkins' army,
but failing to find the army in the enemy's country,
as they, expected, they attacked and destroyed Black
Partridge's village, killing about thirty Indians with-
out losing a man. After burning the village the
rangers with all haste returned to the settlement, as
they were in an Indian country where a lar^e num-
ber of warriors could be raised on short notice.
BLACK PARTRIDGE'S VILLAGE DESTROYED. 251
DESTRUCTION OF BLACK PARTRIDGE'S VILLAGE.
The following account of destroying Black Par-
tridge's village is compiled from statement made to
me many years ago by the " Old Ranger, " General
Samuel Whitesides, who was captain of a company
in Governor Edwards' army, and well acquainted
with all the facts.
The army, piloted by a half-breed, followed
along the east side of Peoria Lake through the thick
timber until they came within four miles of the vil-
lage, and without a fire encamped here for the night.
Early next morning Governor Edwards sent forward
four young men, Thomas Carlin, afterward Governor
of Illinois, with three of the Whitesides, for the pur-
pose of reconnoitering, and this party found every-
thing quiet at the Indian village. On the return of
the scouts the troops were ordered forward in all
haste to attack the enemy before they became aware
of their presence, Captain Judy's company of spies
leading the van, and having proceeded but a short
distance when they suddenly came upon two Indi-
ans on horseback who raised their hands in token of
submission. Captain Judy brought his rifle to his
shoulder to fire on them, when some of the 'men
begged for mercy, to which the captain replied he
"did not leave home to take prisoners," and instantly
252 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
the dust was seen to rise from the Indian's buck-
skin hunting shirt as the ball entered his body. The
Indian fell from his horse with blood streaming from
his mouth and nose, and in this condition commenced
singing his death song. The rangers rode up to the
dying Indian, who was reeling to and fro under the
torture of pain, when all of a sudden he presented his
rifle to shoot. The rangers sprang from their horses
to escape the shot, but one of the party, a man named
Wright, not being quick enough, received the charge
in his body, producing a serious wound. The other
Indian, who proved to be a squaw, sat on the horse
spell-bound, making no attempt at defense or escape.
Many shots were fired at her, at close range, none
of which took effect, when she commenced crying,
and was made a prisoner.
The Indians at the village were taken by surprise,
as they had no warning of the approaching enemy,
and were unprepared to make any resistance. Most
of the warriors were off hunting, the squaws busy
preparing breakfast, while the papooses were play-
ing on the green, unconscious of approaching danger.
The rangers putting their horses on a gallop rode
into the village among the frightened Indians, shoot-
ing down all that came in their way, sparing neither
the mother nor her infant, the aged or infirm, as
these defenseless, panic-stricken people fled from
BLACK PARTRIDGE'S VILLAGE DESTROYED. 253
their homes. The fugitives found refuge in a swamp
near by where the horses of the pursuers mired down,
and from this cause many of them owe the preserva-
tion of their lives. Some of the warriors having
been wounded in the assault could not flee; these
with small children, the aged and infirm, were slain
in cold blood. The village with all its contents, as
well as the corn in the caches, was burned, and the
ponies, about one hundred in number, were taken by
the rangers as trophies of war.
"While the village was burning, and the rangers
were having a jollification over their easy victory, an
Indian of stately mien walked boldly along the bluff
one hundred and fifty yards distant and fired his
hun at them, after which he laughed long and loud,
as he walked slowly away. Many shots were fired
at him, without effect, and some of the rangers
started in pursuit, but he succeeded in making his
escape.
CHAPTER XXI.
LIEUTENANT HELM RANSOMED BY BLACK
PARTRIDGE.
A BOUT two months after the Chicago massacre
-LA. Black Partridge learned- that Lieutenant Helm
was still a prisoner among the Indians at a village
on the Kankakee River. On receiving this intelli-
gence he went to Peoria to consult with his friends
in relation to his ransom. Captain J. B. Maillet,
Antoine Des Champs and Thomas Forsyth were
consulted, and by them it was agreed that Black
Partridge should go immediately to the Indian vil-
lage and try to procure the release, of the prisoner.
Presents were furnished by the three traders as a
ransom for the captive, with a written order signed
by Thomas Forsyth, and drawn on General Clark,
Indian agent at St. Louis, for an additional one hun-
dred dollars on his safe arrival at that place.
Black Partridge was provided with presents, and
accompanied by a half-breed named Mark Topher, a
resident of Peoria. When all the necessary arrange-
ments were made the two travelers mounted their
254
LIEUTENANT HELM RANSOMED. 255
ponies and started off on a mission of mercy. On
arriving at the Indian village they found the captive
closely guarded by his captors, and still suffering
from a wound received at the time of the massacre.
When the old chief entered the lodge Lieutenant
Helm threw his arms around his neck and cried like
a child. He knew that Black Partridge had rescued
his wife from a horrible death, and saved the lives of
his father-in-law, John Kinzie, with his family, and
in him he saw a prospect of his own liberation.
Black Partridge called the chiefs and warriors
together and laid the presents before them, saying to
them that all these articles, with additional one hun-
dred dollars in silver, would be theirs by sending
their prisoner to St. Louis to be liberated. After a
long parley the Indians rejected the proposition, on
the grounds that the ransom offered was not suf-
ficient.
A short time before Captain Heald had been a
prisoner of this band, and the Indians sent him
to St. Joseph in charge of three warriors to be
liberated. The pay received in exchange for him
was so small that the warriors were sent back to re-
claim their prisoner, but Captain Heald having
been forwarded to Detroit they failed in the mission.
Captain Heald and wife, both of whom were severely
wounded, had left St. Joseph the day before the
256 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
Indians arrived, consequently they were compelled
to return without their prisoner. Captain and Mrs.
Heald were put into a bark canoe under the care of
Robinson, a half breed, and taken to Mackinaw, three
hundred miles distant, and delivered over to a British
officer as prisoners of war.
The Indians refused to release their prisoner un-
less the ransom was increased ; therefore Black Par-
tridge offered them his pony, rifle, and a large gold
ring which he wore in his nose. This proposition
was accepted, and Lieutenant Helm, with Mark
Topher, accompanied by a petty chief, all mounted
on ponies, left the next day for St. Louis. Black
Partridge accompanied the party on their way one
day's journey, and then struck across the country for
his village on the Illinois River.
It was late at night, very dark, and the rain
poured down in torrents, as the old chief, on foot and
alone, plodded his way through the thick river timber
toward his village, where he expected to be warmly
greeted by his family and friends, but he was doomed
to disappointment. The village had disappeared,
not a lodge, camping-tent, nor one human being
could be found ; nothing remained on its site but the
charred poles of which the lodges were constructed.
A pack of hungry wolves that had been feeding on
the remains of the slain ran away at his approach,
MRS. BESSON'S NARRATIVE. 257
and their howling during the night added glooiri and
terror to the surrounding scene. The old chief drew
his blanket around his body, and with sadness seated
himself on the ground to await the approach of
daylight. In the morning he found among the dead
the remains of his favorite daughter with an infant
son clasped in her arms, both cold in death. On the
site of the village, and in the swamp near by, he
found the dead bodies of many of his kindred and
friends ; among these was an old squaw of ninety
winters, and also two of his grandchildren. All the
dead were scalped, and some of the remains more or
less mutilated.
MRS. BESSON'S NARRATIVE.
While in East St. Louis a short time ago I heard
of an old lady by the name of Besson, who was one
of the captives at the Chicago massacre, and is prob-
ably the only one now living. I called on this lady
and listened to her thrilling narrative relating to
past events, which to me was very interesting. She
said her early recollections were associated with Chi-
cago River, Lake Michigan and Fort Dearborn. By
the side of the latter she had spent most of her child-
hood days, and gathered wild-flowers on the flat .prai-
rie now covered by the great metropolis of the west. •
Her maiden name was Mary Lee, a daughter of
17
258 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
Charles Lee, who with his family came to Fort
Dearborn soon after it was built. Their dwelling
stood on the beach of the lake, near the fort, and
back of it was a small garden enclosed by a rail
fen«e. For a number of years her father, Mr. Lee,
was engaged in agricultural pursuits, selling the
products of his farm at high rates to the occupants
of the fort.
Mr. Lee made a large farm at a grove of timber
on the south branch of Chicago River, four miles
from its mouth, where Bridgeport now stands. The
land near the lake being either wet or sandy ren-
dered it unfit for farming purposes, which made it
necessary to go up the river to make a farm, where
the prairie was more rolling, and the soil rich. The
communication between Lee's residence and his farm
during most of the year was by a boat on the river,
the intervening prairie much of the time being
covered with water.
Mr. Lee built two cabins on his farm, and em-
ployed a number of persons to work the land. For
some years the grove with its surroundings was
known as " Lee's place," afterward called Hard-
scrabble, and at this place the Indians killed two per-
sons, "White and Devow, on the 7th of April, 1812,
an account of which is given in Mrs. Kinzie's early
history of Chicago.
MRS. BESSON'S NARRATIVE. 259
At the time of the Chicago massacre Mr. Lee's
family consisted of his wife ; an infant two months
old ; his son, John of sixteen years ; Mary, now
Mrs. Besson, the subject of our sketch, twelve;
Lillie, ten ; and two small boys.
When the troops left Chicago for Fort Wayne
Mr. Lee, with his family, accompanied them, taking
with him all his horses, but leaving behind a large
herd of cattle, which were shot by the Indians on
the following day. Mrs. Lee, with her infant and
two younger children, were in a covered wagon,
while the two girls were on horseback, and all fol-
lowed the army along the beach of the lake. Little
Lillie was a handsome child, a great pet among the
soldiers and traders about the fort, but she never
before appeared so lovely as on the morning they
left Chicago. She was mounted on a large gray
horse, and to prevent her falling off or being thrown
was tied fast to the saddle. She wore a white ruf-
fled dress, trimmed with pink ribbon, a black jockey
hat with a white plume on one side, and as her horse
pranced and champed the bits at the sound of mar-
tial music little Lillie in a queenly manner sat in the
saddle chatting gaily with her sister Mary, who rode
by her side. As the soldiers threw kisses at her she
would return them in her merry glee, chatting mirth-
fully with many of her acquaintances. Her young
260 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
heart was made happy by the excitement of the morn-
ing, and she had no warning of the awful fate that
awaited her a few minutes afterward.
Soon the guns of five hundred savages were raised
against the troops, and by their murderous fire a
large portion of the brave band were stricken down.
During the battle little Lillie was wounded and fell
from her seat, but still hung by the cord that bound
her to the saddle. While in this perilous condition
the frightened horse ran back and forth until caught
by an Indian and the. child rescued. "When the
battle was over Waupekee, a chief who had often
been at Lee's house and trotted little Lillie on his
knee, was much grieved to see her thus wounded, as
he loved the child as though she were his own daugh-
ter. On examining Lillie' s wound and finding it
mortal the chief put an end to her suffering with a
stroke of his tomahawk, saying afterward it was the
hardest thing he ever did, but he could not bear to
see her suffering. Mr. Lee and his son John were
killed in the battle, and also the two young boys
fell victims to the savages, while Mrs Lee with her
infant child and Mary were made prisoners. Mrs.
Lee and infant fell into the hands of "Waupekee, who
had a village on the Des Plaines River about twenty
miles from Chicago, who treated his prisoner kindly,
and tried to induce her to marry him, notwithstand-
MRS. BESSON'S NARRATIVE. 261
ing he already had three wives. But she declined
the marriage proposition, hoping some day to be
ransomed and again restored to friends and civiliza-
tion.
During the following winter Mrs. Lee's child be-
came sick, and after all the known remedies of the
Indian doctor failed to remove the disease the chief
proposed to take it to Chicago for medical treatment.
A Frenchman named Du Pin had taken possession
of Kinzie's house soon after the burning of the fort,
and for a number of years carried on a trade with
the Indians.
On a cold day in the latter part of the winter
Waupekee wrapped the sick infant in a blanket,
mounted his pony, and with his charge started for
Chicago. On arriving at Du Pin's residence the
chief laid his package on the floor. "What have
you there ? " asked the trader ; to which Waupe-
kee replied, "A young raccoon, which I have
brought you as a present ;" and unwrapping the
package there lay the sick infant almost smothered
in the thick folds of the blanket. The trader made
a prescription for the child, after which the chief
carried it back to its mother, and it finally got well.
The trader became interested in the welfare of
Mrs. Lee, and offered Waupekee a large amount of
goods for his prisoner. This offer was accepted, the
262 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
prisoner brought to the trading-house to be liber-
ated, and soon afterward she became Madame
Du Pin.
In the division of prisoners after the battle Mary
Lee was taken to an Indian village on the Kankakee
River, and in the following spring was carried tp
St. Louis, and ransomed by the Indian agent, Gen-
eral Clark. Some years afterward she married a
Frenchman by the name of Besson, and is now living
with a distant connection of her husband in East
St. Louis.
Mary Lee never met her mother after that fatal
day, and for many years supposed she was killed
with the other members of the family, but subse-
quently learned of her captivity, liberation, mar-
riage and death.
THE FRENCH AT PEORIA REGARDED AS ENEMIES.
While the inhabitants of Peoria were quietly pur-
suing their daily avocation of farming, hunting and
trading with Indians, being as they supposed at
peace with all the world, a plot was laid for their
destruction. Being located in the midst of a wilder-
ness country, nearly two hundred miles from the
nearest American settlement, and having but little
intercourse with the civilized world, they could not
have known that war between the United States and
THE FRENCH AT PEORIA.
England existed if they had not learned the fact
from neighboring Indians.
Although the French at Peoria had lived within
the jurisdiction of the United States government for
twenty-four years they had never taken the oath of
allegiance, acknowledged its power, nor paid tax to
its support. They were a foreign people, speaking
a different language, with habits and customs pecu-
liar to themselves, and all their trade and inter-
course was with the French citizens of Canada. The
evil report in circulation about the French at Peoria
assisting the Indians was believed by Governor Ed-
wards, and he issued a proclamation calling for vol-
unteers, in order to send an armed force against
them. About two hundred men responded to the
call, who were placed under the command of Cap-
tain Craig, and rendezvoused at Shawneetown.
Four keel-boats were prepared, with rifle-ball-proof
planking, mounted with cannon and filled with armed
soldiers. The boats left Shawneetown early in Oc-
tober, and arrived at Peoria on the 5th of Novem-
ber. The inhabitants of Peoria were much sur-
prised to see these four armed boats land at their
wharf, as no large craft had ever reached that place
before.
264 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
CAPTAIN CRAIG'S ACCOUNT OF HIS ATTACK ON
PEORIA.
Captain Thomas E. Craig in his report to Gov-
ernor Edwards, dated at Shawneetown, December 10,
1812, giving an account of the burning of Peoria,
says : "I landed at Peoria on the 5th of November,
and left it on the 9th. About midnight on the 6th
the wind blew so hard on the lake that we were
compelled to let the boats pass down into the river
a short distance below the town. At daybreak
next morning we were fired on by a party of Indians
who had secreted themselves in the thick timber
close by: Preparations were immediately made for
battle, and bringing the cannons to bear we shelled
the woods, but no enemy appeared, having fled after
discharging their guns. Soon after daylight I had
the boats landed opposite the center of the town,
and took all the men prisoners, as they had undoubt-
edly pointed out our location to the Indians. I
burned about half the town of Peoria, and would
have burned all of it and destroyed all the stock but
I expected General Hopkins' army to pass that way
soon."
Part of the statements made by Captain Craig
are undoubtedly true, but he fails to tell the whole
story. The cold, selfish brutality practiced by the
BURNING OF PEORIA. 265
men under Captain Craig's command has never be-
fore been given to the public, and may appear
strange to the reader, but it is nevertheless true.
On this subject I have conversed with four different
persons, Robert Forsyth, Rene La Croix, Hypolite
Pilette, and Antoine Le Clair, all of whom were
present at the time, being residents of Peoria. Their
accounts of this affair will be found in the succeeding
sketch, and are undoubtedly true, as all those state-
ments agree on the principal facts, although differing
somewhat in detail.
BURNING OF PEORIA.
The following account of the arrival of the gun-
boats, under command of Captain Craig, and burn-
ing of Peoria, are principally taken from the state-
ments of Antoine Le £lair and Hypolite Pilette,
both of whom were present at the time. Le Clair
was a half-breed, and acquired much celebrity in
after years as the proprietor of the city of Daven-
port, Iowa. Pilette is now living on the American
Bottom not far from Prairie du Rocher, to whom
many other references are made in this book.
On Sunday morning, November 5, 1812. while
the people of Peoria were assembled at the church,
engaged in saying mass, they were startled by the
report of a cannon. The congregation, partly
266 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
through fright and partly by curiosity, ran out of
the church, when they discovered four armed boats
in the lake under full sail. On coming opposite the
town the boats rounded to, and landed at the wharf.
Father Racine came down from the pulpit, and in
his long black robe, with his bald head uncovered,
started for the landing followed by all the congrega-
tion, men, women and children, where they met
Captain Craig, who had landed from a boat. Thomas
Forsyth, who spoke English, inquired of the cap-
tain the object of this visit, but the question was
evaded, and in return he demanded of the citizens a
supply of meat and vegetables for his men, which
were furnished to them.
The soldiers landed from the boats, scattered
through the town in search of plunder, and com-
mitted many depredations on the people. They
broke open the store of Felix La Fontain, in which
Antoine Le Clair was a clerk, and took therefrom
two casks of wine and drank the contents. Some
of the soldiers became intoxicated, forcing their way
into houses, insulting women, carrying off eatables,
blankets, and everything they took a fancy to. A
soldier named Hitchcock, with three other armed
men, went into a house occupied by very old
people, and robbed it of most of its valuables. The
jewelry and gold taken from this house were seen
BURNING OF PEORIA. 267
in the possession of the robbers on the following
day, and a valuable watch with a heavy gold cross
was exhibited afterward as trophies of war. It
was long after dark before Captain Craig succeeded
in getting his drunken, disorderly soldiers on board
again, after which the boats were anchored out in
the lake to prevent further depredations on the citi-
zens. During the night a high wind arose, and to
escape the waves in the lake the boats were run down
into the channel, one-half mile below the town.
About daybreak next morning eight or ten men went
into the river timber to shoot beeves. The cattle be-
ing mixed with buffalo lived during the winter on
the range, became partly wild, and hunted down in
the woods same as deer or elk. This party of hunt-
ers attacked the herd in their lair, near where the
gunboats lay, shot three beeves, and had commenced
skinning them when the timber was riddled with
cannon balls. The hunters left their beeves un-
dressed, and fled for their homes without having the
slightest idea why this hostile demonstration was
made by the troops.
The boats were run up opposite the town imme-
diately after the firing of cannon, when Captain Craig,
with a large armed force, visited every house, and
took all the men prisoners of war. Some of the men
were still in bed, and not allowed time to dress, but
268 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
hurried off to the boats with their clothes in their
hands. A torch was applied to each house in town
and burned with all their contents, while women and
children with wild screams escaped from the burning
buildings, and like a herd of frightened deer fled to
a grove of timber above the desolated town. The
church, which contained a golden image and a cru-
cifix, with other valuable religious emblems, a pres-
ent from the bishop of Quebec, were all burned
with the building. The windmill, which stood
on the bank of the lake, filled with grain and flour
belonging to the citizens, was burned, as well as
stables, barns, corn-cribs, etc. Felix La Fontain,
Michael La Croix, Antoine Des Champs, and Thomas
Forsyth, all of whom were traders with stores well
filled with goods, were consumed by the flames. An
old man named Benit, formerly a trader, had
saved a large amount of gold by the toil of half a cen-
tury, and had lain it away for old age. This gold
was secreted in his dwelling, and finding it on fire
he rushed in to save his treasure, and perished in the
flames. The bones of this old man were found
among the ashes of his dwelling in the following
spring by a party of hunters who visited Peoria.
Mrs. La Croix, a lady of refinement and personal
attractions, who in after years became the wife of
Governor Reynolds, being alone with her small chil
BURNING OF PEORIA. 269
dren when her house was set on fire, appealed to the
soldiers to save the clothing of herself and little ones,
but their appeals were in vain, and with her chil-
dren only escaped from the burning building.
There is an incident connected with the burning
of Peoria not generally known, which to some extent
explains the barbarous conduct of the soldiers, and
somewhat palliates this outrage against humanity.
About two months before Peoria was burned Gen-
eral Howard, stationed at Portage du Sioux, sent one
of his soldiers, a young half-breed named Baptiste
Snipkins, to Peoria in order to ascertain if the citi-
zens were assisting the Indians in carrying on the
war against the settlements, as had been reported.
This messenger, called Howard's express by courtesy,
but in fact a spy, learned all he could from the
people without letting his true business be known.
This young scapegrace instead of returning to the
army, and reporting the true state aifairs, according
to orders, became enamored with a girl and pro-
longed his stay until the arrival of Captain Craig.
To escape punishment for disobeying orders he re-
ported to Craig's command that he was detained
against his will, being a prisoner in the hands of the
French, but this statement was afterward proven to
be false. If this messenger had returned to the
army and reported according to orders Craig's expe-
270 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
dition would have been abandoned, and the destruc-
tion of Peoria averted.
A short time before Peoria was burned Thomas
Forsyth had been appointed a government agent,
but this appointment was kept a secret by the- de-
partment at Washington, as it was thought if known
it would lessen his influence with the Indians, and
perhaps prejudice his townsmen against him. When
Forsyth was made a prisoner he showed his commis-
sion to Captain Craig, containing the United States
seal, but the incredulous officer pronounced it a
forgery.
When the destruction of Peoria was completed
the boats started down the river, carrying with them
all the men as prisoners of war. Two miles below
the present site of Alton, in the thick river timber,
the prisoners were set at liberty, without tents, pro-
vision, or means of returning to their families.
Some of the women and children having been left at
the burned town without food or shelter, were in a suf-
fering condition, and without assistance would have
perished. It was late in the fall, the sky overcast
with gray clouds, and the cold November winds
howled through the forest trees, blowing the dry
leaves hither and thither. With high winds came
squalls of snow, and the roaring and lashing of the
waves m the lake caused mothers to draw infants
BURNING OF PEORIA. 271
closer to their bosoms to protect them from the in-
clement weather. To those destitute, helpless
women all was dark and cheerless ; the lamentations
of mothers and cries of children were heard at a dis-
tance, and touched the heart of a sympathizing
friend, although a savage. While in the midst of
trouble they discovered a lone Indian walking leis-
urely along the beach of the lake, who with a firm
step approached this group of women and children.
He carried a rifle on his shoulder, a tomahawk and
seal ping-knife in his belt, and his face was painted
in many colors. Notwithstanding he was disguise)!
by paint, they recognized in the approaching Indian
Gomo, a friendly chief, who had a village where
Chillicothe now stands.
On the approach of the gunboats the inhabitants
of Gomo's village fled westward, but the chief with
two warriors secreted themselves in the thick tim-
ber watching the movements of the soldiers, and as
soon as the boats departed down the river they came
forth from their hiding place to assist their friends
in distress. Gomo and his comrades furnished pro-
vision and shelter for the destitute women and chil-
dren, and provided them with canoes to descend the
river.
When furnished with an outfit for the journey the
women with their little ones started down the river,
272 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
camping each night on its banks, without tents to
shelter them from the cold night air. After many
days of toil, hardships and exposure, drenched by
rain, suffering from cold and hunger, they reached
Cahokia, where they were provided for by their
countrymen, and afterward joined by their hus-
bands and fathers.
It has been stated that Captain Craig took the
women and children in the boat with the men, but
this statement applies only to' a few families. The
families of Thomas Forsyth, Antoine Le Pance, Fe-
lix La Fontain, and perhaps one or two others, were
put on board of the boats. But I am informed by
Rene Le Croix and Hypolite Pilette that their moth-
er's family, with many others, went down the river
in bark canoes furnished by Gomo as previously
stated.
Captain Craig has been much vilified for burn-
ing Peoria, but it must be remembered that he acted
under the orders of Governor Edwards, who ap-
proved of his conduct, and afterward appointed him
to an important office. It appears Governor Ed-
wards was misled by false reports, which caused
him to make war on innocent people, and in justice
to his memory, I am willing to believe he did only
what at the time he believed to be his duty.
DOMESTIC ANIMALS LEF11 BY CAPTIVES. 273
DOMESTIC ANIMALS LEFT BY THE CAPTIVES.
The citizens of Peoria, when captured and car-
ried off prisoners of war, left at their homes horses,
cattle and hogs to run wild in the timber, and some
of the former starved to death during the cold winter
which followed. In the following spring a party of
French and half-breeds belonging at Cahokia went
to Peoria, gathered up the cattle, driving them
south to the settlement, and returning some of these
animals to their rightful owners.
Hogs ran wild in the river timber, and were
found in large numbers ten years afterward by the
early American settlers. As these hogs increased
in numbers they scattered over the country, and
were hunted down in the thick timber the same as
deer.
In 1820 a wild bull and yearling heifer, crossed
witli buffalo, were shot by hunters in Spoon River
timber. The Indians say at one time there was
a large herd of wild cattle in this section of the
country; but they hunted them down for beef. The
wild cattle found by hunters, in all probability, were
from the herd left at Peoria eight years before, or
may have been the offspring of a herd that strayed
away many years before, and became wild.
18
CHAPTER XXII.
INDIAN RAID ON THE SETTLEMENT.
•
SOME days after the destruction of Black Par-
tridge's village, a party of warriors headed by
the old chief returned to bury the dead, and found the
remains of the slain scalped, mutilated, and partly
devoured by wolves. After burying the dead the
warriors engaged in a winter hunt, according to
their custom, but Black Partridge traveled over
the country in various directions, holding coun-
cils with chiefs and warriors, in order to enlist them
in his cause. He was now old, his hair whitened
by the snows of seventy winters, still his figure was
erect and his step firm. Age had not dimmed the
fire of his eyes, nor destroyed the valor of his youth.
For many years he had been a friend of the whites,
and to protect them from harm he had made many
sacrifices. He had done everything in his power to
prevent the massacre at Chicago, and saved the life
of Mrs. Helm at the risk of his own. He had col-
lected around him a few faithful friends to guard the
dwelling of John Kinzie, and thereby rescued the
274
INDIAN RAID ON THE SETTLEMENT. 275
family, with other prisoners, from massacre. He
traveled a long way to the Kankakee village, gave
his pony, rifle and ring to ransom Lieutenant Helm,
and while tired and hungry returned to find his
home desolated, and his friends murdered or driven
away. Notwithstanding Black Partridge had made
all these sacrifices for his white friends, they made
war on him, burned his village, destroyed his corn,
drove off his ponies, and killed about thirty of his
people, among whom were some of his kinsmen, and
he now lived only for revenge.
In the following summer, 1813, Black Partridge
with about three hundred warriors, all mounted on
ponies, left for the frontier settlement in the south
part of the state. They went within thirty miles of
the settlement, and secreted themselves in the thick
timber of Shoal Creek, now in Bond county. From
here they sent out small war parties to attack the
settlers and kill defenseless women and children.
The people became greatly alarmed at these depre- •
dations ; many fled from their homes, and sought
refuge at Cahokia or Kaskaskia; others built tem-
porary forts to shield themselves from the toma-
hawks and scalping-knives of these ruthless savages.
It is said a half-breed dressed as a white man acted
as a spy, visiting; different settlements under the
pretext of hunting stray horses, and informed the
276 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
Indians of the most exposed points. Through this
spy the Indians learned that an expedition was about
to be sent against the villages on the Illinois River ;
so their camp was broken up, and they left for their
homes.
CAPTIVITY OF AMANDA WOLSEY.
The descendants of some of the early settlers of
St. Clair and Madison counties can give many thrill-
ing narratives in relation to Indian raids during the
late British war. Among other stories is the follow-
ing narrative, which, on account of its romantic
character, is worth preserving, and it is believed it
has never before found its way into print.
In the spring of 1813 a man by the name of Joab
Wolsey emigrated from Kentucky and made a claim
in the Wood River settlement, about thirty miles
northeast of Cahokia. The family of this emigrant
consisted of a wife and four children, the eldest
named Amanda, a girl of fifteen years of age, and
ot prepossessing appearance. Mr. Wolsey had built
a cabin on his claim, in which his family were quar-
tered, and was about to commence breaking prairie.
His cabin occupied an exposed situation, being on
the outskirts of the settlement, two or three miles
from neighbors, but no one anticipated the great
calamity which was about to overtake that little
CAPTIVITY OF AMANDA WOLSEY. 277
settlement on Wood River. On the afternoon of a
bright spring day, while Wolsey was fixing his plow,
and training his oxen, preparing to commence
breaking prairie, a half-breed dressed in citizen's
clothing called at the cabin and inquired about some
horses which he said had strayed away. It was
noticed that the stranger carried a large knife, with
a navy pistol, in his belt, and his manner of looking
around the premises caused Mrs. Wolsey to think
that the visit of this stranger was for some evil pur-
pose. On the night after the half-breed's visit, while
all the family were asleep, the cabin was surrounded
by Indians, Wolsey, his wife and three children
killed, and the house set on fire. Amanda was made
a prisoner, and held in the arms of a strong savage
while she witnessed the murder of her parents,
brothers and sisters, and their dwelling in flames.
On the following day the mutilated remains of the
victims were found, one of the children having been
consumed in the cabin. On the same night three
other families in the same settlement were attacked
by Indians, many of the inmates slain, houses burned,
and horses killed or stolen, Amanda Wolsey on
becoming a prisoner was placed on an Indian pony,
guarded by two warriors, and carried off a captive
into the Indian country. The party having charge
of the captive belonged to Waba band, who had a
278 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
village on the south side of the Illinois River, almost
opposite the outlet of Lake Depue. The Indians
treated their prisoner with much respect, supplying
her with a dress, and painting her face in accordance
to Indian custom, and she associated with young
maidens of her own age. She frequently accom-
panied the youths of both sexes to Starved Rock and
neighboring villages, where they had dances and
gay parties. A young chief fell in love with her,
and proposed to make her his wife, but she repulsed
his advances, looking forward to a time when she
would be liberated and restored to friends and civili-
zation. She had ofttimes thought of mounting a
pony during the night when all were asleep and
leaving for the settlement, but the great distance to
be traveled, nearly two hundred miles, deterred her
from this hazardous undertaking.
The summer had now passed, and the Indians were
making preparations to leave their village for their
annual hunt, when a messenger arrived in great
haste, bringing the startling tidings that a large
army had reached Peoria. This intelligence caused
great excitement among the Indians, as their village
was liable to be attacked at any moment. That
night during the bustle and excitement Amanda
escaped from the village, mounted a pony, and put
it at the top of speed down the river in the direction
GENERAL HOWARD'S EXPEDITION. 279
of Peoria. But unfortunately her flight was dis-
covered, and a number of warriors started in pursuit.
The fugitive was overtaken in her flight, captured,
carried back, and placed in close confinement. In
December following a treaty of peace was made
with the Indians, its conditions providing that all
captives were to be liberated and returned to their
friends. Under this treaty Amanda Wolsey was
carried back to the settlement and set free.
GENERAL HOWARD'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE
INDIANS.
In September, 1813, General Howard, with an
army consisting of five hundred regulars and nine
hundred volunteers, marched against the Indians on
the Illinois River. The regulars, commanded by
Colonel Nichols, ascended the Illinois River in keel-
boats to Peoria Lake, and arrived there^ some days
in advance of the volunteers, who were mounted and
came aross the country.
The Indians having received an intimation that
an army was about to be sent against them became
very much alarmed, and most of them were in favor
of making overtures for peace. Black Partridge, the
leading spirit of the war party, was in favor of de-
fending themselves againt the aggression of the
whites, but he could not enlist the different bands
280 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
in his scheme. Shaubena, Waba and Waubonsie,
with many of their braves, were with Tecumseh, and
warriors of the different bands could not be united
under any one chief. Senachwine was opposed to
war, and being a chief of great influence, gifted with
stirring eloquence, carried with him a large portion
of the warriors.
Black Partridge was grave and morose, brooding
over the wrongs he had received from the whites the
year before, and now lived only for revenge. Not-
withstanding he had taken many scalps the past
summer, and murdered defenseless women and chil-
dren, he still thirsted for more blood.
The largest village in the country, called Wappa,
was located on Bureau Creek, eight miles from the
river, and on the present site of Tiskilwa. The
head chief of this village, named Comas, was a son-
in-law of Black Partridge, and here the old chief
found a home after the destruction of his village.
BLACK PARTRIDGE WITH HIS BRAVES IN DEFENSE
OF THEIR COUNTRY.
On a bright, warm day in the early part of Indian
summer the warriors at Comas' village were loung-
ing along the creek, some fishing, others running
foot races, wrestling, or playing with balls, hoops,
etc. All was quiet; neither war parties, dances, re-
BLACK PARTRIDGE WITH HIS BRAVES. 281
ligious feast nor marriage celebration, nothing what-
ever to relieve the monotony of village life. A party
of warriors was about to start west on a hunt when
two scouts arrived with the startling intelligence that
troops had arrived at Peoria, and were engaged in
building a 'fort. On receiving these tidings Black
Partridge mounted his pony, riding back and forth
through the village calling for volunteers to accom-
pany him to victory. A large number of warriors re-
sponded to the call, and mounted upon ponies, armed
and equipped for war, were soon on their way to meet
the enemy. On their way they stopped at Senach-
wine and Crow's villages in order to obtain recruits,
but were unsuccessful, as no warriors of either village
would join this war party. On reaching Gomo's
village they found the chief and many of the warriors
off on a hunt, and but few of those at home were
willing to engage in this hazardous enterprise.
Black Partridge was much discouraged by his failure
to raise a large force, as he expected, but with his
little band of braves, amounting to about three hun-
dred, he concluded to give immediate battle before
the enemy could erect fortifications for their defense.
While the troops under Colonel Nichols were en-
gaged in building a block house, uncoficious of dan-
ger, they were attacked by Black Partridge's band
of warriors, and had it not been for persons outside
282 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
of the picket guards giving timely alarm in all prob-
ability a bloody battle would have resulted.
COLONEL DAVENPORT'S ACCOUNT OF AN ATTACK
ON THE BLOCK HOUSE.
For incidents relating to an attack on the block
house, building a fort, and treaty with the Indians,
I am indebted to Colonel George Davenport, a noted
Indian trader at Rock Island who was murdered
July 4, 1845, by the "bandits of the prairie."
Mr. Davenport, at that time a young man, was an
uncommissioned officer in Captain Owen's company,
of the regular army, and in that capacity served
during the war.
On arriving at Peoria Lake the soldiers com-
menced building a block house for storing the bag-
gage, as well as a protection against an attack from
the enemy. A well having been dug near the block
house to supply it with water, it became necessary
to liave a sweep to draw it ; consequently Mr. Daven-
port, with two companions, went into the woods to
get a grapevine for that purpose. Having found
one suitable, Davenport climbed the tree to cut it
off, and while doing so he discovered a large body
of Indians skulking in the timber, going in the direc-
tion of the block house. On seeing this war party
Davenport and his companions gave an alarm, and
COLONEL DAVENPORT'S ACCOUNT. 283
in all haste fled toward the block house, but finding
Indians in that direction turned their course for the
gunboats, which were moored in the lake. With all
speed the fugitives ran for the boats, closely fol-
lowed by the Indians, who fired at them many shots,
while yelling like demons. The soldiers on the gun-
boats, thinking only of their own safety, pushed
them oif from the shore, but fortunately one of them
grounded on a sand bar, which was the means of
saving the lives of Davenport and his companions.
The fugitives rushed into the water waist deep,
pushed the grounded boat off. and jumped on board
of it, while the Indians fired on them, many of the
rifle balls whizzing by their heads and lodging in the
side of the vessel. The boats went off some dis-
tance from the shore, nevertheless the Indians con-
tinued to fire on them, but without effect. A can-
non on one of the boats was brought to bear on the
savages, but in the excitement of the moment its
muzzle was raised above the port-hole, and the ball
tore off a portion of the side of the vessel. The In-
dians also attacked the block house, which was in
an unfinished condition, but met with a warm re-
ception from those within. The cannons on the
boats having been brought to bear on the Indians,
they fled from the thick timber where they had
taken shelter, and the fight ended.
CHAPTEE XXIII.
BUILDING OF FORT CLARK.
ENEEAL HOWAED with nine hundred
mounted volunteers left their quarters at
Portage des Sioux in September, 1812, and followed
up the Mississippi to the present site of Quincy,
and from here crossed the country to Peoria. The
troops encamped on the site of the old French town,
and a strong picket guard placed around the encamp-
ment to prevent being surprised by the Indians.
During the night an alarm was given, and a re-
port circulated through the camp that they were
about to be attacked by a large body of Indians.
All the troops were under arms, many shots fired at
phantoms, and one soldier killed by a sentinel, but
the alarm proved to be false, as no enemy could be
found.
On the following day, after the arrival of this
army, by order of the commander it marched up to
Gomo's village, at the head of the lake, but found it
deserted, and after burning the town and destroying
the corn in the fields returned to Peoria.
BUILDING OF FORT CLARK. 285
Preparations having been made to build a fort on
the site of the old French town for the purpose of
holding possession of the country, timbers were
cut on the opposite side of the lake, and floated
across to build block store-houses, and enclose them
with palisades. On a high piece of ground near the
bank of the lake a fort was built, consisting of stock-
ades made of two rows of split timbers, and the space
between them filled with dirt. A ditch surrounded the
fort, and at two corners were bastions for mounting
cannon. Inside of the stockades was a large block-
house, two stories high, and on three sides of it were
port-holes, so the inmates could fire on the enemy in
case of an attack. Besides this block-house were
store-houses, and quarters for officers and soldiers.
When the fort was completed and cannons
mounted on its ramparts, with flags waving on each
bastion, General Howard ordered all the soldiers on
duty, forming in double file, fronting the gateway.
A speech was made by the commanding officer,
drums beat, soldiers cheered, the cannons fired a
salute, and with much enthusiasm the fort was dedi-
cated and named " Fort Clark " in honor of General
George Roger Clark, the hero of Kaskaskia and Vin-
cennes.
286 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
GUNBOATS ASCEND THE RIVER TO THE RAPIDS.
Four keel-boats, mounted with cannon and filled
by armed soldiers belonging to the regular army, un-
der command of Major Christy, ascended the river
from Peoria in search of the enemy. These boats
landed at different villages along the river, but found
them all deserted, the Indians having fled from their
homes. These villages were burned with all of their
contents, and the corn in the fields, and pelts, furs
and other valuables stored away in the caches were
also destroyed or carried off.
On Hickory Ridge, below the mouth of Bureau
Creek, the Indians, headed by Black Partridge, tore
down the two cabins built many years before by De
Beuro, and with these logs erected a breastwork on
the river so they could fire on the boats while
ascending the stream ; but on finding these boats
protected by heavy plank, rifle proof, with port-
holes for cannon, the warriors fled without firing a
gun or letting their presence be known.*
Major Christy intended to ascend the Illinois as
far as the mouth of Fox River, but finding it difficult
to pass the rapids he landed at Starved Rock. On
the following day the boats were started down stream,
* Colonel G. S. Hubbard says when he came to the country, in 1818, this
breastwork was still standing, and its relics, consisting of a pile of rotten logs,
could be seen in the early settlement of the country.
INDIANS COLLECT ON BUREAU. 287
landing at the mouth of Bureau Creek, and from here
a war party, commanded by Lieutenant Robenson,
went out in search of the enemy.
• INDIANS COLLECT ON BUREAU.
When the troops under General Howard reached
Peoria the inhabitants of Gomo's, Senachwine, Crow
and other towns fled from their homes and collected
at Comas' village, on Bureau Creek. Here they in-
tended to make a stand, await the approach of the
invaders, and fight for their country and homes. All
the squaws and papooses, with the aged warriors un-
able to bear arms, were sent up the creek about seven
miles above the town, where they were secreted in
the thick timber.*
At Comas' village were collected about one thou-
sand warriors, occupying all the lodges, while above
* About two miles northwest of Princeton, in the valley of Bureau, is a sin-
gular narrow ridge, about sixty feet high, extending from the east bluff part
way across the bottom. This remarkable ridge, which looks like a freak of
_ nature, is called Back Bone, and on top of it now passes a public road. With
the Indians this place became a noted landmark, and it was equally so with
hunters in the early settlement of the country.
Immediately north of the Back Bone, in the thick bottom timber by the
side of a spring, was an old Indian camping-ground, and here their camp poles
stood long after they left the country. In the fall of 1836 a party of Indian
hunters were encamped here for a number of weeks, having returned from the
west to visit the home of their youth. Among these Indians was one who spoke
good English, find while in conversation with him I obtained many of the items
narrated in this chapter. He said at the time of the war many thousand squaws
and papooses were encamped on this ground, and here Madas, a noted war-
rior, and brother of Black Partridge, died from a wound received in the fight at
Peoria a few days before, and he showed me his grave on the Back Bone, which
was surrounded by a pen built of small timbers or poles.
288 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
and below it the meadow was covered with camping-
tents. On the bottom prairie below the village
many hundred ponies were feeding, all of them
spanceled so they could be caught and mounted at a
moment's notice. It was expected that Howard's
army would follow up the river and attack them in
their retreat, therefore a suitable place to make a
defense was selected. This was in the thick timber
some distance below the village, where they could
fire on the invaders while crossing a small bottom,
prairie.
Indian scouts, who were all the while on the alert,,
discovered the troops ascending the river in boats,,
and in all haste conveyed the tidings to the vil-
lage. On receiving these tidings the drums beat to
arms, all was bustle and excitement, and in a short
time the warriors were secreted in their ambuscade
awaiting the approach of the enemy, but when they
found that the boats continued on up the river they
returned to their village.
LIEUTENANT KOBENSON IN SEARCH OF THE ENEMY.
About eighty soldiers, under the command of
Lieutenant Robenson, left the gunboats on the river
and marched up Bureau Creek, with the intention of
visiting Comas' village, situated eight miles distant,
on the present site of Tiskilwa. After going up
LIEUTENANT ROBENSON IN SEARCH. 289
the valley about five miles through timber and
prairie they discovered a trail with fresh pony
tracks. On making this discovery they came to a
halt for consultation on the propriety of continuing
their march, knowing that they were near a large
Indian village, and at any point of timber were
liable to fall into an ambuscade of lurking savages.
Some were in favor of going on and burn the village,
if vacated, but fortunately a majority opposed it;
consequently they turned about and retraced their
steps back to the river.
On the return of Robenson's command with the
report of no Indians found, Major Christy came to
the conclusion that they had fled from the country,
and preparations were made to descend the river.
Before leaving cannons fired a salute, toasts were
drank, and the stream named Robenson's River,
which name it continued to bear for many years after-
ward, and so appeared on all the early maps of the
state.
Indian scouts had watched the keel-boats as they
ascended and descended the river, and on seeing
them land at the mouth of the creek, and preparing
to send out troops to make observations, they put
their ponies on a gallop to convey the tidings back
to the village, and it was the tracks of their ponies
which Robenson's party discovered while on their
19
290 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
march. On learning of the approach of troops war-
riors mounted their ponres and rode in all haste to
the place selected to attack the invaders. Here
many of the warriors secreted themselves in the
thick timber, while those mounted remained in the
rear to intercept the vanquished troops. Had Roben-
son's command continued their march toward the
village, the probabilities are but few of them would
have escaped death, as the warriors outnumbered
them five to one, and many of them mounted, while
the soldiers were on foot.
TREATY OF PEACE— THE WAR ENDED.
Black Partridge and his friends finding it impos-
sible to unite the different bands so as to continue
the war successfully, thought it best to make over-
tures for peace, and accordingly a large delegation
of chiefs and warriors went to Fort Clark for that
purpose. When this party arrived within a few
miles of the fort they came to a halt, when Senach-
wine, accompanied by two warriors carrying white
flags, went forward to the gate of the fort, and pre-
pared to meet the commanding officer in council.
Arrangements were made for meeting in council on
the following day, for the purpose of agreeing on
terms of peace. At the appointed time about forty
chiefs and warriors, decorated with eagle and turkey
TREATY OF PEACE. 291
feathers, made their appearance, and were met by
General Howard and all the officers of his command.
After shaking hands and passing around the pipe of
peace, Senachwine made a speech before the coun-
cil, in which he said they had come to make peace
with the whites and forever bury the tomahawk.
In reply to this speech General Howard said he had
no power to treat with them, but proposed to con-
duct their head chiefs to St. Louis, and General
Clark, the general agent, would hear their proposi-
tions for peace. The Indians agreed to this, and a
delegation of thirteen chiefs and one squaw were
selected to go to St. Louis. Among these chiefs
were Black Partridge, Senachwine^ Comas, Shick-
Shack, Crow and Gomo. General Howard ordered
George Davenport to select four trusty men -and
escort these Indians to St. Louis. All necessary
arrangements having been made, this party on the
following day went on board of a pirogue and started
down the river for St. Louis. It being late in De-
cember the weather was cold ; consequently after one
day's journey the river froze up, and the remainder
of the distance was made on foot. The pirogue was
secreted in the thick timber, together with part of
their stores, including a keg of whiskey, when the
travelers, with such baggage as they could carry,
proceeded on their way. At night both whites and
292 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
Indians camped together, but each party kept a
guard on duty, as they feared treachery.
This party after five days' travel arrived safe at
St. Louis ; a treaty of peace was concluded, and the
Indians left five of their number as hostage for its
fulfillment. The Indians on their return were es-
corted as far as Alton above the settlement, and
they returned to their homes.
After a treaty of peace with the Indians Fort
Clark was abandoned, the troops returned to the
settlement, and the volunteers discharged from
service.
CHAPTER XXIV.
DESCENDANTS OF FRENCH SETTLERS AT FEORIA.
OF the descendants of French residents who were
born at Peoria, and remember incidents con-
nected with its destruction, only three are now liv-
ing (if we except Mrs. Chandler, daughter of Michael
La Croix), and they are now far advanced in life. A
short time ago I visited these three persons, and
listened to an account of their early recollections of
Peoria, as well as the traditions of their ancestors.
One of these descendants, Robert Forsyth, a man
of wealth and enterprise, lives on a farm six miles
west of St. Louis.'- He is a son of Thomas Forsyth,
a trader and Indian agent at Peoria at the time it
was burned, and for many years after an agent of
the Sacs and Foxes at Rock Island. Mr. Forsyth
was of Irish lineage, a half-brother of John Kinzie,
of Chicago, and the early part of his life was spent
among the French and Indians at Peoria. He was
one of the claimants for the land on which the city
of Peoria now stands, and his son Robert (above re-
* Died since writing the above.
393
294 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
ferred to) prosecuted these claims against the occu-
pants, and obtained from them a large sum of
money.
Major Thomas Forsyth for nearly twenty years
was employed by the government as an Indian agent,
and . he is frequently referred to, both in General
Clark's and governors' dispatches to the secretary of
war. He appears to have been the only American-
born citizen in the west, at that time, with whom
the Indians had confidence, and chiefs of various
tribes continued to counsel with him until the time
of his death, which occurred at St. Louis October
29, 1833.
In reference to the burning of Peoria Major For-
syth made an entry in his journal which contains the
following language: " A band of ruffians from Shaw-
neetown, commanded by Captain Thomas E. Craig,
took us prisoners as though w.e were malefactors,
and set us adrift on the bank of the Mississippi, near
where Savage's ferry now is. Many poor unfortu-
nate persons with wives and small children had not
a change of clothing nor a blanket to protect them
from the col'd winds."
Rene La Croix, another of the descendants of the
Peoria French, lives in Belleville, and like Robert
Forsyth made money out of the French land claims.
His father, Michael La Croix, married Catherine
DESCENDANTS OF FRENCH SETTLERS. 295
Dubuque, cousin of Julian Dubuque, a noted pio-
neer and founder of the city in Iowa which still
bears his name. La Croix came to Peoria in 1805,
and for many years was engaged in trade, shipping
furs to Canada in a two-mast batteau, and loading
back with goods for the Indian market. He was on his
way to Canada with his batteau, loaded with furs,
when the town was destroyed, and on arriving at Mon-
treal heard that the Yankees had burned Peoria, and
killed all its inhabitants, among whom were his wife
and children. With his heart filled with revenge
he joined the British army, became an officer, and
took part in many of the battles which followed.
At the close of the war La Croix learned that his
family were not killed, as reported, but living at Ca-
hokia, consequently he came west to join them. A
few years after joining his family he died, and his
widow married John Reynolds, afterward Governor
of Illinois.
Hypolite Pilette, a descendant of the Peoria
French, is a son of Louis Pilette, one of the French
land claimants, born at Peoria in 1799, and is now
living on the American Bottom. He claims to be a
great-grandson of Captain Richard Pilette, who in
1686 built Le Fort des Miamies, on Buffalo Rock,
and has now in his possession the sword, eagle and
epaulets worn by that distinguished personage. In
296 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
speaking of the burning of Peoria by Captain Craig,
in 1812, he said : % On a cold November morning,
when a boy of thirteen years of age, I was driven
from home without coat, hat or shoes ; my mother
sick with the ague, and with an infant in her arms,
was compelled to leave her* bed, protected from the
cold winds only by an Indian blanket, while our
house with all its contents were consumed by the
flames. My father a prisoner, my mother sick, rny
brothers and sisters almost naked, without food or
shelter, we were left to our fate. Thus were we
turned out of doors to freeze and starve, but fortu-
nately rescued by friendly Indians."
Three days after Peoria was burned Mrs. Pilette,
with her live small children, were put in a canoe by
the Indian chief Gomo, and in company with others
as unfortunate as herself started down the river.
After six days of exposure, and suffering from cold
and hunger, they reached Cahokia, and were pro-
vided for by their countrymen and friends. Pilette
is a jolly old Frenchman, fond of a bottle of wine,
and very talkative while under its influence. Al-
though born and raised in Illinois he speaks no
English except in broken, detached sentences, but
in his own language, I should judge, he is quite elo-
quent. While speaking of the past Pilette became
very much excited ; his eyes flashed with anger, his
PERILS OF FUR TKADEKS. 297
voice raised to a high key, while denouncing the
barbarous acts of Captain Craig, and from that time,
said he, " I hate Yankees.""
There are some facts connected with the burning
of Peoria not generally known, but when properly
understood will explain a matter which to many ap-
pears mysterious. A few months ago I called on an
old gentleman living in St. Louis, by the name of
James Porter, who was a soldier in Captain Craig's
command. Mr. Porter believes that he is the only
person now living who participated in burning
Peoria, and although seventy years have passed
away he has a vivid recollection of many of the inci-
dents which occurred on that eventful day. He says
all the soldiers believed that the French were assist-
ing the Indians to make war on the settlers, and this
belief was confirmed by Baptiste Snipkins, General
Howard's express, who carne on board of a boat as
soon as they arrived at Peoria.
Mr. Porter also says that it was afterward ascer-
tained that the depredation on the settlement was
committed by a war party of Sacs, and Foxes, and
the Indians along the Illinois River were innocent
as well as the French. When all the facts became
known, years after Peoria was burned, Captain Craig
and many of those under his command were filled
298 PIONEEKS OF ILLINOIS.
with remorse on account of having committed this
outrage on innocent people.
PERILS OF PUR TRADERS ON ILLINOIS RIVER.
After the burning of Peoria there was but little
trade on the Illinois River for three years, and the
Indians failing to obtain their usual supply of goods
were in a suffering condition. For an American
trader to enter the Indian country would be at the
risk of his life, and while French traders were safe
from harm among the Indians, they were liable to
fall into the hands of soldiers, and have their goods
confiscated to the government. After the evacua-
tion of Fort Dearborn a Frenchman named Du Pin
took possession of John Kinzie's dwelling, and for
three years traded with the Indians. During the
continuation of the war a number of Frenchmen con-
tinued to live with the Indians, but none of them ex-
cept Du Pin kept a stock of goods for Indian trade.
In the summer of 1814 Jacques Jarret, a French
Canadian, came down the Illinois River in a batteau
loaded with goods for the Indian market. The
trader had two Frenchmen employed as boatsmen,
and an Englishman named John Ford acted as a
clerk and salesman. At different places where the
batteau stopped to trade the Indians looked on Ford
with much suspicion, accused him of being an Amer-
BURNING OF FOET CLARK. 299
lean, and at one time threatened him with death.
While the batteau lay at the mouth of Crow Creek,
for the purpose of trade, a large number of warriors
collected around Ford, denounced him as an Ameri-
can and a spy, and made him a prisoner, and were
about to carry him off to a place of execution. In
vain Jarret tried to make the warriors understand that
Ford was an Englishman, and that his country was
then at war with the Americans. After a long parley
the prisoner was ransomed by the trader giving the
captors a large amount of goods for his liberation.
After this narrow escape from death Ford laid aside
his fashionable suit, clothed himself as a boatman,
and disguised his face with paint. From that time
he spoke no language in the presence of Indians,
and was known thereafter among them as the deaf
and dumb Frenchman.
BURNING OF FORT CLARK.
For many years this old historical spot at the foot
of the lake was known as Fort Clark, but as the town
became a place of importance it again resumed
its former name, "Peoria." At the close of the
British war the Chauteaus and Menards continued
the fur trade along the Illinois River until super-
seded by the American Fur Company. In 1816
Antoine Des Champs received an appointment of
300 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
general agent of the American Fur Company in Illi-
nois territory. Des Champs was an old fur trader,
at one time a resident of Peoria, but afterward at
Cahokia, and proved to be an efficient agent. He
dispatched runners to different Indian villages,
requesting the inhabitants to meet him at Fort Clark
on the 5th of August to receive presents sent them
by the great fur company. At the appointed time
about one thousand Indians were collected at the
old fort when Des Champs arrived with a Mackinaw
boat loaded with goods. After making many pres-
ents to the Indians, and obtaining their promise to
patronize the new fur company, he establishing trad-
ing-posts at various places along the river.
It has already been stated that Fort Clark was
built in the fall of 1813, abandoned soon after, and
never occupied by troops again. No white person
lived in Peoria (then called Fort Clark) after the
troops left it until the spring of 1819. The gate of
the fort having been left open it became a lair for
deer, and a roost for wild turkeys. In the fall of
1816 a party of hunters from St. Clair county came
to Fort Clark and 'found about twenty deer in the
fort, and the floors of the block-houses covered with
manure. The hunters cleaned out this building, and
occupied it as a residence during a stay of ten days
while hunting deer and collecting honey in the
BURNING OF FORT CLARK. 301
river timber. Fort Clark stood unmolested until
the fall of 1818, when it was burned by the Indians.
The following account of the burning of Fort
Clark is taken from the statements of Colonel Gur-
don S. Hubbard, now a resident of Chicago:
In the fall of 1818 Antoine Des Champs, general
agent of the American Fur Company, accompanied
by a number of persons, were on their way to St.
Louis with two boats loaded with furs. On corning
around a point in the lake they discovered Fort Clark
on fire, and near it were about two hundred In-
dians engaged in a war dance. The warriors, almost
naked, hideously painted, as they went through
the dance yelled like demons. They had a large
number of scalps hanging to their belts, and in one
part of the dance these were placed on the ends of
spears and held above their heads, after which they
went through the motions of taking them from the
heads of the victims. Des Champs was well ac-
quainted with many of the Indians, and went among
them engaged in conversation, leaving the boats
guarded by one of his men and Mr. Hubbard, who
at that time was a boy of sixteen years of age. The
Indians inquired of Des Champs about this boy,
who in reply said that he was his adopted son from
Montreal, but they did not credit this statement, say-
ing he looked like an American, and regarded him
302 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
with suspicion. An Indian took a scalp from his
belt, and held it near Hubbard's face, saying to him
that it was taken from the head of his countryman.
Young Hubbard became very much frightened, but
when the Indian urinated on the scalp, and with it
sprinkled his face, all fear vanished, and picking up
a gun which lay in the bottom of the boat fired at
the Indian, bat the man in charge of the boat threw
up the muzzle as it went oft0, thereby saving the In-
dian's life. This affair created great excitement,
V
and Des Champs fearing trouble bade his Indian
friends good-by, went aboard of the boats, and con-
tinued on his way down the river.
Although the block-houses and part of the stock-
ades of Fort Clark were burned, as above stated, a>
portion of the latter stood for many years after. In
the spring of 1819 a party of the emigrants from
Clinton county, among whom were Captain Abner
Eads, Isaac and Josiah Fuhlton and J. Hersey, came
to Fort Clark, and from that time dates the American
settlement here. These emigrants pitched their
tents against the stockades of the old fort, and for
years the inclosure within the pickets was used for
penning cattle. During the Black Hawk war, in
1832, the old fort was repaired, new pickets put in
place of burned ones, and intended as a place of pro-
tection from an attack of Indians.
GENERAL INDEX.
American Bottom - - 183
American Pioneers of Illinois - - 206
Antiquities of Illinois 17
Aztalan the ruined city - - 197
A scene of horror - 75
Besiegers and besieged - - - 155
Bourassa, Colonel Joseph N. cited 160
Brady's Tom wild adventure - - 119
Baptiste Jean and Father Bonner- 212
Baldwin Elmer cited - 201-202
Black Partridge, a noted Indian chief - 242
Saves the life of Mrs. Helm - - 245
Destruction of his village 251
In defense of his country - - 280
Besson'.s Mrs. narrative 257
Bruce Elijah a vagabond - 239
Bucher's Father Jacques manuscript - - 117
Buffalo disappearance of - - 209
Burning of Peoria - 265
Chicago, early history of - 210
Chassagoac, an Indian chief 101
Clark, Colonel G. R. conquest of Illinois - 127
Cross raised on the bank of Chicago River - 38
Chartres Fort - - 180
Cahokia - 186
Chauteau Auguste and Pierre mentioned - 202
Costumes and manners of the French - 222
304 GENERAL INDEX.
Council at Cahokia - - 234
Craig's Captain attack on Peoria 264
De Beuro Pierre an Indian trader - - 229
Domestic animals left by the captives - 273
Davenport, Colonel George - - 282
Descendants of French settlers at Peoria - 293
Des Champs Antoine mentioned - - 301
English and French relation with Indians - 205
Edwards Governor Ninian mentioned - - 237
Fort Creve-Cceur 57
Fort St. Louis building of - 83
Attacked by Iroquois 87
Burned - - 99
Relics of - 173
French settlement at - - 104
Fox River the ruined fort of 201
French inhabitants of Peoria - - 222
French land claims - 226
False report circulated - - 239
French at Peoria - 262
Fort Clark, building of - - - 284
Burning of - 299
Ghastly spectacle - - - 163
Gold, searching for - 168
Goodell Dr. J. H. referred to - 201
Gabriel, Father death of - 73
History, errors of - - 173
Hitt, Colonel D. F. cited - 173-176-201
Helm, Lieutenant ransomed - - 254
Heald Captain mentioned - 255
Howard's General expedition - - 279
Hubbard Colonel G. S. cited -
GENERAL INDEX. 305
Illinois topography of River ... 22
Early French settlement of - 112
British rule of ... 117
Early government of 207
Indians Illinoisans - 24
Massacre of 25
Iroquois raid of 26
Tribes in Illinois territory - 193
Drepredations of - ... 232
Council on Bureau ... 247
Trade with - .... 85
Joliet Louis mentioned ... 30
Jennette Medore, a fur trader ... 202
Kennedy Pat searching for copper - 125
Kaskaskia - - 187
Kaskaskia and Cahokia Indians - 189
Kinzie John mentioned - ... 244
La Vantum or great Illinois town - 47
Yoyageurs at 34
French at - 62
La Pance Felix cited - 49
La Salle and friends western bound - 53
In an Indian camp 59
Success, failure and death - 86
Le Fort des Miamis 93
Louisiana colony - - 102
Le Rocher - 171
La ville de Maillet 218
Lee Charles noticed - 258
Marquette Jacques 28
Death of - 43
Resurrecting his bones - 45
Mammoth and Mastodon - 20
Massac Fort of 20
306 GENERAL INDEX.
Marseilles, ancient fortification at - - - 199
Mississippi River, discovery of - 30
Mission of Immaculate Conception - 40
Monks of La Trappe - 194
Old fort near Starved Rock - - 195
Peoria Lake of - 56
Burning of
Indians - 191
Pilette Captain Richard mentioned - - 93
Hypolite mentioned -
Pontiac - 137
Assassinated - - 147"
Prairie du Rocher - - 185
Porter James mentioned - 297
Relics of French and Indians - - 174
Relics of a tragedy 166
Rock of refuge - 142
Retribution unjust 249
Robinson Lieutenant in search of the enemy - 288
St. Louis, early settlement of
St. Joseph expedition against -
Starved Rock
Tecumseh at Peoria - 231
Emissaries from 248
Tidings of war 243
Territory of Illinois at the time of the British
war - 243
Treaty of peace - 280
Torturing prisoners 72
Tonti de Henri - 70
Return of his victorious army - 90
Death of - 96
"Wolsey's Amanda captivity 276
, I
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