The+Battle+of+Campbell+Island,+1814

Original Author: Christina Diaz, A&S 195 Revision Author:
 * The Battle of Campbell’s Island, 1814 **

While some information regarding the Battle of Campbell’s Island can be found on websites such as [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campbell's_Island,_Illinois], often the information is brief, at best. However, the Moline Public Library (Illinois) has a historical room in which one would be able to find a compilation of information regarding this battle. The //Battle of Campbell’s Island// (1904) is a collection of information gathered from previous works regarding the battle that took place on Campbell’s Island on July 19, 1814 between the “Americans and Black Hawk’s band” during the Black Hawk War (3). Author William A. Meese explained that he was disappointed after he researched this battle and found almost little to no mention in most history books regarding the war. Therefore, he gathered up all his resources and compiled this short book, explaining the battle in as much detail as he could muster. His main goal was for people who were interested in this bit of history to be able to use his book as their main source, rather than having to find all the minute tidbits of knowledge scattered around. In his one book, he was able to provide information regarding the origin, expedition, battle, and outcomes for Campbell’s Island.

Campbell’s Island was located about “six miles east of the city of Moline, Illinois and was often under private ownership and used for agriculture” (5). The island was originally known for being “home of the grape” for it was so abundant in its vines. Meese explained that the north shore was a beach of sand “whose whiteness rival[ed] all the sands of the oceans.” Meese went on to describe how those sands and trees that grew along the shore “[were] all that remain[ed] as memories of that eventful day when the American, bound on his mission to keep the peace, was waylaid by the cruel…savages, and innocent blood was shed to render more crimson the story of border warfare.” On “July 4, 1814, the [Campbell’s] expedition left Cape au Gris… [with] three fortified barges, each with a cabin and all having sails” (11). The occupants consisted of thirty-three regular soldiers and sixty-five rangers, including some Frenchmen from Cahokia. However, the expedition also included women and children, all together making “one-hundred and thirty-three persons.” Lieutenant John Campbell (also “acting as Brigade Major”) of the First Regulars Infantry occupied one boat, while the other two were occupied by Lieutenant Stephen Rector and Lieutenant Jonathan Riggs.

On July 13, 1814, “about eighty miles below the mouth of the Rock River, they met a party of Indians from Prairie du Chien, with a packet directed to Governor Clark.” The Indians told Campbell that all was quiet and the garrison had been completed. Once again, on the eighteenth of July, the expedition was met by a party of nine Indians in canoes, bearing a white flag. They told Campbell that they had heard of their approach and came to welcomes them in peace. However, they also requested council with Lieutenant Campbell, in which Black Hawk and about one-hundred and fifty warriors (excluding women and children) appeared. Upon approach, Black Hawk asked Campbell if he had come bearing gifts for him from his father (12). Campbell replied that he had, only if Black Hawk still planned on following through with his end of the bargain by going to war with the Winnebago’s. Black Hawk then claimed that he had made no such promise, and that in fact, Campbell’s father had been drunk when he had asked him. Regardless of the mishap, Black Hawk then promised to bring war to the Winnebago’s, but only if his tribe were provided with the means to do so. Black Hawk ended this exchange with “The Mississippi is a broad and straight road and the people of the United States shall meet with no obstructions in traveling.” Keeping in spirit, the Indians remained very friendly through the remainder of the night.

The next morning, on July 19, 1814, the expedition continued on its way and set sail up the river. However, later that night, Black Hawk was approached by a party of Indians from the Prairie du Chien, bringing with them “six kegs of powder and telling them that the fort at Prairie du Chien had been captured by the British. These [same] messengers then told the Sacs (Black Hawk’s tribe) that the British wished them to again join them in the war against the Americans” (12). Unbeknownst as to why, Black Hawk agreed to do so. Meese actually pointed out that Black Hawk’s memory was flawed, for he never could quite accurately account what exactly it was that the Indian messengers told him. Regardless, Black Hawk collected his warriors and became determined to attack the boats that had started up river earlier that day. Black Hawk took after these boats by land, hoping that he would somehow run into them (if they came back to shore) and believing that the “GREAT SPIRIT would put them in [Black Hawk’s] power, if he wished them taken.” In Black Hawk’s favor, it just so happened that Lieutenant Campbell found himself with a boat that was loaded down too heavy and approaching hurricane-like winds (13). Campbell is noted having said “I was afraid of her [the boat] dashing to pieces on the rocks, and ordered her to be put to shore…and the roughness of the water dashed her so hard on the shore it was impossible to get her off while the storm lasted.” Unfortunately for Campbell and his companions, it wasn’t long before Black Hawk came upon them and noticed their predicament.

Upon coming to shore, Campbell placed two sentinels about sixty yards from the boats and allowed the rest of the men to have breakfast (13). No more than a mere twenty-five to thirty minutes had passed when the Indians “commenced their attack.” Both sentinels and another man were killed immediately, upon first fire. Lieutenant Campbell immediately called for the cables tethering the boat to be cut, so they could seek safety offshore. However, during this process, two more men were killed while three more were wounded. Regardless of efforts, the winds were pushing against the shore, not allowing the boat to leave. Finally, Lieutenant Campbell ordered his men to do their best to defend the boat.

Meanwhile, “both Lieutenant Rector and [Lieutenant] Riggs were about three miles upriver at this time.” Upon seeing the smoke and hearing the firing, they both turned around and headed towards Campbell’s Island. Once they were closer to the island, they were dismayed to see that Indians had Campbell’s boat surrounded-especially because the storm was preventing them from getting close enough to help. The Indians could be seen “among the bushes and in the trees, [while] a large number were also seen coming in canoes from the eastern shore” (13). Overall, it was later estimated that they were surrounded by about four-hundred Indians. The Indians must have sensed their looming victory, for they were heard shouting their “war-whoop and pouring in on them a fire of musketry and arrows.” The battle lasted several hours and eventually Black Hawk got close enough to set fire to Campbell’s boat (14). Upon seeing this dreadful outcome, Rector could no longer bear to see Campbell’s men suffering so much. Therefore, he and his crew cut anchor and entered the water from behind their boat, pushing so that they were able to get closer while using their boat as a shield of sorts. Once they were close enough, Rector’s men started transferring Campbell’s men to their boat. The boat became so heavy that they had to throw out almost all of their provisions in order to stay afloat. Afterwards, the men in the water pushed the boat back out a distance until they were all able to safely climb in. Then, all the men took turns, rowing night and day until they reached safety in St. Louis (15).

Overall, a heavy price was paid for this battle. The “wounded on Campbell’s boat included ten regulars and one woman; on Rector’s boat, four rangers; and on Rigg’s boat, four rangers [as well]” (15). Including the wounded Campbell and the garrison surgeon, that left twenty-one persons wounded in the battle overall. However, there were also sixteen casualties. Black Hawk, on the other hand, only claimed two losses on his side (19). However, due to the circumstances reported, it is believed that his band also suffered quite a loss, but that he may have just refused to acknowledge any further losses.

While The Black Hawk War is a very recognizable piece of history from our past, not a lot has been mentioned regarding the Battle of Campbell’s Island. Hopefully, by providing the history of the island’s origins, the past history in regards to expeditions and the battle (including the outcome), Meese was able to provide readers an accurate, overall account of the Battle of Campbell’s Island.

[|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campbell's_Island,_Illinois] Meese, William A. //Battle of Campbell’s Island.// 1904.
 * Works Cited **

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