War Of 1812 (Second Part Of The 1812 Timeline)

Note: Outline Per Wikipedia (with revisions):

1812	Jul 17	Capture of Fort Mackinac*
1812	Jul 19	Attack at Sackets Harbor**
1812	Aug 5	Battle of Brownstown
1812	Aug 8	British General Isaac Brock embarks at Port Dover for the relief of Amherstburg***
1812	Aug 8	Battle of Maguaga
1812	Aug 15	Fort Dearborn massacre
1812	Aug 16	Surrender of Detroit
1812	Aug 19	Capture of HMS Guerriere****

* "That it should fare hard with the garrison of Fort Mackinac was, under the circumstances, a foregone conclusion. They [the British] were...stationed at St. Joseph's Island. Capt. Roberts received intelligence of the declaration of war on July 15 and was directed to attack Fort Mackinac immediately.  Among the force of a thousand and odd must have been many who knew Mackinac well; indeed, as a former British post, fort and island must have been familiar in every detail to the officers in command, and on this knowledge, no doubt, was based the plan of attack." [Source]

** Gunboats were in process of construction at Sackets Harbor... . One of these, the Oneida, was attacked July 19, 1812, by five British vessels... . [Source]

 *** General Brock told us that it was his intention to go up at once to the western district along the shore of Lake Erie in boats to embark at what is now Port Dover. [Source]

Maguaga Battle-Ground

**** To compensate our readers in some degree for the disappointment and mortification they cannot but feel at the misfortune of our little army under gen. Hull, it is with feelings of pride and pleasure that we refer them to the gallant exploit of capt. Hull, his nephew, in the frigate Constitution in capturing and destroying the British frigate Guerriere. [Source]

The Morning Of July 19

"The battle of Campbell's Island", July 19, 1814

On the morning of July 19, before breakfast, the boats all set sail and started up the river, with a fine breeze. During the night a party of Indians arrived at the Sac village from Prairie du Chien, coming down Rock river bringing the Sacs six kegs of powder and telling them that the fort at Prairie du Chien had been captured by the British. These messengers told the Sacs that the British wished them to again join them in the war against the Americans, which the Indians agreed to do.

Tablet Marking Site Of Old Fort Dearborn

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Fort Dearborn, Chicago

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Blackhawk's View

Campbell's Island, Illinois

"The battle of Campbell's Island", July 19, 1814

Black Hawk says, "About half way up the rapids I had a full view of the boats, all sailing with a strong wind, I soon discovered one boat badly managed and was suffered to be driven ashore, by the wind, they landed by running hard aground, and lowered their sail, the others passed on."

Letter Of The 27th

Cannon At Campbell's Island, Illinois

"The battle of Campbell's Island", July 19, 1814

Black Hawk's memory is at fault, he does not state exactly what these Indian messengers told him. Colonel McKay, whose army of British and Indians had attacked Prairie du Chien, in a letter to his superior officer, under date of July 27, 1814, says that on the seventeenth of July about three o'clock in the afternoon, after the gun boat "Governor Clark" had been driven from its position by the British cannon and had started down the river, that he immediately sent off a canoe with three men, an Iowan, who had come from Mackinac with him, and two of the six Sauks, who had joined him on the Fox river, that he gave them four kegs of gun powder and ordered them to pass the "Governor Clark" and get as soon as possible to the Rapids at the Rock river, where he believed the gun boat would run aground; that they should collect all the Sauks and annoy the "Governor Clark" and prevent their landing to get fire wood, etc.

Black Hawk collected his warriors and determined to attack the boats which had now started up the river, as Black Hawk says : "I collected my warriors and determined to pursue the boats, I immediately started with my party by land, in pursuit, thinking that some of their boats might get aground, or that the GREAT SPIRIT would put them in our power, if he wished them taken."

Casualties Of Cambell's Island

"The battle of Campbell's Island", July 19, 1814

The casualties were: killed on Campbell's boat, ten regulars, one woman and one child; on Rector's boat, one ranger; and on Riggs' boat, three rangers; a total of sixteen.

Wounded on Campbell's boat, ten regulars and one woman; on Rector's boat, four rangers; and on Rigg's boat four rangers, also Major Campbell and Dr. Stewart, the garrison surgeon, who was shot in the breast; a total of twenty-one, making the total casualties thirty-seven. All fought with the courage of heroes. Rector and his men risked their lives to save their comrades, and the battle at Campbell's Island has no equal for daring and heroism during the war of 1812 in the West.

Raging Battle Of Campbell's Island

The boats of Lieutenants Rector and Riggs were about three miles up the river at this time. Lieutenant Riggs' boat being in advance he heard the report of the firing and saw the smoke rising from where Campbell's boat lay, he tacked his boat and signaled Rector, who tacked his boat and both sailed for Campbell's boat. Rector's boat being the first to reach the scene of the battle. ...[Native Americans] were seen among the trees and bushes, and a large number of Indians were seen coming in canoes from the eastern shore. It was estimated that about four hundred Indians surrounded them. ...[They] commenced giving their war-whoop and pouring in on them a fire of musketry and arrows. Major Campbell's right wrist was fractured by a musket ball during the first onslaught, and he was carried into the cabin of his boat and laid on a bunk, while his men gallantly returned the fire of the Indians.

Campbell's boat was so near the bank that the Indians were able to fire in at the port oar holes. The storm had now become so violent that it was fully an hour before the other boats were able to come to Campbell's assistance.

Riggs' boat was driven ashore about one hundred yards below Campbell's boat, and Rector to avoid a similar fate, had let go an anchor, and layabout twenty yards above Campbell's boat, the rangers from both barges kept up a brisk fire on the Indians.

This unequal contest waged for several hours, when the firing from Campbell's boat becoming less frequent, led Lieutenant Rector to believe that most of Campbell's men were either killed or wounded.

Riggs' boat was the best fortified, but his crew had been weakened. When Campbell's boat was stranded on the rocks he sent a sergeant and ten men to help him off, and Campbell did not return the men. [Source]

Everything Was Quiet

Mississippi River Near Campbell's Island In Illinois

On the thirteenth of the month, about eighty miles below the mouth of Rock river, they met a party of Indians from Prairie du Chien, with a packet directed to Governor Clark. These Indians informed Campbell that everything was quiet, and that the garrison at the Prairie had been completed. The same day Lieutenant Rector, of the Rangers found a canoe which had a considerable quantity of Indian property in it, and which had just been abandoned. Source: "The battle of Campbell's Island"

The Second Expedition

Campbell's Expedition.

On July 4, 1814, the second expedition left Cape au Gris. It consisted of three fortified barges, or keel boats, each with a cabin and all having sails. There were thirty-three regular soldiers and sixty-five rangers, some of the latter being Frenchmen from Cahokia. [Source]

Map Including Cahokia, Illinois

The expedition including the sutlers establishment, boatmen, and women and children, making one hundred and thirty-three persons. This expedition was commanded by Lieutenant (acting Brigade Major) John Campbell of the First Regulars (infantry), who with the contractors and sutlers, women and children, occupied one boat. The two other boats being occupied by the Rangers and were commanded by Lieutenant Stephen Rector, and Lieutenant Jonathan Riggs. The number of Regulars in this expedition has been repeatedly given as forty-two; Major Campbell, however, reports that he had but thirty-three.

The First Expedition

The First Expedition.

So emboldened had the Indians become, and so grave the fear of an invasion by the British and Indians upon our northwestern frontier, that Ninian Edwards, Territorial Governor of Illinois, on March 27, 1813, wrote the Secretary of War: "If the British erect a fort at the mouth of the Wisconsin, and should be able to retain it two years, this, and Missouri Territory will be totally deserted ; in other words, conquered."

Mississippi River Near Moline, Illinois

At the beginning of the year 1814, it was decided to take measures whereby the Indians of the upper Mississippi river could be controlled.

The first operation decided on, was to build a fort at the village of Prairie du Chien. General Howard being absent. Governor Clark of Missouri, fitted out an expedition of one hundred and forty men, mostly of the Seventh Regiment of Rangers, and sent them up the Mississippi in five armed barges or keel boats. [Source]

Rector's Boat

Campbell's Island (Illinois) On The Mississippi River

From "The battle of Campbell's Island":

Rector's boat had among its crew many of the French from Cahokia who were experienced sailors. The wind was still a raging tempest, and the fire of the Indians was becoming more destructive to the boats; at this time Black Hawk says: " I prepared my bow and arrows to throw fire to the sail, which was laying on the boat, and after two or three attempts succeeded in setting the sail on fire."

Black Hawk

Campbell's boat was soon in flames. Lieutenant Rector could not remain inactive and witness the horrible death of Campbell and his companions. In the face of the tempest and the galling fire of the foe, he cut his anchors, a number of his men got out into the water, keeping the boat between them and the Indians, they pushed their boat against the fire of the Indians up to Campbell's boat. The wounded in Campbell's boat were first transferred to Rector's boat, and then those who were unhurt; so loaded was Rector's boat that the water was running in at the oar holes and almost all of their  provisions were thrown overboard to lighten the boat. The Indians all the time kept up a murderous fire. In taking the men from Campbell's boat the Major was shot through the body. Black Hawk in his autobiography states at this time : "We wounded the war chief."

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War Of 1812 Veteran Thomas Brown's Widow's Probate

Illinois Probate Records, 1819-1988  Gallatin Probate records 1871-1875 vol D:

Image 243

20 October 1873

James M. Brown, Exparte

Evidence In Relation To Elizabeth G. Brown

Elizabeth G. Brown, deceased

Widow of Thomas M. Brown, a soldier in the War of 1812

She was an invalid widow who lived with her son, James M. Brown

She died 6 January 1873, having a minor child

Meet Me In St. Louis

Portion Of Map With Mississippi River From Northern Illinois To Missouri

The aftermath of "The battle of Campbell's Island" in 1814:

Rector's boat with Campbell's men arrived at St. Louis first and when the news spread that Lieutenant Riggs and his men had been left on the Rock Island rapids, fighting the Indians, it was feared that all were captured by the Indians and when Riggs' boat later arrived at St. Louis on the twenty-sixth, there was great rejoicing and the occasion for a general jubilee. The entire company presented a distressing sight. Those not wounded were worn down to skeletons by labor and fatigue.

St. Louis Gardens

Battle Of Campbell's Island

"The battle of Campbell's Island" 

July 19, 1814 (alternate date -- July 21st)

The ground where the boat landed was covered with high grass, hazel and willow bushes for a considerable distance up and down the shore. Campbell immediately placed two sentinels about sixty yards from the boats, and the men commenced getting their breakfast.

They had not been on the Island more than twenty-five or thirty minutes when the Indians commenced their attack, both sentinels were killed the first fire, and one other man on shore. Campbell ordered the cable cut and the boat to be gotten off, in doing of which two men were killed and three wounded. Finding the gale blowed directly on land, and that it was impossible to get her off, he ordered his men to defend the boat to the last extremity.

Grounded On The Rocks

Between Rock Island And Campbell's Island On The Mississippi River

The boats had just passed the head of Rock Island, when the boat commanded by Major Campbell was grounded on the rocks, and he was compelled to discharge and put off part of her loading into theother boats before he could release his boat.

After proceeding about six miles the wind increased to a hurricane. Campbell's boat being still heavily loaded he says: "I was afraid of her dashing to pieces on the rocks, and ordered her to be put to shore, which in doing from the severe gale of wind which was blowing, and the roughness of the water dashed her so hard on shore it was impossible to get her off while the storm lasted." The boat was driven on the north shore of an island lying about six miles east of Moline and which since that day has been known as Campbell's Island. It lies near the eastern shore and belongs to the state of Illinois. [Source]

Keel Boats

Governor Clark, with several gentlemen who had accompanied him on the expedition, together with Captain John Sullivan and his company of militia whose term of office (sixty days) had expired, returned to St. Louis in one of the barges about the 13th of June, leaving Lieutenant Perkins in command, also leaving the two largest gunboats, one of which had been named "Governor Clark." Captain John Sullivan and Captain Yeizer were left in command of the boats.

Keel Boat Replica

These gun boats were nothing more than keel boats, strongly fortified, and supplied with six pounders and howitzers. The men being protected by a musket proof barricade.

Governor William Clark (From Portrait In St. Louis Museum)

Upon Governor Clark's return to St. Louis, he was tendered a public ovation, all of the citizen turning out and welcoming him as a hero, but subsequent information and events ruthlessly deprived him of his easily won military glory.

The last of June, Captain John Sullivan, with a company of militia and some volunteers whose term of service had expired, arrived in St. Louis with one gunboat. This left Lieutenant Perkins, with only sixty men, and the gunboat "Governor Clark," and her crew, commanded by Captain Yeizer. to guard the new fort.[Source]

Charles Gratiot Biography

Fort Gratiot Was Named For Charles Gratiot

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Also see Charles Gratiot delivers.

Ranger Thomas Higgins

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"A 'station' or block house, Hill's fort I believe, had been erected about eight miles southwest of the present site of Greenville, which in those days was one of the many points of rendezvous for the rangers while ranging over the Territory, and at that time it was garrisoned by 11 men, including Thomas Higgins under command of Lieut. John Journey of Capt. Jacob Short's company." [The rest of the story is a detailed account of an August 20th skirmish with Native Americans which may or may not be exaggerated.]

Gazing Towards Fort Dearborn

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