In the spring of 1832, the land along the Rock River became a battlefield as the United States fought a band of Sauk and Fox Indians over their tribal homelands in northwestern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Nearly 30 years earlier, Sauk and Mesquakie leaders had ceded to the United States all tribal lands east of the Mississippi, more than 50 million acres, in exchange for land in Iowa and a yearly payment of $1,000. One elderly Sauk warrior, Black Hawk, remained in Illinois and, though he vowed not to attack, refused to leave. He led about 1,000 men, women, and children north along the Rock River, calling at villages in hopes of persuading other tribes to join in reclaiming their land. On May 14, 1832, three Sauk messengers carrying a white flag were shot by Illinois militiamen, and Black Hawk's warriors retaliated by winning the battle known as Stillman's Run despite being outnumbered 12 to 1, marking the beginning of the Black Hawk War. After several early victories, Black Hawk continued north along the Rock River, but other tribes refused to join him and his troops suffered heavy losses. On August 27, after being driven into Wisconsin and losing most of his warriors, Black Hawk surrendered. More than 1,300 U.S. Army troops and state militiamen were called up to fight in the war, including Zachary Taylor, Jefferson Davis, and a 23-year-old grocery clerk from New Salem named Abe Lincoln.

Photo: Darren Jefferson Clay

Photo: Anonymous

Oregon, Illinois · USA