Battle of Rock Island Rapids
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Battle of Rock Island Rapids | |||||||
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Part of the War of 1812 | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
British allied Fox, and Kickapoo | United States | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Chief Black Hawk |
Major John Campbell (WIA) Lieutenant Stephen Rector Lieutenant Jonathan Riggs Federick Yezier | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
400 |
33 regulars of the 1st Infantry regiment 65 Illinois rangers | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
More than 2 killed |
14 killed 2 civilians killed 21 wounded Total: 37 |
The Battle of Rock Island Rapids, also called the Battle of Campbell Island, was an American defeat during the War of 1812 at the hands of the British allied Sauk, Fox, and Kickapoo. In July 1814, a military expedition was mounted to supply the U.S. garrison at Prairie du Chien after calls for help. The U.S. expedition was ambushed on July 19.[1] In the aftermath another expedition was sent to re-capture Prairie after it fell to the British. This expedition was also ambushed in the Battle of Credit Island and forced to retreat southwards.[2]
Events
Background
In June 1814, the U.S. Army at Fort Shelby, Prairie du Chien (present-day Wisconsin), was threatened with British and Indian attack. After calls for more supplies and men reached St. Louis, Governor William Clark of Missouri organized the expedition led by Lieutenant John Campbell.
Expedition
On July 4, Campbell's expedition left Cape au Gris with three fortified barges, or
On July 13, 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 of Missouri. They informed Campbell that the American garrison at Prairie was still holding on.[1]
On the eighteenth of July, about twenty miles below Rock river, the expedition was met by another party of nine Indians in canoes, bearing a white flag. They told Major Campbell that they had heard of the American's approach and had come to welcome them in peace. At the mouth of the Rock River the expedition was met by five other Indians in canoes, who informed to Campbell that the Indians at the village on Rock River, about a mile above its mouth wished to hold a council with him. The keel boats proceeded up the river and landed on the Illinois shore opposite of the lower end of Rock Island.
In a short time, about one hundred and fifty warriors, besides women and children of the Sauk and Fox nation appeared.
Forehand
On the morning of July 19, the expedition continued on its way to Prairie du Chien and set sail on the river pushed on by a fine breeze northwards. However, later last night, a party of
'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."
Battle of Campbell island
The keel was driven on the northern shore of what is now Campbell's island, lying about six miles east of
The keelboats of Lieutenants Rector and Riggs were about three miles up the river at this time. Lieutenant Riggs' boat being in front, had heard the firing and saw smoke rising from the island. He immediately turned around and tracked down Campbell's keel and signaled to Rector, who tracked the boat and sailed for the island. Once closer, they were dismayed to see that Indians had Campbell's boat surrounded and the storm was preventing them from getting close enough to help. Meanwhile, a large number of Indians were seen coming in large numbers in canoes from the eastern shore. Overall it was later estimated that they were surrounded by 400 Indians. The Indians poured a constant supply of musket fire and arrows on Campbell's beleaguered troops holding on to the keel. Two or three attempts at firing flaming arrows from Black Hawk's men at close range was successful in hitting the boat's sail and setting it ablaze. Major Campbell's right wrist was fractured by a musket ball during the onslaught. Pushed on by the storm the keel now became grounded deep within rocks.[3]
After an hour, the storm had died down allowing Rector to anchor his keel 20 yards away soon followed by Riggs' who anchored his 100 yards away. By now ten of the regulars and a woman and child lay dead. A fifth of the regulars were wounded and unable to fight. Rector's men were the first to reach the scene of the battle and assist in transferring the wounded to his boat. The boat became so heavy that Rector had to throw out almost all their provisions in order to stay afloat. Major Campbell was wounded again when he was shot through the chest. Four of Rector's Illinois rangers were killed in renewed Indian fire.[1][3]
The Governor Clark river gunboat commanded by Federick Yezier, damaged at Prairie from British artillery fire, had retreated downriver when it encountered Campbell's force. Arriving in perfect timing the gunboat helped in evacuating the remainder of Campbell's expedition. Once the evacuation was done, each man assisted in pushing the boat back a distance until it was offshore. Afterward, they took turns rowing night and day until they reached safety in St. Louis.
After the battle, the
Aftermath
Battle of Credit Island | |||||||
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Part of the War of 1812 | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
United Kingdom Sauk | United States | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Chief Black Hawk |
Zachary Taylor Captain Nelson Rector | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
800-1,200 Natives 30 British regulars and volunteers 1 Swivel guns | 334 regulars | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
None |
3 killed 14 wounded Total: 17 |
Campbell was later criticized by some writers for his defeat at Rock Island Rapids. Some claimed he did not place enough guards at his camp. Others blamed his lack of experience, while others said he disregarded warnings of an imminent Indian attack.[1][3]
Second Expedition
On August 23, 1814, another expedition led by Major
On September 4, Taylor's expedition reached the riverbed. Taylor realized his artillery would not be effective in destroying the Sauk village from his boats and disembarking was not possible due to the large numbers of Indians. He decided to feint movement upriver towards Prairie. While doing so a strong storm forced the Americans to land at Pelican island for the night. Two of the keelboats had poor anchors, and so were tied off on the shore.
Battle of Credit Island
It has been suggested that this article be merged with Credit Island. (Discuss) Proposed since February 2024. |
At first light on September 5, a number of Indians waded into Pelican island from Credit island and killed a U.S. sentry. Taylor disembarked a force to repel the attack and then instructed Captain Nelson Rector to ground his boat on Credit island to prevent another Indian attack, and to pour broadside after broadside from his swivel guns at any foe in range.
A thirty-man company of British and fur-trade employee volunteers under Lieutenant Duncan Graham transferred a 3-pound cannon and two swivel guns downstream on a knoll across Pelican island. They were joined by more than 800 to 1,200 massed Natives led by Chief Black Hawk. The position on the knoll gave clear view of Taylor's keelboats. An artillery barrage commenced inflicting serious damage on the American fleet. The first shot hitting directly at Taylor's boat. By one account 51 to 54 shots hit the boats. The barrage continued for 50 to 60 minutes. Afterward, Taylor retreated downriver, escaping his untenable position to the Illinois shore. American casualties were 3 killed and 14 wounded, three badly.
Taylor would later recount:
I was compelled to drop down about three miles before a proper place presented itself for landing, as but few of the boats had anchors sufficient to stop them in the river. Here I halted for the purpose of having the wounded attended and some of the boats repaired, as some of them had been injured by the enemy’s artillery.
Taylor's expedition raced downstream to St. Louis while the British being low on ammunition and supplies did not pursue the Americans. This was the last attempt to re-capture Prairie du Chien.[2]
See also
Sources
- ^ ISBN 9781611328837.
- ^ a b "Major Taylor's Battle". Illinois Genealogy. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
- ^ a b c d e f "Full text of "The battle of Campbell's Island"". www.archive.org. Retrieved 2016-01-05.