The story of the captured girls, which fitly follows, is taken from
Matson's "Reminiscences of Bureau County," and is mainly the personal
narrative of Rachel, the elder of the two sisters:
"After being
placed on horseback and guarded by two Indians, who rode by our side,
holding on to the reins of the bridles, we commenced our long, tedious
journey. We rode most of the time on a canter, and the Indians frequently
looked back, as though they were afraid of being followed by the rangers,
who were at that time roaming through the country. We continued to travel at
a rapid rate until near midnight, when we halted to rest our horses. After
waiting about two hours, we continued our journey, traveling all night and
next day until noon, when we again halted. Here our captors turned out their
horses to graze, built a fire, scalded some beans, and roasted some acorns,
of which they offered us some to eat, but we declined tasting. We remained
in camp a few hours; during that time the Indians were engaged in dressing
the scalps, by stretching them on small willow hoops. Among these scalps I
recognized my mother's, by the bright color of her hair. The sight of this
produced in me a faintness, and I fell to the ground in a swoon, from which
I was soon after aroused, in order to continue our journey. After leaving
the camp we traveled more leisurely than before, until about nine o'clock at
night we reached the camp of Black Hawk, after having rode near ninety miles
in twenty-eight hours.
"We found the Indian camp on the bank of a
creek, surrounded by marshy ground, over which were scattered burr oak
trees, being, as we afterward learned, near the Four Lakes, (now Madison
City, Wisconsin).
"On our arrival in camp, a number of squaws came
to our assistance, taking us from our horses, and conducting us into a
wigwam. These squaws were very kind to us, and gave us some parched corn and
maple sugar to eat, it being the first food that we had tasted since our
captivity.
"Our arrival in camp caused great rejoicing among the
Indians. A large body of warriors collected around us, beating on drums,
dancing, and yelling at the top of their voices. Next morning our fear of
massacre or torture had somewhat subsided, and we were presented with beans
and maple sugar for breakfast. They also offered us coffee to eat, which had
been taken from Davis's house, not knowing that it required to be ground and
boiled before being used. About ten o'clock, the camp was broken up, and we
moved five or six miles, crossing a creek, and encamped on high ground,
which was covered with timber. We were provided with horses to ride, and
behind us was packed camp equipage, which consisted of tents, kettles,
provisions, etc. On arriving at our new camp, a white birch pole was stuck
into the ground, on which were hung the scalps of our murdered friends,
being exhibited here as trophies of war. About fifty warriors, who were
divested of clothing and their faces painted red, danced around this pole to
the music of drums and rattling gourds. Eveiy day during our stay with the
Indians, this pole containing the scalps was erected, and the dance
repeated.
"One morning a party of warriors came to our lodge and
took us out, placing in our hands small red flags, and made us march around
the encampment with them, stopping and waving the flags at the door of each
wigwam. After this we were taken to the dance-ground, by the side of the
white pole containing the scalps, and by the side of which a blanket was
spread. After painting our faces, one half red and the other black, we were
made to lie down on the blanket, with our faces to the ground. The warriors
then commenced dancing around us, flourishing their tomahawks and war clubs
over our heads, and yelling like demons. We now thought our time had come,
and quietly awaited our fate, expecting every moment to be our last. When
the dance was over, we were taken away by two squaws, who we understood to
be the wives of Black Hawk. By these squaws we were adopted as their
children; although separated, we were allowed to visit each other
frequently. Each day our camp was moved a few miles, always traveling in a
circular route. Along the trail, at short intervals, the Indians would erect
poles, with tufts of grass tied on one side, showing to the hunters in what
direction the camp could be found. Our fears of massacre had entirely
disappeared, being adopted into the families of these squaws, not being
required to do any work, but watched closely to prevent our escape.
"Some days after our arrival in Black Hawk's camp, we were told that we must
go with two Winnebago chiefs, who had come for us. The squaws with whom we
lived were greatly distressed at the thought of parting with us. The
Winnebago chiefs tried to make us understand that they were about to take us
to white people, but we did not believe them. Thinking they intended to take
us farther, from home and friends, we clung to the squaws, and refused to
go.
"Contrary to our wish, we were placed on horses, behind each of
the chiefs, and with us they galloped away, traveling twenty miles that same
night. The chiefs said that they were afraid of being followed by some of
the Sacs and Foxes, who were displeased at our departure. Every few moments
the chiefs would look back to see if they were pursued, and then whip their
ponies again into a gallop.
"Some time after dark we arrived at the
Winnebago camp, where we remained over night. Early next morning we
continued our journey, traveling all day, when we arrived at an encampment
on the Wisconsin River, where there were about one hundred warriors. During
next day a party of Sac Indians, dressed in the clothes of murdered white
men, came into camp. These Indians commenced talking to us, but the
Winnebago chiefs told us to turn away from them, and not listen to what they
said, which we did."
It was afterward ascertained that a petty chief
who had captured the girls, was off on a hunt at the time they were given up
to the Winnebago chiefs, and not receiving his portion of the ransom,
immediately started with a party of warriors to retake them, or kill them in
the attempt. These warriors did not overtake the girls until they arrived
safe at the Winnebago camp.
"White Crow asked if we thought the
whites would hang them if they took us to the fort. We gave them to
understand that they would not. White Crow then collected his horses, and
with Whirling Thunder and about twenty of the Winnebagoes, we crossed the
river and pursued our journey, my sister and myself each on a separate
horse. We encamped about dark, rose early next morning, and after a hasty
meal of pork and potatoes (the first we had seen since our captivity), of
which we ate heartily, we traveled on until we reached the fort, near Blue
Mounds, Wisconsin Territory.
"Before our arrival there, we had
become satisfied that our protectors were taking us to our friends, and that
we had formerly done them injustice. About three miles from the fort we
stopped, and the Indians cooked some venison, after which they took a white
handkerchief which I had, and tying it to a long pole, three Indians
proceeded with it to the fort. About a quarter of a mile from there, we were
met by a Frenchman. The Indians formed a ring, and the Frenchman rode into
it, and had a talk with our protectors. The latter expressed an
unwillingness to give us up until they could see Mr. Gratiot, the agent.
Being informed by the Frenchman that we should be well treated, and that
they should see us daily until Mr. Gratiot's arrival, they delivered us into
the Frenchman's care.
"We repaired immediately to the fort, where
the ladies of the garrison (who in the mean time had assembled) received us
with the utmost tenderness. We were thereupon attired once more in the
costume of our own country, and next day started for Galena.
"On
reaching a little fort at White Oak Springs, we were met by our eldest
brother, who, together with a younger one, was at work in a field near the
house when we were captured, and when the massacre began, fled, and arrived
in safety at Dixon's Ferry. On leaving Galena, we went on board the
steamboat "Winnebago," for St. Louis, which place we reached in five days,
and were kindly received by its citizens and hospitably entertained by
Governor Clark. Previous to our leaving Galena, we had received an
affectionate letter from the Rev. Mr. Horn, of Morgan County, Illinois,
inviting us to make his house our future home. We accepted the invitation,
and left St. Louis in the steamboat "Caroline," for Beardstown, on the
Illinois River, where we arrived on the third day thereafter. On landing, we
were kindly received by the citizens, and in a few hours reached the
residence of Mr. Horn, five miles distant, in the latter part of July, 1832,
when our troubles ended."
The Misses Hall's brother having married
and settled in Putnam County, Illinois, about this time, he invited his
sisters to come and reside with him. They did so in the fore part of August,
1832. The elder Miss Hall afterward, in March, 1833, married Mr. William
Munson, and settled in La Salle County, about twelve miles north of Ottawa.
The younger sister, in May, 1833, married Mr. William Horn, a son of the
clergyman who had so kindly offered them a home in his family, removed to
Morgan County, Illinois, and afterward to Nebraska.
The Misses Hall
were captured May 21, 1832. According to the foregoing account, they were
three days in traveling with their captors, and continued five days with the
Sacs at their camp. This would bring the time up to May 29. They were five
days more in traveling with the Winnebagoes to the Blue Mounds, which
comports with all the reliable statements of the time of their being
delivered up to the whites, which was June 3, 1832.
William Munson,
who became the husband of Rachel Hall, a few years ago erected a beautiful
marble monument at the grave where the fifteen victims were buried. It is in
view of the public road leading from north to south in Freedom Township,
near .the banks of Indian Creek and the scene of the massacre. The
inscriptions are: First - "Wm. Hall, aged 45; Mary J. Hall, aged 45;
Elizabeth Hall, aged 8." Second "Wm. Pettigrew, wife and two children, -
Davis, wife and five children, and Emery George." At the bottom, "Killed May
20, 1832."
Mrs. Munson (Rachel Hall) died May 1, 1870.
For some days after the massacre at Indian Creek the terrified settlers remained close around the Forts at Ottawa and Peru. As no Indians were seen, the whites took courage and sent out scouts here and there. Those who had hurriedly left their homes were becoming anxious to look after their stock and other property the savages had spared. For this purpose an expedition, accompanied by a few soldiers, left Ottawa for Holderman's Grove and Fox River. A Mr. Schemerhorn and his son-inlaw, Hazleton, went up to Dayton, on Fox River, four miles north of Ottawa, and crossing there to join the expedition referred to, discovered on the Dunnovan farm a party of Indians, and turned and fled. A soldier who had lagged behind his comrades saw them, and also retreated, pursued by a dozen savages. The Indians, forbear of alarming the soldiers, did not fire their guns, but threw their spears at him. He escaped to Ottawa, and getting help, returned to find Schemerhorn and Hazleton both killed and scalped. A small scalp was taken from Hazleton's head, but Schemerhorn being nearly bald, was flayed to the neck. On the same day, Capt. James McFadden, commander of a company of home guards in Ottawa, James Baresford, and Ezekiel and Daniel Warren were picking strawberries south of Indian Creek. They had been thus engaged for some time, when one of the Warren's remarked that they were too near the bushes, for Indians might be concealed there, and mounting his horse, rode off. The others remained a short time, when a shot was fired from the timber, and a dozen Indians were seen. Baresford was killed and McFadden shot through the ankle, the bullet passing through the body of his horse, but the faithful animal carried his wounded master beyond the reach of Indians before it fell. The Warrens came to the assistance of the wounded man, and one of them dismounted and gave McFadden his horse, with the singular agreement that if the Indians pursued and were likely to overtake the man on foot, McFadden was to dismount and yield his scalp to the foe! But the Indians did not pursue, and the three escaped.
Extracted 30 Aug 2018 by Norma Hass from Records of the Olden Time, 1880, by Spencer Ellsworth, pages 115-120.
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