HISTORY OF THE 1ST U.S. INFANTRY REGIMENT & the St. Louis Theater of the war: 1812-1815.
Lt. Colonel Daniel Bissell, 1st Infantry.
Index:
1) PDF (3 each) Fort Madison, 1st Infantry, 1808-1813 by David C. Bennett
2) PDF Duty stations of the 1st Infantry, 1812 Compiled by David C. Bennett
3) Toasting the Nation, by David Bennett
3A) Working and poor class women clothing by Sally E Bennett
4) 1st Infantry Battle Honors
5) Officers Wounded, Killed or taken Prisoner during the War of 1812
5A) Medical: Hospital stores shipped to western forts in 1813 & blankets, sheets and pillow cases shipped to western forts in 1814. Compiled by David Bennett
6) 1st Infantry at the Battle of Tippecanoe, 1811 by David C. Bennett
7) Militia and Rangers, 1812-1814 by David C. Bennett
8) Exercise of the Sword, 1811 for Officers by David C. Bennett
9) Ioway Indians by Mike Dickey
10) Missouri and Illinois Forts by Mike Harris
10) Picture Slide Show
11) Musicians of the 1st Infantry at the Battle of Lundy's Lane, 25 July 1814
12) Washerwomen prices compiled by David Bennett
13) Pile Arms! and To Fix or not to Fix Bayonets, that is the question. By David C. Bennett
14) U. S. Army Sutlers, 1808-1810 By David C. Bennett
15) Muster roll of Field and Staff, 1st Infantry 1814 Compiled by David C. Bennett
16) Soldiers of Captain Clemson's Company at Fort Osage, 1808-1813 by David C. Bennett
17) Uniform received Annually, Act of January 11 1812
18) Rations by David C. Bennett
Updated March 27 2023 All material copyrighted.
1st United States Infantry at the Battle of Lundy's Lane, 25 July 1814. Courtesy of the artist David Geister. Military Collectors and Historians Journal. Research by David Bennett, text by David Bennett and Tom Shaw. Published Spring 2014.
"WARLIKE virtues, are, love of country, courage, valour, prudence, intrepidity, temperance, disinterestedness, obedience, wisdom, vigilance, and patience." E. Hoyt, Practical instructions for Officers. 1811 page 468
"Tent. In a common - infantry tent, the ridge-pole is 7 feet; length of standards, 6 feet; The tent is 6 1/2 feet square, 5 feet high, and holds five men." E. Hoyt, Practical instructions for Officers. 1811 page 465
"Topsy-turvy. When a battalion is so awkwardly managed, that the companies get out of their proper positions and front, such battalion is said to be topsy-turvy." E. Hoyt, Practical instructions for Officers. 1811 page 465
"Tent. In a common - infantry tent, the ridge-pole is 7 feet; length of standards, 6 feet; The tent is 6 1/2 feet square, 5 feet high, and holds five men." E. Hoyt, Practical instructions for Officers. 1811 page 465
"Topsy-turvy. When a battalion is so awkwardly managed, that the companies get out of their proper positions and front, such battalion is said to be topsy-turvy." E. Hoyt, Practical instructions for Officers. 1811 page 465
| journal_issue_12-1_fort_madison_article.pdf |
| journalissue12-2.pdf New Perspectives of Fort Madison part 2 by David C. Bennett |
| journal_issue_12-3.pdf New Perspectives of Fort Madison part 3 by David C. Bennett |
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TOASTING THE NATION: by David Bennett 1) GEORGE WASHINGTON, and the heroes of the revolution - May the men of modern times emulate their virtues and imitate their examples. HAIL COLUMBIA 2) THE ARMY, MILITIA, AND VOLUNTEERS, may they never sheath their swords till the nations wrongs are avenged. YANKEE DOODLE 3) THE BLEACHING BONES of our fellow soldiers, whose cold-blooded butcheries were sanctioned by British Officers, demand from our government retaliation. ROSLIN CASTLE 4) THE MISSOURI TERRITORY, fast progressing towards political manhood: let her patriotism not be cooled by British smugglers. STONY POINT 5) THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, while virtue and Science live, the sage of Monticello will be venerated and beloved. JEFFERSON'S MARCH 6) THE TORIES and apologists for the wrongs done us by the British government where they ought to be kissing their monarch's toes. ROGUE'S MARCH 7) OUR FRONTIERS - watched and protected by a hardy band of Spartan Warriors, the Rangers deserve well of their country. SOLDIERS RETURN 8) AGRICULTURE, the parent of civilization and great fount of National Wealth. SPEED THE PLOW 9) WEALTH, HONOR, AND HAPPINESS to the naturalist who makes us acquainted with the hidden treasures of our country. JEFFERSON AND LIBERTY 10) THE AMERICAN FAIR, may they continue by their virtue and modesty to give a zest to connubial love. COME HASTE TO THE WEDDING. Missouri Gazette, 11 July 1812. Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, Missouri: Numbers 1,2,4,5,7 Louisiana Gazette, 12 July 1810. Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, Missouri. Numbers 8,9,10 General Orders, Camp Miegs 4 July 1813. Ohio Historical Society. Numbers 3, 6 
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1st United States Infantry Battle Honors: 1) Battle of Tippecanoe 7 November 1811 Lt. Albright with "Sergeants guard" Fort Knox garrison & Lt. Vasquez 2) Battle of Maguaga 9 August 1812 Lt. Stansbury & Ensign McCabe detachments and Capt. Baker & Lt. Whistler, plus a squad serving as gunners on 5 1/2 Howitzer under Lt. Dalliba 3) Fort Dearborn Massacre 15 August 1812 Captain Heald's Company 4) Fall of Fort Detroit 16 August 1812 Brevet Major Whistler & two companies (Whistlers and Bakers / McCabe's recruits) 5) Siege of Fort Madison 5-8 September 1812 Captain Stark's Company commanded by Lt. Hamilton 6) Siege of Fort Wayne 5-10 1812 Rhea's Company commanded by Ostrander Attack on Fort Madison 8 July 1813 Stark's Company commanded by Hamilton & detachment Owens Co. Attack on Fort Madison 16 July 1813 Starks Company commanded by Hamilton Peoria Indian Campaign 19 Sept. - 21 October 1813 Symmes Company 1 platoon; Owens Company Battle of Lundy's Lane 25 July 1814 Symmes Company and Owens Company commanded by Vasquez Seige of Fort Erie August & September 1814 Symmes Company and Hamilton's Company Sortie of Fort Erie 17 September 1814 Symmes Company and Hamilton's company commanded by Shaw "Garrison Kaskaskia 26 February 1805 Garrison Orders... The Amusement of the Men of the garrison , frequently hopping & Jumping on parade, is hereby prohibited being done in the future." | ||
| duty_stations_of_the_1st_u._states_infantry_regiment_during_the_war_of_1812_web_site.pdf |
OFFICER'S WOUNDED, KILLED AND TAKEN PRISONER DURING THE WAR OF 1812.
1st Sgt. Rosewitz and Officers: Captain Bennett. 1st Lt. Lundgren, 2022, Fort Osage
1ST US INFANTRY:
Captain Nathan Heald, 15 August 1812, Prisoner, Severely Wounded, Chicago
2nd Lt. Lanai T. Helm, 15 August 1812, Prisoner, Slightly Wounded Chicago
Ensign George Ronan, 15 August 1812, Killed Chicago
Surgeon Mate Isaac V. Van Voorhis, 15 August 1812, Killed Chicago
Captain Daniel Baker, 9 August 1812, Battle of Maguaga - Wounded, 16 August Prisoner Detroit
Ensign Robert A. McCabe, 9 August 1812, Battle of Maguaga - Wounded, 16 August Prisoner Detroit
Brevet Major John Whistler, 16 August 1812, Prisoner Detroit
1st Lt. William Whistler, 16 August 1812, Prisoner Detroit
2nd Lt. Dixon Stansbury, 16 August 1812, Prisoner Detroit
Ensign Ormond Marsh, 16 August 1812, Prisoner Detroit
1st Lt. John Campbell, 19 July 1814, Rock River "Campbell's Island" Wounded
Garrison Surgeon Mate Abraham Stewart, 19 July 1814, Rock River - Wounded
1st Lt. Barony Vasques, 25 July 1814, Battle of Lundy's Lane - Wounded
1st Lt. Lewis Bissell, 25 July 1814, Battle of Lundy's Lane - Wounded
2nd Lt. Hilary Brunot, 17 September 1814, Sortie Fort Erie - Wounded
Captain Nathan Heald, 15 August 1812, Prisoner, Severely Wounded, Chicago
2nd Lt. Lanai T. Helm, 15 August 1812, Prisoner, Slightly Wounded Chicago
Ensign George Ronan, 15 August 1812, Killed Chicago
Surgeon Mate Isaac V. Van Voorhis, 15 August 1812, Killed Chicago
Captain Daniel Baker, 9 August 1812, Battle of Maguaga - Wounded, 16 August Prisoner Detroit
Ensign Robert A. McCabe, 9 August 1812, Battle of Maguaga - Wounded, 16 August Prisoner Detroit
Brevet Major John Whistler, 16 August 1812, Prisoner Detroit
1st Lt. William Whistler, 16 August 1812, Prisoner Detroit
2nd Lt. Dixon Stansbury, 16 August 1812, Prisoner Detroit
Ensign Ormond Marsh, 16 August 1812, Prisoner Detroit
1st Lt. John Campbell, 19 July 1814, Rock River "Campbell's Island" Wounded
Garrison Surgeon Mate Abraham Stewart, 19 July 1814, Rock River - Wounded
1st Lt. Barony Vasques, 25 July 1814, Battle of Lundy's Lane - Wounded
1st Lt. Lewis Bissell, 25 July 1814, Battle of Lundy's Lane - Wounded
2nd Lt. Hilary Brunot, 17 September 1814, Sortie Fort Erie - Wounded
MEDICAL:
Medical stores shipped to Fort's Osage, Madison, Bellefontaine and Massac, 1813:
Sugar
Molasses
Vinegar
Chocolate
Hyson Tea
Barley
Sago
Rice
Brandy
Madeira Wine
Port Wine
Commissary General Office Philadelphia, May 24, 1814:
Please to pack up and deliver to Col. Wm Linnard Qr. M. Genl- the follg Blks, Bed Sacks, Sheets, &pillow cases addressed as follows...
Fort Osage 6 wool blankets 6 Bedsacks 6 Sheets 6 pillow cases
Fort Wayne same
Fort Massac same
Belle Fontain 20 wool blankets 20 bedsacks 20 sheets 20 pillow cases
Medical stores shipped to Fort's Osage, Madison, Bellefontaine and Massac, 1813:
Sugar
Molasses
Vinegar
Chocolate
Hyson Tea
Barley
Sago
Rice
Brandy
Madeira Wine
Port Wine
Commissary General Office Philadelphia, May 24, 1814:
Please to pack up and deliver to Col. Wm Linnard Qr. M. Genl- the follg Blks, Bed Sacks, Sheets, &pillow cases addressed as follows...
Fort Osage 6 wool blankets 6 Bedsacks 6 Sheets 6 pillow cases
Fort Wayne same
Fort Massac same
Belle Fontain 20 wool blankets 20 bedsacks 20 sheets 20 pillow cases
1st Infantry and the Battle of Tippecanoe: Transcribed by David Bennett
"18 April 1809 Fort Knox is the depository of the arms and ammunition which have been sent here for the use of the Militia. It consists of a range of open barracks and a blockhouse not connected by pickets or any other defenses. It is garrisoned by Lieutenant Whitlock with 14 or 15 men ...the greater part of these are frequently absent with the Lieutenant who is the paymaster of the district." NA RG107, M22
"Quarterly return of the Troops belonging to the first United States Regiment of Infantry stationed in the District of Louisiana Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Bissell for the Months of January, February and March 1811 Fort Knox Detachment late Lieut. Whitlock's 1 Sergeant 1 Corporal 3 privates Sick: 1 Corporal 2 privates Present: 8 Detachment late Lieut. Whitlock's Absent: 1 Lieutenant 1 private Late Lieut. Whitlock's" St. Louis Mercantile Library
Court Martial of Lt. Whitlock began May 4, 1811. Members of the court were: Captain Simon Owens president; Liuetenants Allen, Butler, Jacob W. Albright and Campbell and Ensigns Vasquez and Shaw. Whitlock was acquited. Same members then held a court martial for Lt. Jennings. He was acquited. On June 24, 1811 Captain Posey shot and killed his Lieutenant, Jennings, Captain Posey fled. Lt. Albright was then given command. Albright was the Assistant Deputy Quartermaster for Vincennes and Fort Knox. NA RG153, entry 14
"Owing to the defenseless state of the Garrison and the alarm of the inhabitants of this territory from the appearance of hostilities from the Indians & there being no M agent here I have thought proper to appoint Lieut. J. W. Albright Asst. M. Agent in order that the Garrison may be furnished with the necessary articles for putting the best possible state of defense... Z.Taylor to Secretary of War 16 July 1816" NA BR 107, M22
"Vincennes 9th August 1811 (Harrison to Bissell) Your favor of the 2nd Inst. was only delivered by Lieut. Whitlock. In a letter which I wrote to the Secretary of War shortly after the shocking affair which happened at Fort Knox I mentioned Mr. Whitlock as a proper person to be entrusted with the command of that Fort. The answer of the Secretary was that he had no other objection to Mr. Whitlock being placed in that command but from its interference with his duties as Paymaster. ...I should have acted precisely as he has done altho Lt. Albright might very properly have refused to give him the command." St. Louis Mercantile
"Detachment Order Vincennes, September 22nd 1811 Pursuant to the Commander in Chief's order the officer commanding Fort Knox will hold the troops under his command in readiness to join the camp at vincennes tomorrow morning excepting one Sergeant and the sick of the Garrison. Signed, Jno. P. Boyd, Col. 4th Regt. Infy. C. D. " Esarey p. 587
"Battle with the Indians Extract of a letter from Colonel Boyd, to an officer in Boston, dated Vincennes, Nov. 27 I am this moment enabled to forward to you a return of killed and wounded in the action of the 7th The regular troops consisting of the 4th regiment, reduced by sickness, and garrisons in several forts a detachment of Captain Posey's company of the 7th regmt. and the company late Whitney's of the rifle corps - paraded 300 bayonets. We arrived at Tippicanoe after much fatigue and destitute of every comfort. Lieut. Albright's detachment of 1st and 7th regiments of the U S infantry. Killed Isaac Butler, private. Wounded Sergts Allicot Babbet, Nathan Fairbank; Samuel Potter (dangerous), Jenis manguin, Elisha Nappe, Privates. " Political and Commercial Register, Philadelphia 23 December 1811
Lt. Albright's detachment at Tippecanoe, consisted of men from "Posey's Company 7th USI" and from "Late Whitlock's 1st USI" commanded by Lt. Jacob W. Albright and Ensign Baroney Vasquez 1st USI was assisting a company of the 4th which only had one officer.
Israel Butler, Posey's Company, enlisted June 13 1809 for 5 years; MR 12-31-1810; "killed in action at Tippecanoe, November 7, 1811"
Elkanah Babbit, Posey's Company, enlisted November 19 1808 for 5 years; MR 12-31-1810, "Walcott Babbit" wounded at Tippecanoe, November 7, 1811; MR 2-29-1812 Sergeant, absent with Capt. Taylor.
Nathan Fairbank, Posey's Company May 1 1809 for 5 years. MR 4th Sgt. 12-31-1810 Wounded Tippecanoe, MR 2-29-1812 2nd Sgt. Working on Garrison Fortification. Killed by Indians escorting provisions form Ft. Knox to Ft. Harrison 9-30-1812
Lewis Mangum, Posey's Company Enlisted March 24, 1810 for 5 years Wounded at Tippecanoe November 7, 1811, MR 2-29-1812 wounded in Hospital at Vincennes; unfit for service in consequence of his wounds MR 6-30-1812
Elisha Knapp, Posey's Company Enlisted March 20, 1810 for 5 years. Wounded November 7, Tippecanoe. Killed by the Indians escorting provisions from Ft. Knox to Ft. Harrison
Samuel Potter, Posey's Company Enlisted August 7, 1808 for 5 years. Badly wounded at Tippecanoe, November 7, 1811 MR 8-31-1812 not recovered of his wounds.
Register of enlistment records
Isaac Anderson, Transferred from 1st USI to Taylors company 7th MR 8-31-1814, left at Fort Knox
Moses Bastley, Transferred from 1st USI to Taylors company 7th MR 8-31-1814, left at Fort Knox
Elisha Mirge, Transferred from 1st USI to Taylors company 7th
Alpheus Packard (Peckard) Transferred from 1st USI to 7th USI, left at Fort Knox, Transferred to a detachment of the 1st Infantry October 1, 1813
"9 November 1811 Village of the Prophet
B. Vasquez (Ensign Baronet Vasquez, 1st Infantry Regiment)
My Dear Brother I am happy to apprise you of the defeat of the savages after an engagement of two and a half hours; in the end we vanquished them and drove them back. Our loss amounts, in wounded and dead, to 80 or 90 - it is not possible to know exactly, so soon. We arrived on the 7th of the month at their village. They opposed our entering; as the Governor had not order to attack before a parley or before having proposed some accommodation, he drew the army back to half a mile from the village, after which several headmen showed friendship for us or pleasure in seeing us; at 4 O'clock in the morning while we were sleeping, with confidence that there would be no engagement, the wretched people attached us.
They numbered from 500 to 550. We lost several brave Officers of the regulars and the militia, but in revenge for forty who were wounded, on the grounds around our camp we are finding constantly more wounded, the chase is still too recent for us to be able to give an exact account. The militia who were on the right were completely repulsed. Immediately the Governor ordered me to bring my company to that place with the assistance of a young captain of the Fourth Regiment. Instantly we charged and repulsed the Indians. You can imagine how your brother behaved on that occasion. On every side of me my poor soldiers were falling, and I did not get a scratch; my clothes pierced by balls, my hat knocked off, but no great damage. Thank God, the Indians retired. We set fire to the village and burned all their provisions. We made three prisoners.
Loving greetings to my dear Emilie; kiss her for me, and my little daughter Ophilia too. I am very well; the danger is past; the Indians have crossed the river and have abandoned all their booty, but actually the settlers should be beware - that threatens war. I cannot write you any more; the express is leaving momentarily. Embrace all the family for me and assure them that I shall have the pleasure of seeing them before the end of the month. Believe me forever your brother B. Vasquez"
Militia and Rangers: Transcribed by David Bennett
"An Expedition is now organizing of Regulars, Rangers & Militia which will be in the the whole from 12 to 1500 men. I will march from this in about one week or less for the Indian towns on the Illinois & Rock rivers. This I know my Dear Sir will be a very hazardous undertaking s the Indians are very numerous on the Illinois; while troops that compose the detachment, regulars excepted, are raw, unmanageable & not at all to be depended on and I fear some fatal disaster. The Regulars, 200 in all, They ascend in boats & I accompany the General by land, all mounted & principally armed with Rifles which cannot in my opinion be as much depended on as muskets..." August 26, 1813 Major Eli B. Clemson
"Five Dollars Reward. Deserted, September 23d, from my detachment at Cape aux Gries, Samuel B. Gardner, a private about forty five years, old, about five feet eleven inches high, thin visage and a very large nose; he is very much pock pitted, had on when he went away, leather pantaloons and a leather sailors jacket, carrying a rifle and a pistol. John Geiger, Lieutenant commanding a Detachment" Missouri Gazette and Illinois Advertiser, October 15, 1814.
"Those who may have in their possession public swords, Rifles, Muskets and Bayonets, are directed to deliver them forthwith to the Commander in Chief, or to the Officer who may be appointed to receive them in St. Louis. " Saturday August 13, 1814 Missouri Gazette.
"On Monday there was a complete Company of 60 volunteers ready to march to join General Hull, with hunting shirts, moccasins, Tomahawks, Scalping knives, Muskets & C. Chilicothe July 15" Colombian Centinel, Boston, Massachusetts, August 22, 1812
"I will thank you to have three hundred & twenty muskets bayonets & Cartooch boxes prepared this morning for the Indiana Militia." July 9, 1812 William H. Harrison to Major Martin US Arsenal Newport Ky. (Ebay, 25 April 2004.)
"My brother in law made me join the rifle company of which Morris Young was Captain (Missouri). My father gave me my outfit, for we had to find our own equipment, rifle, tomahawk and scalping knife, besides a horse." George C. Yount and His Chronicles of the West, Charles L. Camp, Ed.
"GENERAL ORDER TO THE MILITIA OF THE TERRITORY OF MISSOURI
1 MARCH 1813"
"....When companies muster, after the Captain has exercise and inspected his company, they will distribute his company into classes, such as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd class. The first class has the honor of being first called into the field.
....No citizen soldier may be ignorant of the manner in which the law requires him to be equipped, he is reminded that is his duty to provide himself with a good musket, with bayonet and belt, or a fusil, two spare flints, a knapsack, powder horn and pouch, with 20 balls, and a quarter of a pound of powder.
.....The great body of the militia will do their duty...the work is their own - the defense of their own fields and fire sides. They have the character, too, of American to support, and the blessings of a mild system of government to preserve.
Frederick Bates, acting commander in Chief. William Carr, aide de camp. "
Source: War of 1812 papers, Missouri Historial Society, St. Louis
Missouri.
Missouri Rangers in the War of 1812
CAPT. NATHAN BOONE
LT. WILLIAM T. LAMME
LT. DAVID MCNAIR
SGT. J. W. BOONE
SGT. DAVID BOWLING
SGT. JAMES CLARK
SGT. JAMES HUFF
CORP. MOORS BURBANK
CORP. ENOCH CARMACK
CORP. LOWRY T. HAMPTON
CORP. ERVIN LEMASTERS
TRUMPETER THOMAS MCNAIR
PRIVATES
NATHAN BARNEY
JOHN M. BARR
WILLIAM BAYS
ROBERT BROWN
MORGAN BRYAN
GEORGE BURNES
DABNEY BURNETT
JOHN CASTLEMAN
ANDERSON CHASE
JONATHAN CROW
WILLIAM CROW
JOHN EWING
WILLIAM EWING
JESSEE HETFORD
PETER HOLDERMAN
WILLIAM HOOPER
JOHN HUFF
GEORGE H. JACKSON
WILLIAM JAMISON
LEWIS JONES
WILLIAM KEITHLY
WILLIAM LANDERS
BENJAMIN LEMASTERS
DAVID LEMASTERS
JOHN LEWIS
JOHN MCCOY
ARCHIBALD MCDONALD
WILLIAM MCHAN
DANIEL MCHUGH
EZEKIAL MCNAIR
ISRAEL MASSEY
PETER MASSEY
THOMAS MASSEY
WILLIAM MILLER
JOSEPH MITCHELL
ELISHA MOORE
JOEL NOLAN
BYSON O'HARA
WILLIAM PARIS
DAVID PHILLIPS
THOMAS PIPER
PETER PUGH
JOHN RAMSEY
THOMAS REYNOLDS
BENONA SAPPINGTON
HARTLEY SAPPINGTON
JOHN SAPPINGTON
SAMUEL SHAW
IRA SLATON
JOB STARK
JONATHAN STOUCKMAN
WILLIAM TOMKINS
JAMES TYGART
JESSE VAN BIBBER
SAMUEL VAN BURKLEO
WILLIAM WELLS
JOB WILLIAMS
WILLIAM WOLFE
Source: Carter's Territorials, Volume XIV page 582-585.
1 MARCH 1813"
"....When companies muster, after the Captain has exercise and inspected his company, they will distribute his company into classes, such as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd class. The first class has the honor of being first called into the field.
....No citizen soldier may be ignorant of the manner in which the law requires him to be equipped, he is reminded that is his duty to provide himself with a good musket, with bayonet and belt, or a fusil, two spare flints, a knapsack, powder horn and pouch, with 20 balls, and a quarter of a pound of powder.
.....The great body of the militia will do their duty...the work is their own - the defense of their own fields and fire sides. They have the character, too, of American to support, and the blessings of a mild system of government to preserve.
Frederick Bates, acting commander in Chief. William Carr, aide de camp. "
Source: War of 1812 papers, Missouri Historial Society, St. Louis
Missouri.
Missouri Rangers in the War of 1812
CAPT. NATHAN BOONE
LT. WILLIAM T. LAMME
LT. DAVID MCNAIR
SGT. J. W. BOONE
SGT. DAVID BOWLING
SGT. JAMES CLARK
SGT. JAMES HUFF
CORP. MOORS BURBANK
CORP. ENOCH CARMACK
CORP. LOWRY T. HAMPTON
CORP. ERVIN LEMASTERS
TRUMPETER THOMAS MCNAIR
PRIVATES
NATHAN BARNEY
JOHN M. BARR
WILLIAM BAYS
ROBERT BROWN
MORGAN BRYAN
GEORGE BURNES
DABNEY BURNETT
JOHN CASTLEMAN
ANDERSON CHASE
JONATHAN CROW
WILLIAM CROW
JOHN EWING
WILLIAM EWING
JESSEE HETFORD
PETER HOLDERMAN
WILLIAM HOOPER
JOHN HUFF
GEORGE H. JACKSON
WILLIAM JAMISON
LEWIS JONES
WILLIAM KEITHLY
WILLIAM LANDERS
BENJAMIN LEMASTERS
DAVID LEMASTERS
JOHN LEWIS
JOHN MCCOY
ARCHIBALD MCDONALD
WILLIAM MCHAN
DANIEL MCHUGH
EZEKIAL MCNAIR
ISRAEL MASSEY
PETER MASSEY
THOMAS MASSEY
WILLIAM MILLER
JOSEPH MITCHELL
ELISHA MOORE
JOEL NOLAN
BYSON O'HARA
WILLIAM PARIS
DAVID PHILLIPS
THOMAS PIPER
PETER PUGH
JOHN RAMSEY
THOMAS REYNOLDS
BENONA SAPPINGTON
HARTLEY SAPPINGTON
JOHN SAPPINGTON
SAMUEL SHAW
IRA SLATON
JOB STARK
JONATHAN STOUCKMAN
WILLIAM TOMKINS
JAMES TYGART
JESSE VAN BIBBER
SAMUEL VAN BURKLEO
WILLIAM WELLS
JOB WILLIAMS
WILLIAM WOLFE
Source: Carter's Territorials, Volume XIV page 582-585.
Exercise of the Sword 1811. Transcribed by David Bennett from E. Hoyt's Practical Instructions for Military Officers.
Major Bennett and Captain Lundgren, at the Carry. Mississinewa 2010
Exercise of the Sword: The position of an officer on parade, with his sword sheathed, is similar to that of the soldier without arms. When the the sword is drawn, the same position of the body is continued, but the position of the sword varies according to circumstances. In the ranks, or when marching, it is carried in the right hand, the thumb and fore finger griping the hilt, the other fingers a little distended: the blade resting in the hollow of the right shoulder and sloping a little back, the edge directed to the front; the right hand about as high as the hip and a little forward, and the elbows to the body, the left hand hanging straight down the left side. This position is called the Carry.
When an officer is advanced of the ranks, and posted to receive a reviewing officer, the sword is placed diagonally across the body, the point to the left, the left hand grasping the blade near the left shoulder, the edge forward, the right arm nearly extended down, a little forward of the right thingh, and the elbows to the body. This is called the Port.
At the Rest, the right hand and hilt of the sword are placed before the left groin, the blade sloping to the right shoulder and flat against the body, the left hand over the sword close to the hilt and grasping the right wrist.
For exercise, the officers Fall in, in one rank, with their swords sheathed, and dress in a line, taking such distances as are necessary for the motions of the sword.
Attention ! I. Draw Sword! Three motions 1. Bring the right hand across the body and grasp the hilt; at the same time seize the scabbard with the left hand below the sling. 2. Draw the sword from the sheath, be extending the right arm, turn up the point, bring the sword before the face, the blade perpendicular, the hilt as high as the chin, dropping the left hand down the side, and keep both elbows to the body: This position is called the Poise.
3. Bring the sword down to the carry.
II. Port Sword! One Motion. Carry the blade diagonally across teh body, the pint to the left, and grasp it with the thumb and fore finger of teh left hand, at the same time extending the right arm down to the right thigh.
III. Present Sword! Two Motions. 1. Quitting the blade with the left hand raise the sword to the pose, and drop the left arm. 2. With a slow motion, drop the point forward, carrying it obliquely to the right, bring it nearly to the ground, the right arm extended, the palm of the hand upwards, the elbow near the right hip. This is used for a Salute. *
IV. Port Sword! Two Motions. 1. Turning the palm of the hand under and carrying the point of the sword to front, bring it up with a quick motion to the poise. 2. Bring down the sword to the port.
V. Rest Sword! One Motion. Carry the hilt of the sword to the left growin, the point to the right shoulder, the blade blat against the body, the edge to the left; at the same time b ring the left hand over the blade close to the hilt and grasp the right arm at the wrist and step back the right foot six inches behind the left heel and Stand at Ease.
VI. Carry Sword! One Motion. Carry the left hand to the left side, the sword to the carry, at the same time bring up the right foot to its habitual position.
VII. Return Sword! Three Motions. 1. Bring the sword to the poise. 2. Extend the right arm, dropping the point to the scabbard, direct the eyes to the same, grasp it with the left hand and enter the blade till the right arm is on a level with the shoulders. 3. Thurst the sword home, and carry the hands to the outside of the thighs.
* The sword is presented from the Carry in two motions, in a similar manner.
THE IOWAY INDIANS: BRITAINS ALLY IN THE WEST?
By Michael Dickey
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Arrow Rock State Historic Site
The Ioway Indians or Pa-ho-dje as they called themselves, have often been credited as being the only tribe west of the Mississippi River to actively support Great Britain during the War of 1812. The question arises if this was actually the case and if so, to what extent did they support the British? Basic information on native cultures and their history is always helpful in gaining insight into their conduct during the war. This is especially true in understanding the relationship of the Ioway and British. Unfortunately, there is little documentation available presenting the Ioway point of view in their own words.
The Ioway were of Chiwere Siouan linguistic stock as were the Otoe, Missouria and Winnebago whom the Ioway fondly referred to as their Grandfathers. These people were direct descendants of the Oneota culture, which had dominated much of the area between Lake Michigan and the Missouri River valley prior to European contact. One of the premier Oneota sites in Missouri is now located within Van Meter State Park.
In an 1836 letter to President Jackson, the Ioway described the former boundaries of their territory. No Indian of any other tribe dare build his fire or make a moccasin track between Missouri and the Mississippi Rivers, from the mouth of the calumet (Big Sioux), upper Iowa and Des Moines Rivers, without first having obtained the consent of the Ioway nation of Indians. In fact, this country was all theirs and had been for hundreds of years. This claim is supported by archaeological and historical evidence although the Ioway certainly could not dominate the entire area at any given time. Other tribes frequently intruded upon this domain.
The Ioway were located in extreme southeastern South Dakota at the time of earliest European exploration. They began migrating to the southeast as the Dakota Sioux and Cheyenne began moving onto the Plains from the upper Mississippi Valley. Their main villages were located on the Des Moines and Iowa Rivers by the early 1700s. By 1789, smallpox and warfare had eliminated the Missouria as an independent tribe, effectively leaving the Ioway in possession of the Grand River and lower Missouri River valleys.
Ioway culture of the 18th and 19th contained a mixture of both plains and woodland elements. Very early French documents identified the Ioway as buffalo hunters. In the early 1700s they acquired horses which facilitated their seasonal buffalo hunts on the plains to the west. The Ioway used a modest form of tipi while on their seasonal hunts, at least during the 19th century. Oval bark covered wigwams and long houses formed their semi-permanent villages and hunting camps. The women practiced modest agriculture, growing a variety of maize, beans, squash and pumpkins. This was supplemented by the seasonal gathering various nuts, berries and roots. In many respects the Ioway material lifestyle was similar to other prairie-plains tribes such as the Sauk, Kansa, Otoe and Osage.
The Ioway were always a small tribe, with various French, Spanish and early American documents giving their warrior strength somewhere between 200 to 400 individuals. Roughly this means that even at their peak population, the tribe never numbered more than 800 to 1,600 members. Despite their small numbers, the Ioway were a warrior society and not easily intimidated by more numerous foes such as the Osage, Pawnee and Dakota Sioux. They were not reluctant to fight with their close kinsmen the Otoe and Missouria either. As with all prairie-plains tribes, warfare was not only for protection of the home territory, it provided an avenue for males to achieve manhood and status within their social structure.
Although the women were seldom active as warriors, they did support the men in their war endeavors.
With the exception of the Winnebago, the Ioway were generally on the friendliest terms with the Algonquin-speaking Sauk and Fox. This relationship which began in the early 1700s, is considered one of accommodation move than of active cooperation. Being few in number, the Ioway needed allies and sometimes joined with the Sauk and Fox in fights against other tribes. During a series of wars with the French in the early 18th century, the Sauk and Fox briefly retreated to central Iowa where they received shelter from the Ioway. However, in later years as the Sauk and Fox pushed west of the Mississippi on a more permanent basis this generally amicable relationship was sometimes strained to the point of bloodshed.
The Ioway had been fairly reliable allies and trading partners with the French. However, beginning in the late 1740s, Britain attempted to undermine Indian loyalty to France by sending traders into the Ohio and Mississippi valleys. As a result of this activity, the Ioway killed two French traders in 1755. However, with war underway for the control of the North American continent, France pardoned the killers in order to recruit the tribe for service against the English. In the assault against Fort William Henry in New York, General Marquis de Montcalm was able to count among his Indian allies, The Ioway of the Western Sea.
Before the end of the French and Indian war, trade items became scarce owing to British blockades at sea. French posts were abandoned and what men and materials were available were sent to campaigns in the east. By wars end in 1763, British traders had established headquarters at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin a crossroads for tribes from the Great Lakes, northern plains and Mississippi valley. This location gave the Ioway easy access for the Ioway to English trade goods. In the brief but violent uprising of Chief Pontiac in 1764-65 against the British, the Ioway along with the Sauk and Fox chose to remain neutral and await the outcome, rather than jeopardize trade relations.
In 1764, the Louisiana Territory and with it, the Ioway homeland, passed from control of France to Spain. However, a Spanish report dated 1777 noted that, the Ioways traded only with the English. In 1778, several Ioway headmen traveled to Montreal to affirm their loyalty to their British Father the king. During the American Revolution, forces under George Rogers Clark captured British outposts in the Illinois Country disrupting British efforts to arm the Ohio valley tribes. A party of Sauk and Ioway warriors appeared at Cahokia, apparently scouting American strength and intentions.
Since Spain had allied with the Americans in the Revolution, British officials in Canada decided to retaliate by attacking Spanish St. Louis on May 26, 1780. Nearly 1,000 Indians composed of Ioway, Sauk, Fox, Winnebago, Menominee and Sioux participated mainly because the British offered better-made trade goods and were more generous in gifts than Spanish officials. St. Louis was well fortified and the Sauk may have even tipped Spanish officials off to the impending attack. The attack failed and afterwards, the Ioway and Sauk remained outwardly friendly to the Spanish, who were military too weak to chastise the Indians.
The Ioway became highly successful in playing Spanish, American and British interests against each other. In so doing they secured the best terms in trade and gifts as the different powers competed for their loyalty and fur harvests. Britain wielded the greatest influence and the Ioway soon became the middlemen between British traders and the tribes on the Missouri River. By 1800, the British had established treading posts directly in the Ioway villages on the Des Moines and Iowa Rivers.
The effect of the British trade on the Ioway is graphically illustrated in William Clarks journal entry of June 27, 1804. In speaking of the Kansas or Kaw Indians he writes, they once lived 24 leagues higher than the Kansas (River) on the south bank of the Missouri and were more numerous, but they have been reduced and banished by the Sacs and Ayaways (Ioways), who being both better supplied with arms have an advantage over the Kansas though the latter are no less warlike than themselves. The Ioway were at the high tide of their power and prestige. Their influence in regional affairs belied the small size of their nation, thanks in part to British firearms.
In 1803 the United States had secured the Louisiana Territory from France but this important event had no impact on the Ioway and their trade with the British. In October of 1805, they held their first official talks with the United States, then attempting to broker peace between the warring tribes of Upper Louisiana. In December, territorial governor General James Wilkinson reported that the Ioway, Sauk and Fox were certainly disposed for war and beyond all doubts are excited by their traders from Canada.
To combat British influence emanating from Canada, a delegation of Ioway, Osage, Sauk, Sioux and other tribes were sent to meet President Thomas Jefferson in January of 1806. Jefferson plainly told the Indian headmen that the English, the Spanish and the French were gone never to return and that a Father would come to live among them, oversee them and settle their quarrels. This Father was Nicolas Boilvin, a French-Canadian employee of Auguste Chouteau the St. Louis fur trade baron. Boilvin was fluent in several Indian languages and extremely knowledgeable of their habits and customs. In addition, he was loyal to the new American government making him indispensable to the Indian Service.
Boilvin established his base in a Sauk village at the mouth of the Des Moines and he was instructed to frequently visit the towns of the Ioway. In spite of his presence, the Ioway openly continued to trade with the British in their villages. In fact, the Ioway frequently attacked boats descending the Missouri River, robbing traders and trappers of peltries and goods destroying what they could not carry off. Even though Boilvin was aware that stolen material was being traded he could do nothing about it.
On July 22, 1807, Colonel Hunt at Fort Bellefontaine reported, a powerful association of all Indians between the lakes and the Missouri was formed for commencing a war on the frontiers of the U.S. The Ioways only we are told withhold themselves from this threatening combination. The others are ready to strike as soon as their corn is harvested. Although the war did not materialize, the report was a harbinger of things to come. The Shawnee Chief Tecumseh and his brother Tenskawata The Prophet had initiated their attempt to build a formal coalition of Indian tribes to stop further white encroachment.
The restraint of the Ioway to the Ioway can be partially attributed to the presence of four licensed American traders among them that year. Some elements within the tribe apparently did not want to jeopardize their newfound trade with the Americans. Thus a small fissure appeared within the tribe over the issue of whether to trade with Great Britain or the United States. One of these traders was French-Canadian Denis Julien who had traded with the Ioway as far back as the late 1790s.
During the winter of 1801-1802 Julien had provided stiff competition to British trader Thomas Anderson. It was costly to send trade goods from the Ioway village on the Des Moines west to their hunting grounds on the Missouri River. To save the costs of sending outfits up the Missouri, Julien and Anderson agreed to wait for the hunters to return to the Des Moines in the spring. However, Julien sent a boatload of merchandise up the Missouri to the hunting grounds in an attempt to undercut Anderson but was betrayed by one of his employees who informed Anderson of the deception.
In March of 1808, Ioway, Sauk, Fox, Menominee and Winnebago warriors visited the Prophets village on the Wabash River. This was an alarming development for the Americans who viewed this activity as a British rather than an Indian initiative. The actions of General William Henry Harrison, who had secured millions of acres of Indian lands by dubious means, were conveniently overlooked as reasons for Indian agitation. Louisiana Territorial Governor Meriwether Lewis employed the aid of trader Julien to influence the Ioway in favor of the United States. Juliens wife Catharine was an Ioway, which helped him gain favor in the tribe.
At this time, Sauk and Ioway relations were strained as the Sauk had killed several Ioway on the Des Moines River. Boilvin feared a war between the tribes, which he predicted would render navigation on the upper Mississippi River extremely dangerous. While Boilvin was charged with keeping the peace between warring tribes, he was deprived of the only tools he had for doing so. In May, Governor Lewis ordered Boilvin to cease the Indian tradition of paying for the dead. Boilvin used government funds to buy trade goods to pay for the deaths in one Indian nation caused by another, thus making atonement and avoiding inter-tribal war. Lewis also said that if any tribe went hostile, no traders will be permitted to bring them merchandise and they will be deprived of means of making war or defending themselves. Lewis measure only assured that British and not American traders would continue to influence the Indian tribes.
American-Ioway relations soured in June of 1808 when two traders were killed on the Missouri near the Grand River. The nation is not known but the Ioways are suspected wrote Governor Lewis to Secretary of War Henry Dearborn. Eventually, two Ioway warriors were arrested and bound over for trial. A large number of the tribe arrived in St. Louis where they beseeched and harassed Lewis and General Clark to release their tribesmen.
The warriors were placed on trail for murder on July 23 and found guilty. In a new trial in August, the court ruled that the men could not be tried as the Ioway had no treaty relations with the United States and the incident occurred on Indian land, which had not been ceded to the U.S. Therefore, the court ruled the incident had occurred outside its jurisdiction and the laws of the United States. Governor Lewis vehemently disagreed with the court decision and ordered the two warriors to be held in jail anyway.
In June of 1809, an Ioway was shot and killed near Cahokia Illinois. A hunting party had been in the area for some time and was accused of stealing and killing some hogs. The incident further served to heighten the tensions that existed between the Ioway and the United States. When the two warriors escaped from jail in August, territorial Secretary Frederick Bates openly expressed relief saying the escape was fortunate for themselves and for us.
One of the escaped warriors was Mahaska or White Cloud, painted by Charles Bird King during a visit to Washington D.C. around 1825. White Cloud was the son of a chief by the same name. During his visit to Washington, he recalled his long imprisonment and related that he had killed one of the traders in self-defense. Mahaska became an important chief in the tribe, as did his own son. After his escape from prison, Mahaska led a war party against the Ioways ancient enemy, the Osage. The purpose of the raid was to help regain his status within the tribe. He took three scalps during this raid and was wounded in the ankle. He hid from the Osage under a log in a stream until he could finally make his way across the Missouri River and back to the Des Moines village.
In a gesture of conciliation to the Ioway tribe for Lewis jailing of the warriors, President Jefferson sent papers and a medal to Hard Heart a prominent headman. In effect this recognition elevated Hard Heart to the status to a chief. Secretary Bates felt that Hard Heart was vicious and undeserving of such recognition. Jeffersons action abrogated Ioway traditions of leadership. Inadvertently or not, he had increased the factionalism that was already arising in the tribe over the issue of trading with the British or the Americans.
The Hampshire Federalist newspaper of Springfield Massachusetts reported a serious clash between the Ioway and Osage in its January 4, 1810 edition. Fort Osage, November 8th 1809 - On the 4th of this instant a hunting party of the Osage tribecrossed the Missouri River, from the fortthey were surprised by a party of Ioways [sic] who killed one man and two women, and another man is missing, supposed to be killed some distance from their campOn the following day a Missouri Indian from the Ioway Village called over the river for a canoe at the garrison, one of the defeated party knew him and said he shot at and chased him in the attackCaptain Clemson sent for the Missouri Indian and interrogated him closly [sic] suspecting him as a spyhe said it was the wish of the Ioways [sic] to cover the grave of the dead with presents, and be at peace.
While it might appear that Indians killing Indians would be of little interest to American citizens, it was in fact newsworthy. Such incidents generated fears of an Indian war that could spill over into white settlements and involve federal troops. Such a war could also push the Ioway even closer to the British in seeking arms and assistance. A similar report of the Otoe killing an Osage near the fort also made the paper that day.
In July of 1810, emissaries of The Prophet openly courted the Ioway, exhorting them to strike the Americans when given the word. Boilvin smoked the pipe with them and worked hard to keep them out of Tecumsehs alliance, despite having few resources to back his words. For the moment, the Ioway decided to avoid conflict with the Americans and instead escalated their conflict with the Osage. This action demonstrates the difficulty the Shawnee brothers and the British had in overcoming blood feuds and traditional rivalries to forge an Indian alliance.
George Sibley the factor at Fort Osage reported on clashes between the Osage and Ioway in his diary. The Ioway paid a price for escalating their fight with the Osage.
Monday March 11th 1811 100 men set off in a body to War against the IowaysLieut. Brownson sent a party of soldiers to set them across the river in the Public Boat.
Tuesday March 12th 1811 another War party set off from the Osage Village against the Ioways of about 45 men consisting of about an equal number of Osages & Missouris, led by a distinguished warrior of the Missouri named Cheohoge or hole in my house. Their plan is to attack the enemy by surpriseLieut. Brownson sent them across the River, and they immediately set out on this march.
Tuesday March 19th 1811 in the evening all the Osages returned from war, and brought 8 scalps and one horse taken from the Ioways (2 men, 5 women, 1 child killed.)
Wednesday March 27th 18119 horses were discovered crossing the Missouri just above the Factory driven over it was Supposed by some Hostile Indians whose design it appears to have been to take them off about 100 Osages immediately crossedand in a short timereturned with all the horses.
Monday May 7th 1811 Last night at about 11 Oclockalarm among the Osagessentinels discovered three strange Indians stealthy [sic] approaching the campSans Oreille had made his way into my sleeping Room and stood beside holding the head of the slain Indian in one hand, and a blazing torch in the otherI was quickly dressed and over at the camp: and there found the Osages in a temper far more Savage than I had ever before believed them capable...here one shewed [sic] me a leg one a hand another a finger foot strips of skinThe slain man was recognized as a distinguished Ioway war Chief.
The Ioway sometimes accompanied by the Sauk or even Winnebago began setting up ambushes for the Osage. Sans Nerf, a Big Osage Warrior complained to Sibley at Arrow Rock in November of 1813 about this situation. We do not like Fort Clark (Ft. Osage) for very good reasons. The road between that place and our village is nearly as long as the road to this place, and is a very dangerous one to travel. Our enemies lay in wait for us when we go there to trade and have killed several of our people.
Even though the United States and Ioway nation was officially at peace, the Ioway and Americas key Indian ally the Osage were now in open warfare. Many tribes viewed the Osage as American pets prompting jealousy and resentments. Indeed, the Osage received a measure of respect and treatment seldom extended to other tribes by the U.S. Further complicating the situation was the fact that U.S. army troops were aiding the Osage in the conflict.
Just two weeks after president Madison declared war on Great Britain on June 18, 1812 a Kickapoo emissary of The Prophet implored nine tribes gathered at on the Rock River, to join them in the struggle. The Sauk chief Non-Waite simply replied that the Americans provide the Sauk with everything they need. The Ioways responded We are near neighbors to the Sauk. We have no wish to be at war with them. Our American Father (Boilvin) gives us good counsel. Whatever the Sauk agree to, we shall also. A large delegation of Indian leaders had been en-route to President Madison when war was declared. The headmen present probably lacked the authority to formally commit to war. Still many of them sympathized with Tecumseh and the British and small raids were initiated on the frontier.
The first hostile act attributed to the Ioway occurred in late May of 1812 when several horses belonging to Robert Hancock, a resident of the Boones Lick settlement, were stolen. In February 1813, a rumor began circulating that the Ioway were joining 1,200 to 3,000 hostile Indians gathered at Green Bay waiting for a British supply ship. At the same time, French-Canadian traders acting as spies for the United States reported that the Sauk, Fox and Ioway were divided between peace and war. Their assessment was undoubtedly the most correct of the many rumors, fears and beliefs about the Indians that circulated during the entire war.
In April of 1813, a son of Hard Heart appeared at Fort Madison and asked Captain Stark for aid and permission to fight the pro-British Sauk and Fox. Stark reported, The Ioways deserve every assistance and I hope they will receive it. It is a just war on their part and I am inclined to believe it is unavoidable. Undoubtedly, Hard Heart led a faction of pro-American Ioway, but the actual size and extent of his following is difficult to determine. Hard Heart himself stayed with the Otoe during part of the war possibly because his authority as a true chief was questioned. The factionalism that existed among the Ioway and a lack of concise written records makes it difficult to track the movements, activities and loyalties of the various tribal bands.
Generally, there appears to be two main Ioway villages at this time, one on the Des Moines and the other on the Iowa River. The village on the Iowa River may have represented the pro-British faction of the tribe, since it was relatively close to Prairie du Chien, the main base of British operations in the Mississippi valley. Colonel Robert Dickson of the British Northwest Company operated in the area with impunity. He was able to exert considerable influence over the local tribes with gifts and generous trade terms, something that Nicholas Boilvin was unable to do due to the miserliness of the federal government.
The next documented event of Ioway hostility occurred on July 4, 1813. The house of William Ewing on Sandy Creek in St. Charles County was plundered and several horses stolen and about eight acres of corn were destroyed. A French trader named Francis Le Sieur later stated in a deposition that he saw Ewings property and horses in an Ioway camp on the Mississippi on or about July 16. Ewing had briefly been the American envoy to the Sauk, Fox and Ioway, just prior to Nicolas Boilvins appointment. Ewing had not helped U.S. relations with the Indians and William Clark forced him under a cloud of suspicion.
The federal and territorial governments in the West recognized the strategic role of Prairie du Chien in controlling the Indian tribes in the upper Mississippi valley. With a view of eliminating the Indian threat, William Clark personally led an expedition upriver and captured Prairie du Chien, establishing Fort Shelby on the site. Clarks stern treatment of the Sauk Indians on the way upriver had cowed the Indians and without their support the British militia fled Prairie du Chien without firing a shot. Clark left a gunboat named for him, The Governor Clarke moored off the fort and he returned to St. Louis intending to send back reinforcements. For the moment it appeared that Clark had succeeded in his mission of neutralizing the northern Mississippi tribes.
Reinforcements of Rangers and regular troops headed upriver and were soon involved in what British Colonel William McKay called the most brilliant action fought by Indians since the commencement of the war. On July 22, allied Ioway, Sauk, Fox and Kickapoo attacked six armed keelboats above the mouth of the Rock River. One Ioway who had traveled with Colonel McKay from Michilimakinac, chopped a hole in a boat firing into it until he expended all his ammunition, at which point he jumped in the river and swam ashore. This warriors presence with McKay may be an indication that others from the Iowa River village had been supporting the British in campaigns around the Great Lakes. The armada lost one boat and beat a hasty retreat when the fleeing The Governor Clarke appeared on the scene bearing news of the fall of Fort Shelby to a force of British and Indians.
Clearly, the threat on the western frontier was heating up. Incredibly, Clark reported, The Greater part of the Sacs, Foxes and Ioway nations still profess friendship. At the same time Robert Dickson, now back in business at Prairie du Chien reported, the Sioux, Ioways, Winnebagos and Rock River Sacs are for war. These statements illustrate the general confusion and uncertainty that reigned on the frontier during the war. The Indians themselves were clearly divided in their allegiances. However, based on the documentation available, it would appear that the British held an edge in influence among the upper Mississippi tribes.
In September of 1813, Clark persuaded the friendly portion of the Sauk and Fox to settle on the Missouri River near Little Moniteau Creek. I have also sent for the Ioways directing them to pass across the Missouri where a trader will be situated to trade with them Clark wrote. Part of the Ioway left their village on the Des Moines and settled along the Chariton River, north of present-day Glasgow. Clark estimated his maneuver would keep 1,000 warriors from aiding the British. His assessment was overly optimistic since only 1,500 1,700 Indians in total actually responded to his call.
Sauk and Fox warriors under Black Hawk had grown disgruntled with the British campaigns in the eastern Great Lakes and returned to their villages in the fall of 1813. In the spring of 1814, they turned their attention closer to home, the Missouri frontier. Sporadic raids began occurring particularly in the isolated Boones Lick settlements in the far west. The situation became so threatening that the government trading houses located at the Arrow Rock bluff and Little Moniteau Creek had to be abandoned. If any Ioway were involved in these raids, they were acting in concert with the Sauk and their individual presence was not noted.
When passing through the Boones Lick settlements in August, a keelboat belonging to Manual Lisa reported that the Indians freely roamed the countryside while the settlers were shut up in their forts. Lisa, a powerful St. Louis fur trader had just been appointed Subagent to the Tribes of the Missouri by William Clark. He wielded considerable influence among the Missouri River tribes and had successfully checked Dicksons attempts to influence those tribes. When he reached his headquarters near Council Bluffs, Lisa invited the powerful Teton Sioux to meet with him in council the next spring. Clark and Lisa planned to turn them against the pro-British Santee Sioux, Sauk, Fox and Ioway.
In the interim, Lisa persuaded the Omaha to attack the Ioway and they soon presented him with two Ioway scalps. The Otoe refused Lisas exhortations to attack their kinsmen, saying vaguely that some time in the future would be better for them. Perhaps the presence of Hard Heart and his band had something to do with their refusal. Regardless of their tribal factions, the Ioway were not fighting with each other. Again, the exact situation within the tribe is unclear. The Ponca on the other hand eagerly agreed to send out a war party against the Ioway early the following spring.
The factionalism within the Ioway nation prevented them from fully supporting the British cause. It generally served to weaken the tribe as a whole. Now they found themselves preoccupied with defending themselves from their western neighbors. The ability of the Ioway to militarily threaten American settlements had been severely diminished.
In the spring of 1815, Lisa held his council with the Teton, unaware, as most in the western territories that the war had officially ended the preceding Christmas. In his council, Lisa promoted the virtues of loyalty and adherence to the United States. The Teton accepted Lisas reasoning and following their protocol asked for permission to visit Governor William Clark in St. Louis. A band of nearly 700 men and 90 women set out on the journey, promising Lisa that they would attack any pro-British Indians they encountered along the way.
The pro-American Ioway village on the Chariton River lay directly on the route from Lisas post to St. Louis. In June of 1815, the Teton reached the area and destroyed the Ioway corn fields along the Chariton River. They killed twenty-four Ioway people and captured two more whom they eventually turned over to Lisa. The question arises if the Teton had mistaken this village as hostile or if in fact this pro-American village had perpetrated hostilities that might have warranted the attack.
On April 4, 1815 a force composed of Sauk, Fox, Ioway and a few Winnebago attacked the small isolated settlement of Cote sans Dessien opposite of the mouth of the Osage River. They killed at least five white settlers and partially looted and burnt the settlement. They were unable to destroy the main blockhouse due to the diligence of the women in putting out the fires set to the roof. The Indians finally retreated when a burning powder magazine exploded, killing fourteen Ioway and Sauk warriors.
On the 14th of the same month, Captain Sarshall Cooper, a prominent leader in the Boones Lick settlement was killed inside Coopers Fort. There are several versions of the account of his death but they all agree that he was shot through a hole in the log chinking. The question remains as to who actually did it. The recollection of Judge Joseph Thorp, if true, directly attributes Coopers death to an Ioway: two young bucks, one an Ioway about 19 years old, and another A Sauk about 22, came to the fort after dusk. It was in the spring of the yearWherever they could see a light they picked holes with their knives to find a place big enough to shoot through. They finally found one, and it happened to be right opposite the heart of Capt. Cooper, the man they were after, for they knew the house he lived in. They fired and the ball took effect in his side. He sprang to his feet, exclaiming Lord have mercy on us and died. The rascals told afterward that they ran some twenty yards or thirty yards from the walls of the fort and listened until they heard the squaws crying, and then they knew they had done what they came for. The young Ioway who did the shooting always called himself Captain Cooper. I often saw him after the war. He was a good-looking buck and took great pride in his name. If you got into a chat with him he would soon let you know, Me Captain Cooper.
There is actually no way of knowing to which Ioway village the perpetrators might have belonged. They could have come from the pro-American village. Even within the pro-American factions of various tribes, some individuals harbored anti-American sentiments or simply changed sides at an opportune moment. The appeal of gaining honor in war could also become too strong of a temptation for the young men and the chiefs simply could not restrain them. Warriors undoubtedly passed freely between both villages to visit their family and friends and such visitors could have been involved in the strikes.
However, it does seem highly unlikely that the Teton could have known about the Cote sans Dessein attack and Sarshall Coopers death. Furthermore, by June the peace treaty between the U.S. and Great Britain was widely known and the peace commissioners had begun circulating the word to Indian tribes to gather at Portage des Sioux to sign a peace treaty. The Teton were traditional enemies of the Ioway and they probably cared less whether the village they attacked was pro-British or pro-American. The incident was likely just a random opportunity for the Teton to pay back on old enemy.
Still, during the summer of 1815, the Ioway stepped up horse stealing raids in the Boones Lick settlements. Possibly, they were intent on replacing stock lost in the Teton raid. William Reid filed the following deposition with William Clark in 1825 recounting one of the raids. after the settlers were notified of peace and the Ioways and other Indians had gone down to Portage Desou [sic] to treat with the Commissioners appointed by the United States, David Jones, Stephen Turley, Thomas McMahan and this deponent, who had removed to Cooper's Fort during the war, believing that their property would be safe, brought their horses across the river into the bottoms below the Arrow Rocka mare of Henry Ferrils worth about sixty dollars, and a small horse, belonging to Braxton Cooper, was stolen from Coopers Fort. This deponent and others examined the trail of the Indians and were convinced that they had crossed the river, and heard them shooting in the bottom, where the horses had been put, viz. Below the Arrow Rock. This deponent and a party of men crossed the river next morning, and found an Indian trail leading up the Missouri, towards the mouth of the Chawton [sic] (Chariton); and they also found pens or pounds in the bottom, which the Indians had made and driven the horses into for the purpose of catching them. This deponent and his party followed the trail until they became satisfied that they had stolen the horses, and were making for the Ioway village. When the Ioway chiefs returned from the treaty at Portage Desiux [sic] they agreed to deliver up the horses; and this deponent, Herman Gregg and Braxton Cooper, went with the Chiefs and Interpreters to the Ioway village; and this deponent there saw in their possession Henry Ferrils mare, Braxton Coopers horse and a sorrel mare of David JonesThis deponent further saith, that some of the Ioway Chiefs offered to deliver some of the horses, and did bring up the sorrel mare of H. Ferril, and Braxton Coopers horse, for that purpose; but a party of Indians made pursuit and retook the mare and Cooper saved his horse by running him away from them.
Seventeen Ioway headmen led by Hard Heart signed the treaty of peace and friendship at Portage des Sioux on September 6, 1815. On October 15, the treaty commissioners, William Clark, Auguste Chouteau and Ninian Edwards reported, The Ioways are very desirous of coming more closely under the protection of the U.S. and for this purpose wish to cede part of their lands in order obtain annuitiesThis is a spontaneous offer on their part The issue of spontaneity on the Indians part is questionable. The Sauk and Fox cession of 1804 and the Osage cession of 1808 resulted in hard feelings once they understood what had been lost. Much of the land they had ceded was also claimed and hunted on regularly by the Ioway. Furthermore, until the outbreak of the war, the Ioway had been resisting further Sauk and Fox intrusion on their domain.
The Ioway may have been under pressure to make the cession due to the Lisas actions among the Missouri tribes. Lisa reminded Clark after the war, your excellency will remember that more than a year before the war broke out, I gave you intelligence that the wampum was carrying by British influence along the banks of the Missouri, and that all the nations of the great river were excited to join the war. They did not arm against the republic; on the contrary they armed against Great Britain and struck the Iowas [sic] the allies of that power. When peace was proclaimed, more than forty chiefs had intelligence with me; and together, we were to carry an expedition of several thousand warriors against the tribes of the upper Mississippi, and silence them at once.
There is a possibility that both factions of the Ioway were not represented at Portage des Sioux. The treaty itself gives no indication that this was the case. However, the Rock River Sauk under Black Hawk themselves remained recalcitrant and did not sign the peace treaty until May of 1816. In 1816, the Ioway were still living in the separate villages on the Chariton and Iowa Rivers and one more event occurred, perhaps the last one with a direct connection to the War of 1812.
In May of 1816, Robert and John Heath were engaged in salt making at the Boones Lick salt springs. On the 28th, John Ferril was at the salt works when John Heath came in and reported that two Negro men were missing, and he supposed killed or taken by the Indians. They searched the area and found a campsite nearby with scraps of deer hide, hog meat and a cane fife which Ferril kept. A small company of men pursued the same Indians, and routed them near the Buffalo Licks, on the Grand Charlatan (Chariton) where they were encamped; none of the Indians were seen nor were the negroes seen, but the Indians fled with such precipitation that they left their leggins, mockasins, [sic] bows, arrows, and chopping axes, and a water jug of the negroes
A few days after the two slaves had disappeared, Ioway trader Denis Julien and his men arrived at the Boones Lick from the Grand River. Ferril told them what happened and about the cane fife. On of Juliens employees Martin Dorian, told Ferril, that the Ioways had a cane fife he should know if he saw it. Dorian described the fife minutely and perfectly, and when it was shown to him, said it was the fife of the Ioways; that he had known for a long time past, that there was a party of ten Ioways had gone out at that time, supposed to hunt on the Charlatan [sic].
Except for the chopping axes and water jug found in the Indian camp, no trace of the two black men, named Henry and Nat, was ever found. Based on the depositions of the Boones Lick settlers, everyone appeared less concerned about the well being of the missing men than they were about the Heath brothers monetary loss, which totaled $1,400.00.
Fear of reprisals by the settlers for this incident may have finally precipitated the abandonment of the Chariton village. Major Stephen Long reported in 1817 that the majority of the 1,200 Ioway people were settled along the Mississippi. The following year, Potowatomie Indian agent Thomas Forsyth reported that the Ihowai were once again located in their old village on the Des Moines River.
After the 1816 incident at Boones Lick, the Ioway presence in Missouri was limited to hunting expeditions. Ioway influence and importance in the Missouri Territory began to wane rapidly. The war initiated by Manual Lisa between the Omaha and the Ioway in 1814 continued unabated until 1821. In 1824, the Ioway tribe entered into treaty negotiation with United States that resulted in the loss of most of their land in Missouri. In 1829 white settlers on the Chariton River attacked a band of Ioway on their way to meet with William Clark in St. Louis. The resulting tragedy was the so-called Big Neck War but in a true display of justice, a frontier jury absolved Chief Great Walker and his followers of any wrongdoing. The Ioway were settled on a small reservation north of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and ceded their last remaining tract of Missouri land in the Platte Purchase of 1836.
In conclusion, it appears that at the opening of the 19th century, the Ioway are solid British allies. However, a fracture developed within the tribe owing to American trade and by the beginning of the War of 1812 there were divided loyalties although it is unclear as to the size and extent of these factions. However, a slight majority of tribe appears to have supported the British during the war. Although the Ioway alone were too few pose a major military threat, they could mount effective guerilla raids and act in concert with other tribes. The disposition of the Ioway was a concern to William Clark and other frontier officials. In 1825, Clark calculated the dollar amount of property losses in Missouri attributed to the various Indian tribes during the war. He ranked the Ioway third at $2,950.00, significantly behind the Winnebago and far below the Sauk and Fox.
The factionalism brought about by the war had a devastating effect on Ioway society as it did on many tribes. The end of the war in 1815 signaled a vast increase in westward immigration and settlement. Simultaneously, the importance of Indian tribes to the United States as allies and trading partners declined. Now the Indians were simply an obstruction to be removed. In 1810, the Ioway had been a powerful force in regional events, claiming thousands of square miles of territory. By the 1830s, they were confined to a small reservation and visitors commented on their diminishing numbers, increasing dependence on government largesse and victimization by white whisky peddlers.
The northern Ioway tribe still has a small reservation at Whitecloud, Kansas. The southern Ioway have an agency at Perkins, Oklahoma. In recent years the Ioway have made significant efforts to recover and preserve their language and heritage. The Ioway also has been a leader in the efforts to repatriate the burial remains of Native Americans.
Bibliography
The Ioway Indians by Martha Royce Blaine, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK 1979.
Missouri Historical Review, April 2001 Denis Julien: Midwestern Fur Trader
By James H. Knipmeyer. State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia MO.
Historical Iowa(y) Settlements in the Grand River Basin of Missouri and Iowa by Timothy E. Roberts and Christy S. Richers, Missouri Archaeologist volume 57, December 1996
Ioway History and Treaties compiled by Lance Foster, member of the Northern Ioway Nation, 1997 http://home.earthlink.net/~ioway/history.html
The History of Missouri, Vol. I by David March, PHD, Lewis Historical Publishing, New York and West Palm Beach, 1967.
The Sac and Fox Indians by William T. Hagan, University of Oklahoma Press Norman OK. 1958
The Osages by John Joseph Mathews, University of Oklahoma Press 1932, Norman OK.
Diary of George C. Sibley May 7, 1808 to September 3, 1811, Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis MO, transcript courtesy of David Bennett
Hampshire Federalist, Springfield Massachusetts, Thursday January 4, 1810, David Bennett collection
MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS TERRITORIAL FORTS DURING THE WAR OF 1812
By Michael D. Harris
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Since research pertaining to early Missouri Territorial forts are usually general and lacking in detail, their physical descriptions can be confusing and inaccurate. Each fort had its own characteristics and accommodations. Though many early historical writers described the forts as home-forts, this can be only said of a portion of the forts. There were four distinct types of forts.
The first type of forts were the converted, pre-existing homes. They may have portholes or gunslits cut out of their walls with little else done for protection. In some cases, upper story windows served as the gun ports. Stockades around these types of fortifications have little historical documentation. Settlers first constructed the main building but with the advent of the "Indian threat", Missouri and Illinois U.S. territorial rangers assisted in fortification conversions. Professional soldiers did not occupy these types of forts as a rule but the U.S. territorial rangers did on a regular basis. The local leaders of these forts were chosen as Captains and were responsible for the training and drilling of the local militia.
The second type of forts were the military outposts. These forts were occupied by U.S. regulars and U.S. territorial rangers at various times. These forts had blockhouses constructed and were built with military purposes in mind. Some had stockades while others were simply a blockhouse. Out-buildings have yet to be mentioned in historical documents. The forts were not only used for protection for the local settlers but were used for staging of attacks on Indian camps and observation, referred to as "spying", on Indian movements. These forts were built by the Missouri and Illinois U.S. territorial rangers with the help of U.S. regulars from Fort Bellefountaine.
The third type of forts were the factory forts. These forts or factories were constructed because of treaty agreements to supply goods and services to the "friendly" tribe. They served to suppress anti-American feelings by tribe. Built for trade, they usually contained a blockhouse, out-buildings for the storage of furs and trade goods. There is no historical evidence of stockades.
The fourth type of fort was the cantonment. The only fort to qualify for this designation was Fort Belle Fountaine in St. Louis. This fort became the military nerve-center of the war effort in the west. It was a regular U.S. military installation with officer quarters, barracks, blockhouses, guard houses and a stockade. Fortunately, this fort is well-documented.
Not all forts built along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers can be mentioned. Some have been lost over the passing of time. With the exception of Fort Belle Fountaine and Fort Osage, the Spanish fortifications at St. Louis and St. Charles were built before the ninetieth century. These fortifications had fallen to disrepair in both towns by the start of the War of 1812. St. Charles contained at least one stone three-story tower and St. Louis contained the remains of Fort San Carlos, composed of several stone towers and entrenchments.
Since I have conducted a more intense study of the Missouri Territorial forts, most of the information presented here deal with them though what Illinois forts I am familiar with are presented as well.
The forts are marked as follows: home-forts (HF), military outpost (MO), factories (FACTORY).
MISSOURI TERRITORIAL FORTS
THE MISSISSISPPI RIVER FORTS
TEMPORARY STOCKADE (HF) This temporary stockade was erected in the year of 1812 in the now present town of Clarksville, Missouri. Was soon abandoned when some settlers were killed near by.
GILBERTS FORT (HF)
In the spring of 1812, Samuel Gilbert settled near the Salt river in Ralls county. That same year, Gilbert and his neighbors erected a blockhouse on high ground north-east of Shepards or Matson Mill.
FORT INDEPENDENCE (CAP-AU-GRIS FORT) (MO)
Built in the summer of 1813, Fort Independence was erected by the Missouri Rangers under the advisement of the inhabitants of Fort Howard, to observe the Indian movements on the Mississippi river.
PORTAGE DE SIOUX BLOCKHOUSE AND FORT LOOKOUT (MO)
On April 8, 1813, General Daniel Bissell of Fort Bellefontaine and territorial governor Benjamin Howard chose Portage de Sioux, Missouri to build a military post. Captain Desha with a subaltern and fifty-one men were instructed to build a blockhouse at Portage de Sioux. To protect the builders, a large fortified gunboat was left in the river near the blockhouse. To further watch and protect St. Louis, it was decided to place a battery of artillery on a island in the middle of the river just south of the village of Portage de Sioux. This battery was called Fort Lookout.
On July 15, 1815, a treaty was signed with the Indians near the blockhouse thus more or less ending the Indian attacks on the settlements.
FORT MASON (MO)
Built in April-May of 1812, Fort Mason was named after Lieutenant John Mason of Colonel Kibbys Rangers of St. Charles. Directed by Major Nathan Boone and General Benjamin Howard, the Missouri Rangers erected this small fort near the present-day Saverton, Missouri.
BUFFALO FORT (HF)
Erection of Buffalo Fort began in Decmber of 1811 and was finished during the early part of 1812. It was built on a high hill overlooking the Buffalo and Niox creeks, two miles southwest of the present town of Louisiana, Missouri. The fort enclosed a spring which still flows today.
FORT BELLE FOUNTAINE (CANTONMENT)
Fort Belle Fountaine was the first United States fort built west of the Mississippi river. Located on the Missouri river, north of the town of St. Louis. Fort Belle Fountaine became the military center for the area of the Missouri and Illinois territories. The fort was a stockade fort with barracks, blockhouses, powder magazine and dependent's quarters.
LOWER MISSOURI RIVER FORTS
FORT HOWARD (MO)
Upon the advisement of John Shaw, Fort Howard was erected. The fort took sixty or severty people to build over the period of two to three weeks. Two companies of Missouri Rangers were involved in its construction. The fort was a rectangle with its long sides running north and south. The stockade enclosed about half an acre. A well was dug inside the fort. Blockhouses were built on all corners except the southeast corner. The militia cut the pickets and the regulars put them up.35 The fort was located in the Mississippi river flood plain, below some bluffs. When the fort was complete, it was named after Governor Benjamin Howard. The fort became involved in one of the most active battles during the 1812 conflict, on May 24, 1815, the Battle of the Sinkhole.
CLARKS FORT (HF)
The date of the erection of Clarks Fort is not really known though it was probably around 1812. Major Christopher Clark was responsible for the forts erection.
LESTERS FORT (HF)
This fort was discovered by me on U.S. surveyors notes and map drawings of 1816. No other description has been made of the fort.
KENNEDYS FORT (HF)
Built in 1811, the fort was built for the defense of the Kennedy family. Thomas Kennedy was responsible for settling the area. The fort was built in a square with two blockhouses angling in the square.
JOURNEYS FORT (HF)
The Journey Fort was built by the three Journey brothers, Peter, Jospeh and James in the year of 1812. The fort was located fifteen miles west of the Pond Fort.
POND FORT (MO)
The Pond Fort was built by a company of Missouri Rangers in 1812, under the command of Captain James Callaway. It was named the Pond Fort because of a large pond north of the fort.
WOODS FORT (IM)
Though it is not really known who built Woods Fort, it became the center of military activity in the area. The fort was named after Zadock Woods who had a large dog-trot log house iside the fort which was used as a tavern. The fort was a rectangular stockade.
STOUTS FORT (HF)
Stouts Fort was a small stockade located on top of a small hill. It was located about one mile south of the town of Auburn, Missouri which has long since disappeared.
ZUMWALTS FORT (HF)
Jacob Zumwalt built the main saddle-bag log house in 1798. A spring was located at the bottom of the hill, below the house. There were as many as ten families that lived at the fort during the War of 1812. Before the war, Black Hawk was a frequent visitor of the Zumwalt family. It is said that Black Hawk was in love with one of Jacob Zumwalts daughters.
WHITES FORT (HF)
Named after Captain White, the fort is located roughly two miles from Fort Howard and built on Dog or Big Prairie. The settlers in the area helped build the fort. The fort was rectangular in shape, the long dimensions running east and west. The fort embraced one and a half acres.
COONTZS FORT (HF)
Not much is known about the fort. It was built on the Booneslick road, one and a half miles east of present-day Cottleville, Missouri. It was built by John and Nick Coontz in 1800.
HOWELLS FORT (HF)
Francis Howell built this fort in 1811. It was lcoated near a spring which is now part of the Busch Wildlife area, ten miles south-west of St. Charles, Missouri. Militia musters and drills were held there frequently.
CASTLIOS FORT (HF)
Located in the Busch Wildlife area, only one and a half miles from Howells Fort, Castlios Fort was not as large as Howells. John Caslito built the fort on Howells prairie near the Dardenne creek.
CALLAWAYS FORT (HF)
Little is known about the fort. Flaunders Callaway built a log house near Charette, a French settlement that has long been washed away by the Missouri river. Some historians believe that this two-story log house was part of Callaways Fort.
BOONES FORT (HF)
The fort was built by Daniel Morgan Boone with the help of his neighbors. It is said that the fort was the largest and strongest in the district. The fort seems to have had two or three blockhouses and picketing. Daniel Morgan Boones house was located within the fort.
McCOYS FORT (HF)
This fort is only mentioned once in records. There is no other reference to it.
LOUTRE ISLAND FORTS
Loutre Island is located northeast of the present town of Hermann, Missouri. The island is located in the Missouri river basin.
McDERMITS FORT (HF)
McDermits Fort was probably located several miles up the Loutre river from the other Loutre Island forts. No location for the fort is known at this time.
QUICKS FORT (HF)
Little is known about this fort. It was located on the west side of the Loutre river, not far from its mouth, near Loutre Island. It was built on the east end of Bests Bottom.
FORT CLEMSON (IM)
Built by the Missouri Rangers in 1812, the fort was named in honor of Colonel Eli Brady Clemson. It was located on the Loutre Island, next to the Missouri River. Captain James Callaway spent a considerable amount of time at the fort during the war, referred to it as Camp Clemson in letters to his wife. The only description of Fort Clemson calls it a small, crude fort with barracks.
BESTS FORT (HF)
Located in Bests Bottom at its western end, Isaac Best had built a blockhouse for his family. Quicks Fort was not far away. In 1814, Best and his family abandoned the fort and retired to Fort Clemson.
TALBOTS FORT (HF)
As with the other forts near the Island, little is known about it. It was located on the bluffs above Loutre island, not far from Fort Clemson.
GROOMS FORT (HF)
Located eight miles up the Loutre river, Jacob Grooms built a fort before or during the year of 1814. This fort may have been located along the same common road near McDermits Fort.
COTE SANS DESSEIN
Cote Sans Dessein was a small French settlement located east of present-day Jefferson City, Missouri, about twelve miles. The name means shoreline without design, because of the unusual mound formation it was located on. The hill rises up in the middle of the Missouri river valley, next to the river. The formation is approximately forty or fifty yards wide, thirty or forty yards high (varying from end to end) and one quarter of a mile long. The settlement consisted of several dozen log homes with about 200 inhabitants. Two forts were erected for the villages protection.
TIBEAUS FORT (HF)
Sometimes spelled Thibault, this fort was possible built by, or at least part of it, the Missouri Rangers. It was named after Joseph Tibeau. This fort was the main fort of the settlement. The fort was a two-story blockhouse with portholes on both floors.
ROYS FORT (HF)
Roys Fort was named for the Roy (sometimes spelled Roi because of its French origins) family that occupied it. It was located thirty or forty yards from the Missouri rivers edge and roughly 400 yards east of Tibeaus Fort. It sat on the flat river basin. The fort consisted of a blockhouse only. Roys Fort was much smaller than Tibeaus Fort. A log powder magazine stood about halfway between the forts but closer to the river than the forts. The Battle of Cote Sans Dessein occurred on April 4, 1815. The forts were attacked by the Sac and Fox Indians.
BOONESLICK FORTS
The Booneslick settlement was the last American settlement on the frontier. This settlement represented the most exposed American citizentry in the newly established territory. Several dozen families lived on both sides of the Missouri river.
STEPHEN COLES FORT (HF)
Stephen Cole settled the area in February of 1810. He settled in an area one and a half miles east of the present-day Boonville, Missouri. Where he put his fort is now called the Old Fort Field. In the summer of 1812, Stephen Cole and his neighbors built the fort. Little is known as to what it looked like other than it did have a stockade.
HANNAH COLES FORT (HF)
Hannah Cole moved into the area with Stephen Cole in 1810. After the killing of Samuel McMahan in 1811, it was decided to build a stronger fort around Hannah Coles cabin which was located on a bluff overlooking the Missouri river. The fort was a stockade of heavy picketing.
COOPERS FORT (HF)
Named after the Cooper family who lived there, the fort was a large stockade with log cabins built together to form an enclosure. The fort enclosed about one acre of land and had only one gate out of the enclosure.
COXS FORT (HF)
Sometimes called Andersons Fort, the fort was built in the Missouri river basin directly east of what later became Saline City, Missouri. The fort was built in 1814 and consisted of a blockhouse (possibly just a large log cabin) and a stockade. The fort was named after Jesse Cox who had moved there with his son-in-law, William Gregg and Coxs two sons.
HEADS FORT (HF)
The fort was located at a large spring and named after Captain William Head. The for was a small stockade. The fort was located several miles north of present-day Rochport, Missouri.
REEDS BLOCKHOUSE (HF)
Little is known about this blockhouse except for what I recently discovered in the legal records records. Located on William Reed's property which is now in the Missouri river.
FORT HEMPSTEAD (HF)
The fort was orginally named after Rev. David McClain (sometimes spelled McLain) and called McClains Fort. It was later renamed after Captain Stephen Hempstead. The fort consisted of probably two blockhouses and a stockade that surrounded about two acres of land.
KINKEADS FORT (HF)
Named in honor of David Kinkead, the fort was built similar to Coopers Fort and Fort Hempstead. It was a series of log cabins to form an enclosure.
McMAHANS FORT (HF)
Named for William McMahan who settled in the area. Located to the west of Boonville and four miles south of Arrow Rock, Missouri. This blockhouse was burned by Indians.
BUCKHART'S FORT (HF)
This fort is only mentioned once in a document but could be aa odd phonetic spelling for one of the above mentioned forts.
SIBLEYS FORT (FACTORY)
When Fort Osage was abandoned in 1812, George Sibley established a trading post or factory near present-day Arrow Rock, Missouri. The exact for the fort is unknown. The fort was built in 1813 and abandoned in 1814 when Indian raids around the area worsened.
JOHNSONS FORT (FACTORY)
Because of the agreement between General William Clark and the Sac and Fox Indians of the Missouri river, a trading post was established on the Little Moniteau creek, located upriver from present-day Jefferson City, Missouri. The fort was a two-story blockhouse.
FORT OSAGE (FACTORY)
Fort Osage was built in 1808 because of a treaty agreement with the United States and the Osage Indians. The fort was abandoned in 1812 when hostile Indian attacks increased on the Missouri river. The fort consisted of five blockhouses, barracks, a hospital, officer quarters, factory and traders area. The fort was reoccupied after the war.
ILLINOIS TERRITORIAL FORTS
These forts are under investigation. Fort Russell was considered the most important for the Illinois territory since most military excursions germinated from this fort. The forts are divided up for each county they were located in. Some research comments are included in the text. Though many of these forts were home-forts, I will not make designations till the research is finished.
BOND COUNTY
HILL'S FORT - Eight miles southwest of the present site of Greenville.
JONE'S FORT - On the east side of Shoal Creek.
NAT HILL'S FORT - On (Goshen) Doza Creek, a few miles above its mouth, directly east of Pierron, on east side of river.
CALHOUN COUNTY
CAMPBELL'S BLOCKHOUSE - A small blockhouse on the west bank of the Illinois River (Prairie Marcot), nineteen miles above the mouth, erected by Lt. John Campbell, U.S.A.. Located near Hardin, across the Mississippi river from the Cap au Gris Fort (Fort Independence).
CLINTON COUNTY
JOURNEY'S FORT - Located a short distance above the town of Aviston.
FORT __________ - Located on the site of the town of Carlyle.
HILL'S FORT - Near Hill's Ferry on the Kaskaskia River??? Could be the same one in Bond County??? Probably!
CRAWFORD COUNTY
FORT LA MOTTE - Located near Palestine. Built in 1812 by local inhabitants. Plaque on Il33 in east Palestine marks the site.
FORT FOOT - Built by the William Easton family and other settlers considered Fort LaMotte too crowded and constructed a new stockade on a site just north of Il 33 west of town. A family trait of the Eatons of large feet led to the name.
COOK COUNTY
FORT DEARBORN - Located where Chicago is at present..
FRANKLIN COUNTY
TOM JORDON'S FORT - Built in the Jordan (Jourdan) settlement in 1811 by Thomas and Francis Jordan, with the assistance of the militia from the U.S. Saline, on the road to the salt works and the town of Equality, in the eastern part of Franklin County, eight or nine miles east from old Frankfort.
FRANCIS JORDON BLOCKHOUSE - Built in the Jordan (Jourdan) settlement in 1810 by Thomas and Francis Jordan, with the assistance of the militia from the U.S. Saline, on the road to the salt works and the town of Equality, in the eastern part of Franklin County, eight or nine miles east from old Frankfort.
FRANK FORT - Built 1812. Located on river near Orient. Could this be related to old Frankfort?
FULTON COUNTY
FORT ___________- Located northeast of Havana.
HANCOCK COUNTY
FORT JOHNSON - Located on the site of the town of Warsaw. 1814.
FORT EDWARDS - Built in 1816. Near Warsaw, Illinois. Post-war fort, built as a direct result of the war.
JERSEY COUNTY
ILLINOIS RIVER BLOCKHOUSE - Built at the mouth of the Illinois River. Fort located near Grafton, across the Mississippi river from Portage de Sioux, Missouri.
LA SALLE COUNTY
FORT ___________? - Located at Starved Rock, near La Salle.
LAWRENCE COUNTY
FORT ___________- Built in 1812, located between Birds and Russellville.
MADISON COUNTY
FORT ___________- Built on the Mississippi River, opposite the mouth of the Missouri River.
FORT ___________ - Built on Silver Creek, northeast of Troy. See Butler's Fort.
FORT RUSSELL - Sometimes called 'Camp Russell'. Named in honor of Col. William Russell, U.S. Regulars. Very important fort. Established one and a half miles northwest of Edwardsville.
FORT BUTLER - Near the village of St. Jacob. Mentioned in the Wood River Massacre.
MOORE'S BLOCKHOUSE - Built by George Moore in 1808? On the farm owned by William Gill, then Klopmeyer. Madison County. Wood River Massacre narrative. At the residence of George Moore, a blockhouse had been built, on the east branch of Wood River.
CHILTON'S FORT - Possible located in Morine township. Major Isaac Ferguson was in command during 1812-14. Located on the east side of Silver Creek. Built no earlier than 1810. Named after Chilton family.
WOOD RIVER FORT - Located in section 10, township 5, range 9.
BARTLETT'S BLOCKHOUSE - Built by Joseph Bartlett in 1812. Located in the Wood River settlement.
BECK'S BLOCKHOUSE - Built by Paul Beck and located three miles east of Edwardsville. Used during the War of 1812.
THOMAS KIRKPATRICK'S FORT - Edwardsville. It stood to the north of the old courthouse about three hundred yards from the banks of the Cahokia Creek. Believed to be built by a military company of which John G. Lofton was captain.
STOCKADE FORT - Built in section one, township 4, range 9.
JONE'S BLOCKHOUSE - Located on southeast quarter of section 18, township 5, range 8.
JAMES KIRKPATRICK'S FORT - Located a couple of miles southwest of Edwardsville.
FRANK KIRKPATRICK'S FORT - Located a couple of miles southeast of Edwardsville.
LOFTON'S BLOCKHOUSE - Located in the American bottom, in the Nameoki township.
HAYE'S BLOCKHOUSE - Located in the American Bottom, in the Nameoki township.
_______________ FORT - Located one mile south of the old town of Milton.
BLOCKHOUSE - Located on section 1, near Alton, Illinois.
PREUITT'S BLOCKHOUSE- Built on the north half of section 18, on the land of Martin Preuitt, father of Solomon Preuitt. In the spring of 1817, the fort was taken down and removed to William Jones' land and was used as the residence of the Jones family.
MASSAC COUNTY
FORT MASSAC - Metropolis. 1759. This fort passed through the hands of several nationalities before the Americans. Became an important part of the War of 1812.
MONROE COUNTY
PIGGOTT'S FORT - Located west about a mile north of Columbia. Located along the Kaskaskia Trail. Stood at the foot of the bluffs. Built in 1783 by James Piggott.
NEW DESIGN SET FORT - Northwest of Waterloo.
WHITESIDE'S STATION - Built by William Whiteside in 1793. Located on road between Cahokia and Kaskaskia. Halfway between Columbia and Waterloo (1882).
PEORIA COUNTY
FORT CLARK - Located at present-day Peoria.
PULASKI COUNTY
POST WILKINS - Built 1800. Between Olmstead and Grand Chain, on the Ohio River.
RANDOLPH COUNTY
FORT GAGE - Located north of Chester on the Kaskaskia River.
FORT CHARTRES - Located on Mississippi River, near Prairie du Roche.
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
CHAMBER'S FORT - Few miles southeast of Lebanon, on the west side of Looking Glass Prairie.
WHITE COUNTY
McHENRY'S FORT - On Tanguary land, built by Captain William McHenry in the summer of 1812, and from which Captain McHenry's Company ranged.
COUNCIL'S FORT - On the Starkey place, built by Hardy Council in 1813.
WILLIAM'S FORT - East side of Big Prairie, built by Aaron Williams in 1813.
HANNA'S FORT - Built by John Hanna, a little south of George Hanna's house, on the site where a Methodist church stands.
LAND'S FORT - Built by Robert Land, who lived in it during the war, about a half a mile south of the Hanna Fort.
SLOCUMB'S FORT - Built by John Slocumb, east of Thomas Logan's farm.
BOULTINGHOUSE'S FORT - Built by Daniel Boultinghouse in the northern part of White County, near the prairie named after him. He was killed by the Indians near the house in 1813.
SKILLET FORT - Located between Skillet Creek and Little Wabash River.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY
BLOCKHOUSE - 1809. Near Hurst.
BLOCKHOUSE - 1811. East of Crainville.
OLD STONE FORT - Near or south of Carrier Mills in Saline County or in the town of Stonefort of Williamson County.
?
MIDDLETON'S FORT - On the Kaskaskia River.
GOING'S FORT - On the Kaskaskia River.
FINAL COMMENTS
The war in Missouri officially ended with the treaty signed in 1815 at the blockhouse near the village of Portage de Sioux. Most of the forts were dismantled and the logs used to build barns, corn cribs and other log structures. A few of the forts survived till the last thirty years but fell to modern progress. Except for a few of the fort sites that have been marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution, most of the sites have been lost or forgotten. The search continues. Only through archaeological excavations and revealing historical research can most of the fort sites be found.
When an officer is advanced of the ranks, and posted to receive a reviewing officer, the sword is placed diagonally across the body, the point to the left, the left hand grasping the blade near the left shoulder, the edge forward, the right arm nearly extended down, a little forward of the right thingh, and the elbows to the body. This is called the Port.
At the Rest, the right hand and hilt of the sword are placed before the left groin, the blade sloping to the right shoulder and flat against the body, the left hand over the sword close to the hilt and grasping the right wrist.
For exercise, the officers Fall in, in one rank, with their swords sheathed, and dress in a line, taking such distances as are necessary for the motions of the sword.
Attention ! I. Draw Sword! Three motions 1. Bring the right hand across the body and grasp the hilt; at the same time seize the scabbard with the left hand below the sling. 2. Draw the sword from the sheath, be extending the right arm, turn up the point, bring the sword before the face, the blade perpendicular, the hilt as high as the chin, dropping the left hand down the side, and keep both elbows to the body: This position is called the Poise.
3. Bring the sword down to the carry.
II. Port Sword! One Motion. Carry the blade diagonally across teh body, the pint to the left, and grasp it with the thumb and fore finger of teh left hand, at the same time extending the right arm down to the right thigh.
III. Present Sword! Two Motions. 1. Quitting the blade with the left hand raise the sword to the pose, and drop the left arm. 2. With a slow motion, drop the point forward, carrying it obliquely to the right, bring it nearly to the ground, the right arm extended, the palm of the hand upwards, the elbow near the right hip. This is used for a Salute. *
IV. Port Sword! Two Motions. 1. Turning the palm of the hand under and carrying the point of the sword to front, bring it up with a quick motion to the poise. 2. Bring down the sword to the port.
V. Rest Sword! One Motion. Carry the hilt of the sword to the left growin, the point to the right shoulder, the blade blat against the body, the edge to the left; at the same time b ring the left hand over the blade close to the hilt and grasp the right arm at the wrist and step back the right foot six inches behind the left heel and Stand at Ease.
VI. Carry Sword! One Motion. Carry the left hand to the left side, the sword to the carry, at the same time bring up the right foot to its habitual position.
VII. Return Sword! Three Motions. 1. Bring the sword to the poise. 2. Extend the right arm, dropping the point to the scabbard, direct the eyes to the same, grasp it with the left hand and enter the blade till the right arm is on a level with the shoulders. 3. Thurst the sword home, and carry the hands to the outside of the thighs.
* The sword is presented from the Carry in two motions, in a similar manner.
THE IOWAY INDIANS: BRITAINS ALLY IN THE WEST?
By Michael Dickey
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Arrow Rock State Historic Site
The Ioway Indians or Pa-ho-dje as they called themselves, have often been credited as being the only tribe west of the Mississippi River to actively support Great Britain during the War of 1812. The question arises if this was actually the case and if so, to what extent did they support the British? Basic information on native cultures and their history is always helpful in gaining insight into their conduct during the war. This is especially true in understanding the relationship of the Ioway and British. Unfortunately, there is little documentation available presenting the Ioway point of view in their own words.
The Ioway were of Chiwere Siouan linguistic stock as were the Otoe, Missouria and Winnebago whom the Ioway fondly referred to as their Grandfathers. These people were direct descendants of the Oneota culture, which had dominated much of the area between Lake Michigan and the Missouri River valley prior to European contact. One of the premier Oneota sites in Missouri is now located within Van Meter State Park.
In an 1836 letter to President Jackson, the Ioway described the former boundaries of their territory. No Indian of any other tribe dare build his fire or make a moccasin track between Missouri and the Mississippi Rivers, from the mouth of the calumet (Big Sioux), upper Iowa and Des Moines Rivers, without first having obtained the consent of the Ioway nation of Indians. In fact, this country was all theirs and had been for hundreds of years. This claim is supported by archaeological and historical evidence although the Ioway certainly could not dominate the entire area at any given time. Other tribes frequently intruded upon this domain.
The Ioway were located in extreme southeastern South Dakota at the time of earliest European exploration. They began migrating to the southeast as the Dakota Sioux and Cheyenne began moving onto the Plains from the upper Mississippi Valley. Their main villages were located on the Des Moines and Iowa Rivers by the early 1700s. By 1789, smallpox and warfare had eliminated the Missouria as an independent tribe, effectively leaving the Ioway in possession of the Grand River and lower Missouri River valleys.
Ioway culture of the 18th and 19th contained a mixture of both plains and woodland elements. Very early French documents identified the Ioway as buffalo hunters. In the early 1700s they acquired horses which facilitated their seasonal buffalo hunts on the plains to the west. The Ioway used a modest form of tipi while on their seasonal hunts, at least during the 19th century. Oval bark covered wigwams and long houses formed their semi-permanent villages and hunting camps. The women practiced modest agriculture, growing a variety of maize, beans, squash and pumpkins. This was supplemented by the seasonal gathering various nuts, berries and roots. In many respects the Ioway material lifestyle was similar to other prairie-plains tribes such as the Sauk, Kansa, Otoe and Osage.
The Ioway were always a small tribe, with various French, Spanish and early American documents giving their warrior strength somewhere between 200 to 400 individuals. Roughly this means that even at their peak population, the tribe never numbered more than 800 to 1,600 members. Despite their small numbers, the Ioway were a warrior society and not easily intimidated by more numerous foes such as the Osage, Pawnee and Dakota Sioux. They were not reluctant to fight with their close kinsmen the Otoe and Missouria either. As with all prairie-plains tribes, warfare was not only for protection of the home territory, it provided an avenue for males to achieve manhood and status within their social structure.
Although the women were seldom active as warriors, they did support the men in their war endeavors.
With the exception of the Winnebago, the Ioway were generally on the friendliest terms with the Algonquin-speaking Sauk and Fox. This relationship which began in the early 1700s, is considered one of accommodation move than of active cooperation. Being few in number, the Ioway needed allies and sometimes joined with the Sauk and Fox in fights against other tribes. During a series of wars with the French in the early 18th century, the Sauk and Fox briefly retreated to central Iowa where they received shelter from the Ioway. However, in later years as the Sauk and Fox pushed west of the Mississippi on a more permanent basis this generally amicable relationship was sometimes strained to the point of bloodshed.
The Ioway had been fairly reliable allies and trading partners with the French. However, beginning in the late 1740s, Britain attempted to undermine Indian loyalty to France by sending traders into the Ohio and Mississippi valleys. As a result of this activity, the Ioway killed two French traders in 1755. However, with war underway for the control of the North American continent, France pardoned the killers in order to recruit the tribe for service against the English. In the assault against Fort William Henry in New York, General Marquis de Montcalm was able to count among his Indian allies, The Ioway of the Western Sea.
Before the end of the French and Indian war, trade items became scarce owing to British blockades at sea. French posts were abandoned and what men and materials were available were sent to campaigns in the east. By wars end in 1763, British traders had established headquarters at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin a crossroads for tribes from the Great Lakes, northern plains and Mississippi valley. This location gave the Ioway easy access for the Ioway to English trade goods. In the brief but violent uprising of Chief Pontiac in 1764-65 against the British, the Ioway along with the Sauk and Fox chose to remain neutral and await the outcome, rather than jeopardize trade relations.
In 1764, the Louisiana Territory and with it, the Ioway homeland, passed from control of France to Spain. However, a Spanish report dated 1777 noted that, the Ioways traded only with the English. In 1778, several Ioway headmen traveled to Montreal to affirm their loyalty to their British Father the king. During the American Revolution, forces under George Rogers Clark captured British outposts in the Illinois Country disrupting British efforts to arm the Ohio valley tribes. A party of Sauk and Ioway warriors appeared at Cahokia, apparently scouting American strength and intentions.
Since Spain had allied with the Americans in the Revolution, British officials in Canada decided to retaliate by attacking Spanish St. Louis on May 26, 1780. Nearly 1,000 Indians composed of Ioway, Sauk, Fox, Winnebago, Menominee and Sioux participated mainly because the British offered better-made trade goods and were more generous in gifts than Spanish officials. St. Louis was well fortified and the Sauk may have even tipped Spanish officials off to the impending attack. The attack failed and afterwards, the Ioway and Sauk remained outwardly friendly to the Spanish, who were military too weak to chastise the Indians.
The Ioway became highly successful in playing Spanish, American and British interests against each other. In so doing they secured the best terms in trade and gifts as the different powers competed for their loyalty and fur harvests. Britain wielded the greatest influence and the Ioway soon became the middlemen between British traders and the tribes on the Missouri River. By 1800, the British had established treading posts directly in the Ioway villages on the Des Moines and Iowa Rivers.
The effect of the British trade on the Ioway is graphically illustrated in William Clarks journal entry of June 27, 1804. In speaking of the Kansas or Kaw Indians he writes, they once lived 24 leagues higher than the Kansas (River) on the south bank of the Missouri and were more numerous, but they have been reduced and banished by the Sacs and Ayaways (Ioways), who being both better supplied with arms have an advantage over the Kansas though the latter are no less warlike than themselves. The Ioway were at the high tide of their power and prestige. Their influence in regional affairs belied the small size of their nation, thanks in part to British firearms.
In 1803 the United States had secured the Louisiana Territory from France but this important event had no impact on the Ioway and their trade with the British. In October of 1805, they held their first official talks with the United States, then attempting to broker peace between the warring tribes of Upper Louisiana. In December, territorial governor General James Wilkinson reported that the Ioway, Sauk and Fox were certainly disposed for war and beyond all doubts are excited by their traders from Canada.
To combat British influence emanating from Canada, a delegation of Ioway, Osage, Sauk, Sioux and other tribes were sent to meet President Thomas Jefferson in January of 1806. Jefferson plainly told the Indian headmen that the English, the Spanish and the French were gone never to return and that a Father would come to live among them, oversee them and settle their quarrels. This Father was Nicolas Boilvin, a French-Canadian employee of Auguste Chouteau the St. Louis fur trade baron. Boilvin was fluent in several Indian languages and extremely knowledgeable of their habits and customs. In addition, he was loyal to the new American government making him indispensable to the Indian Service.
Boilvin established his base in a Sauk village at the mouth of the Des Moines and he was instructed to frequently visit the towns of the Ioway. In spite of his presence, the Ioway openly continued to trade with the British in their villages. In fact, the Ioway frequently attacked boats descending the Missouri River, robbing traders and trappers of peltries and goods destroying what they could not carry off. Even though Boilvin was aware that stolen material was being traded he could do nothing about it.
On July 22, 1807, Colonel Hunt at Fort Bellefontaine reported, a powerful association of all Indians between the lakes and the Missouri was formed for commencing a war on the frontiers of the U.S. The Ioways only we are told withhold themselves from this threatening combination. The others are ready to strike as soon as their corn is harvested. Although the war did not materialize, the report was a harbinger of things to come. The Shawnee Chief Tecumseh and his brother Tenskawata The Prophet had initiated their attempt to build a formal coalition of Indian tribes to stop further white encroachment.
The restraint of the Ioway to the Ioway can be partially attributed to the presence of four licensed American traders among them that year. Some elements within the tribe apparently did not want to jeopardize their newfound trade with the Americans. Thus a small fissure appeared within the tribe over the issue of whether to trade with Great Britain or the United States. One of these traders was French-Canadian Denis Julien who had traded with the Ioway as far back as the late 1790s.
During the winter of 1801-1802 Julien had provided stiff competition to British trader Thomas Anderson. It was costly to send trade goods from the Ioway village on the Des Moines west to their hunting grounds on the Missouri River. To save the costs of sending outfits up the Missouri, Julien and Anderson agreed to wait for the hunters to return to the Des Moines in the spring. However, Julien sent a boatload of merchandise up the Missouri to the hunting grounds in an attempt to undercut Anderson but was betrayed by one of his employees who informed Anderson of the deception.
In March of 1808, Ioway, Sauk, Fox, Menominee and Winnebago warriors visited the Prophets village on the Wabash River. This was an alarming development for the Americans who viewed this activity as a British rather than an Indian initiative. The actions of General William Henry Harrison, who had secured millions of acres of Indian lands by dubious means, were conveniently overlooked as reasons for Indian agitation. Louisiana Territorial Governor Meriwether Lewis employed the aid of trader Julien to influence the Ioway in favor of the United States. Juliens wife Catharine was an Ioway, which helped him gain favor in the tribe.
At this time, Sauk and Ioway relations were strained as the Sauk had killed several Ioway on the Des Moines River. Boilvin feared a war between the tribes, which he predicted would render navigation on the upper Mississippi River extremely dangerous. While Boilvin was charged with keeping the peace between warring tribes, he was deprived of the only tools he had for doing so. In May, Governor Lewis ordered Boilvin to cease the Indian tradition of paying for the dead. Boilvin used government funds to buy trade goods to pay for the deaths in one Indian nation caused by another, thus making atonement and avoiding inter-tribal war. Lewis also said that if any tribe went hostile, no traders will be permitted to bring them merchandise and they will be deprived of means of making war or defending themselves. Lewis measure only assured that British and not American traders would continue to influence the Indian tribes.
American-Ioway relations soured in June of 1808 when two traders were killed on the Missouri near the Grand River. The nation is not known but the Ioways are suspected wrote Governor Lewis to Secretary of War Henry Dearborn. Eventually, two Ioway warriors were arrested and bound over for trial. A large number of the tribe arrived in St. Louis where they beseeched and harassed Lewis and General Clark to release their tribesmen.
The warriors were placed on trail for murder on July 23 and found guilty. In a new trial in August, the court ruled that the men could not be tried as the Ioway had no treaty relations with the United States and the incident occurred on Indian land, which had not been ceded to the U.S. Therefore, the court ruled the incident had occurred outside its jurisdiction and the laws of the United States. Governor Lewis vehemently disagreed with the court decision and ordered the two warriors to be held in jail anyway.
In June of 1809, an Ioway was shot and killed near Cahokia Illinois. A hunting party had been in the area for some time and was accused of stealing and killing some hogs. The incident further served to heighten the tensions that existed between the Ioway and the United States. When the two warriors escaped from jail in August, territorial Secretary Frederick Bates openly expressed relief saying the escape was fortunate for themselves and for us.
One of the escaped warriors was Mahaska or White Cloud, painted by Charles Bird King during a visit to Washington D.C. around 1825. White Cloud was the son of a chief by the same name. During his visit to Washington, he recalled his long imprisonment and related that he had killed one of the traders in self-defense. Mahaska became an important chief in the tribe, as did his own son. After his escape from prison, Mahaska led a war party against the Ioways ancient enemy, the Osage. The purpose of the raid was to help regain his status within the tribe. He took three scalps during this raid and was wounded in the ankle. He hid from the Osage under a log in a stream until he could finally make his way across the Missouri River and back to the Des Moines village.
In a gesture of conciliation to the Ioway tribe for Lewis jailing of the warriors, President Jefferson sent papers and a medal to Hard Heart a prominent headman. In effect this recognition elevated Hard Heart to the status to a chief. Secretary Bates felt that Hard Heart was vicious and undeserving of such recognition. Jeffersons action abrogated Ioway traditions of leadership. Inadvertently or not, he had increased the factionalism that was already arising in the tribe over the issue of trading with the British or the Americans.
The Hampshire Federalist newspaper of Springfield Massachusetts reported a serious clash between the Ioway and Osage in its January 4, 1810 edition. Fort Osage, November 8th 1809 - On the 4th of this instant a hunting party of the Osage tribecrossed the Missouri River, from the fortthey were surprised by a party of Ioways [sic] who killed one man and two women, and another man is missing, supposed to be killed some distance from their campOn the following day a Missouri Indian from the Ioway Village called over the river for a canoe at the garrison, one of the defeated party knew him and said he shot at and chased him in the attackCaptain Clemson sent for the Missouri Indian and interrogated him closly [sic] suspecting him as a spyhe said it was the wish of the Ioways [sic] to cover the grave of the dead with presents, and be at peace.
While it might appear that Indians killing Indians would be of little interest to American citizens, it was in fact newsworthy. Such incidents generated fears of an Indian war that could spill over into white settlements and involve federal troops. Such a war could also push the Ioway even closer to the British in seeking arms and assistance. A similar report of the Otoe killing an Osage near the fort also made the paper that day.
In July of 1810, emissaries of The Prophet openly courted the Ioway, exhorting them to strike the Americans when given the word. Boilvin smoked the pipe with them and worked hard to keep them out of Tecumsehs alliance, despite having few resources to back his words. For the moment, the Ioway decided to avoid conflict with the Americans and instead escalated their conflict with the Osage. This action demonstrates the difficulty the Shawnee brothers and the British had in overcoming blood feuds and traditional rivalries to forge an Indian alliance.
George Sibley the factor at Fort Osage reported on clashes between the Osage and Ioway in his diary. The Ioway paid a price for escalating their fight with the Osage.
Monday March 11th 1811 100 men set off in a body to War against the IowaysLieut. Brownson sent a party of soldiers to set them across the river in the Public Boat.
Tuesday March 12th 1811 another War party set off from the Osage Village against the Ioways of about 45 men consisting of about an equal number of Osages & Missouris, led by a distinguished warrior of the Missouri named Cheohoge or hole in my house. Their plan is to attack the enemy by surpriseLieut. Brownson sent them across the River, and they immediately set out on this march.
Tuesday March 19th 1811 in the evening all the Osages returned from war, and brought 8 scalps and one horse taken from the Ioways (2 men, 5 women, 1 child killed.)
Wednesday March 27th 18119 horses were discovered crossing the Missouri just above the Factory driven over it was Supposed by some Hostile Indians whose design it appears to have been to take them off about 100 Osages immediately crossedand in a short timereturned with all the horses.
Monday May 7th 1811 Last night at about 11 Oclockalarm among the Osagessentinels discovered three strange Indians stealthy [sic] approaching the campSans Oreille had made his way into my sleeping Room and stood beside holding the head of the slain Indian in one hand, and a blazing torch in the otherI was quickly dressed and over at the camp: and there found the Osages in a temper far more Savage than I had ever before believed them capable...here one shewed [sic] me a leg one a hand another a finger foot strips of skinThe slain man was recognized as a distinguished Ioway war Chief.
The Ioway sometimes accompanied by the Sauk or even Winnebago began setting up ambushes for the Osage. Sans Nerf, a Big Osage Warrior complained to Sibley at Arrow Rock in November of 1813 about this situation. We do not like Fort Clark (Ft. Osage) for very good reasons. The road between that place and our village is nearly as long as the road to this place, and is a very dangerous one to travel. Our enemies lay in wait for us when we go there to trade and have killed several of our people.
Even though the United States and Ioway nation was officially at peace, the Ioway and Americas key Indian ally the Osage were now in open warfare. Many tribes viewed the Osage as American pets prompting jealousy and resentments. Indeed, the Osage received a measure of respect and treatment seldom extended to other tribes by the U.S. Further complicating the situation was the fact that U.S. army troops were aiding the Osage in the conflict.
Just two weeks after president Madison declared war on Great Britain on June 18, 1812 a Kickapoo emissary of The Prophet implored nine tribes gathered at on the Rock River, to join them in the struggle. The Sauk chief Non-Waite simply replied that the Americans provide the Sauk with everything they need. The Ioways responded We are near neighbors to the Sauk. We have no wish to be at war with them. Our American Father (Boilvin) gives us good counsel. Whatever the Sauk agree to, we shall also. A large delegation of Indian leaders had been en-route to President Madison when war was declared. The headmen present probably lacked the authority to formally commit to war. Still many of them sympathized with Tecumseh and the British and small raids were initiated on the frontier.
The first hostile act attributed to the Ioway occurred in late May of 1812 when several horses belonging to Robert Hancock, a resident of the Boones Lick settlement, were stolen. In February 1813, a rumor began circulating that the Ioway were joining 1,200 to 3,000 hostile Indians gathered at Green Bay waiting for a British supply ship. At the same time, French-Canadian traders acting as spies for the United States reported that the Sauk, Fox and Ioway were divided between peace and war. Their assessment was undoubtedly the most correct of the many rumors, fears and beliefs about the Indians that circulated during the entire war.
In April of 1813, a son of Hard Heart appeared at Fort Madison and asked Captain Stark for aid and permission to fight the pro-British Sauk and Fox. Stark reported, The Ioways deserve every assistance and I hope they will receive it. It is a just war on their part and I am inclined to believe it is unavoidable. Undoubtedly, Hard Heart led a faction of pro-American Ioway, but the actual size and extent of his following is difficult to determine. Hard Heart himself stayed with the Otoe during part of the war possibly because his authority as a true chief was questioned. The factionalism that existed among the Ioway and a lack of concise written records makes it difficult to track the movements, activities and loyalties of the various tribal bands.
Generally, there appears to be two main Ioway villages at this time, one on the Des Moines and the other on the Iowa River. The village on the Iowa River may have represented the pro-British faction of the tribe, since it was relatively close to Prairie du Chien, the main base of British operations in the Mississippi valley. Colonel Robert Dickson of the British Northwest Company operated in the area with impunity. He was able to exert considerable influence over the local tribes with gifts and generous trade terms, something that Nicholas Boilvin was unable to do due to the miserliness of the federal government.
The next documented event of Ioway hostility occurred on July 4, 1813. The house of William Ewing on Sandy Creek in St. Charles County was plundered and several horses stolen and about eight acres of corn were destroyed. A French trader named Francis Le Sieur later stated in a deposition that he saw Ewings property and horses in an Ioway camp on the Mississippi on or about July 16. Ewing had briefly been the American envoy to the Sauk, Fox and Ioway, just prior to Nicolas Boilvins appointment. Ewing had not helped U.S. relations with the Indians and William Clark forced him under a cloud of suspicion.
The federal and territorial governments in the West recognized the strategic role of Prairie du Chien in controlling the Indian tribes in the upper Mississippi valley. With a view of eliminating the Indian threat, William Clark personally led an expedition upriver and captured Prairie du Chien, establishing Fort Shelby on the site. Clarks stern treatment of the Sauk Indians on the way upriver had cowed the Indians and without their support the British militia fled Prairie du Chien without firing a shot. Clark left a gunboat named for him, The Governor Clarke moored off the fort and he returned to St. Louis intending to send back reinforcements. For the moment it appeared that Clark had succeeded in his mission of neutralizing the northern Mississippi tribes.
Reinforcements of Rangers and regular troops headed upriver and were soon involved in what British Colonel William McKay called the most brilliant action fought by Indians since the commencement of the war. On July 22, allied Ioway, Sauk, Fox and Kickapoo attacked six armed keelboats above the mouth of the Rock River. One Ioway who had traveled with Colonel McKay from Michilimakinac, chopped a hole in a boat firing into it until he expended all his ammunition, at which point he jumped in the river and swam ashore. This warriors presence with McKay may be an indication that others from the Iowa River village had been supporting the British in campaigns around the Great Lakes. The armada lost one boat and beat a hasty retreat when the fleeing The Governor Clarke appeared on the scene bearing news of the fall of Fort Shelby to a force of British and Indians.
Clearly, the threat on the western frontier was heating up. Incredibly, Clark reported, The Greater part of the Sacs, Foxes and Ioway nations still profess friendship. At the same time Robert Dickson, now back in business at Prairie du Chien reported, the Sioux, Ioways, Winnebagos and Rock River Sacs are for war. These statements illustrate the general confusion and uncertainty that reigned on the frontier during the war. The Indians themselves were clearly divided in their allegiances. However, based on the documentation available, it would appear that the British held an edge in influence among the upper Mississippi tribes.
In September of 1813, Clark persuaded the friendly portion of the Sauk and Fox to settle on the Missouri River near Little Moniteau Creek. I have also sent for the Ioways directing them to pass across the Missouri where a trader will be situated to trade with them Clark wrote. Part of the Ioway left their village on the Des Moines and settled along the Chariton River, north of present-day Glasgow. Clark estimated his maneuver would keep 1,000 warriors from aiding the British. His assessment was overly optimistic since only 1,500 1,700 Indians in total actually responded to his call.
Sauk and Fox warriors under Black Hawk had grown disgruntled with the British campaigns in the eastern Great Lakes and returned to their villages in the fall of 1813. In the spring of 1814, they turned their attention closer to home, the Missouri frontier. Sporadic raids began occurring particularly in the isolated Boones Lick settlements in the far west. The situation became so threatening that the government trading houses located at the Arrow Rock bluff and Little Moniteau Creek had to be abandoned. If any Ioway were involved in these raids, they were acting in concert with the Sauk and their individual presence was not noted.
When passing through the Boones Lick settlements in August, a keelboat belonging to Manual Lisa reported that the Indians freely roamed the countryside while the settlers were shut up in their forts. Lisa, a powerful St. Louis fur trader had just been appointed Subagent to the Tribes of the Missouri by William Clark. He wielded considerable influence among the Missouri River tribes and had successfully checked Dicksons attempts to influence those tribes. When he reached his headquarters near Council Bluffs, Lisa invited the powerful Teton Sioux to meet with him in council the next spring. Clark and Lisa planned to turn them against the pro-British Santee Sioux, Sauk, Fox and Ioway.
In the interim, Lisa persuaded the Omaha to attack the Ioway and they soon presented him with two Ioway scalps. The Otoe refused Lisas exhortations to attack their kinsmen, saying vaguely that some time in the future would be better for them. Perhaps the presence of Hard Heart and his band had something to do with their refusal. Regardless of their tribal factions, the Ioway were not fighting with each other. Again, the exact situation within the tribe is unclear. The Ponca on the other hand eagerly agreed to send out a war party against the Ioway early the following spring.
The factionalism within the Ioway nation prevented them from fully supporting the British cause. It generally served to weaken the tribe as a whole. Now they found themselves preoccupied with defending themselves from their western neighbors. The ability of the Ioway to militarily threaten American settlements had been severely diminished.
In the spring of 1815, Lisa held his council with the Teton, unaware, as most in the western territories that the war had officially ended the preceding Christmas. In his council, Lisa promoted the virtues of loyalty and adherence to the United States. The Teton accepted Lisas reasoning and following their protocol asked for permission to visit Governor William Clark in St. Louis. A band of nearly 700 men and 90 women set out on the journey, promising Lisa that they would attack any pro-British Indians they encountered along the way.
The pro-American Ioway village on the Chariton River lay directly on the route from Lisas post to St. Louis. In June of 1815, the Teton reached the area and destroyed the Ioway corn fields along the Chariton River. They killed twenty-four Ioway people and captured two more whom they eventually turned over to Lisa. The question arises if the Teton had mistaken this village as hostile or if in fact this pro-American village had perpetrated hostilities that might have warranted the attack.
On April 4, 1815 a force composed of Sauk, Fox, Ioway and a few Winnebago attacked the small isolated settlement of Cote sans Dessien opposite of the mouth of the Osage River. They killed at least five white settlers and partially looted and burnt the settlement. They were unable to destroy the main blockhouse due to the diligence of the women in putting out the fires set to the roof. The Indians finally retreated when a burning powder magazine exploded, killing fourteen Ioway and Sauk warriors.
On the 14th of the same month, Captain Sarshall Cooper, a prominent leader in the Boones Lick settlement was killed inside Coopers Fort. There are several versions of the account of his death but they all agree that he was shot through a hole in the log chinking. The question remains as to who actually did it. The recollection of Judge Joseph Thorp, if true, directly attributes Coopers death to an Ioway: two young bucks, one an Ioway about 19 years old, and another A Sauk about 22, came to the fort after dusk. It was in the spring of the yearWherever they could see a light they picked holes with their knives to find a place big enough to shoot through. They finally found one, and it happened to be right opposite the heart of Capt. Cooper, the man they were after, for they knew the house he lived in. They fired and the ball took effect in his side. He sprang to his feet, exclaiming Lord have mercy on us and died. The rascals told afterward that they ran some twenty yards or thirty yards from the walls of the fort and listened until they heard the squaws crying, and then they knew they had done what they came for. The young Ioway who did the shooting always called himself Captain Cooper. I often saw him after the war. He was a good-looking buck and took great pride in his name. If you got into a chat with him he would soon let you know, Me Captain Cooper.
There is actually no way of knowing to which Ioway village the perpetrators might have belonged. They could have come from the pro-American village. Even within the pro-American factions of various tribes, some individuals harbored anti-American sentiments or simply changed sides at an opportune moment. The appeal of gaining honor in war could also become too strong of a temptation for the young men and the chiefs simply could not restrain them. Warriors undoubtedly passed freely between both villages to visit their family and friends and such visitors could have been involved in the strikes.
However, it does seem highly unlikely that the Teton could have known about the Cote sans Dessein attack and Sarshall Coopers death. Furthermore, by June the peace treaty between the U.S. and Great Britain was widely known and the peace commissioners had begun circulating the word to Indian tribes to gather at Portage des Sioux to sign a peace treaty. The Teton were traditional enemies of the Ioway and they probably cared less whether the village they attacked was pro-British or pro-American. The incident was likely just a random opportunity for the Teton to pay back on old enemy.
Still, during the summer of 1815, the Ioway stepped up horse stealing raids in the Boones Lick settlements. Possibly, they were intent on replacing stock lost in the Teton raid. William Reid filed the following deposition with William Clark in 1825 recounting one of the raids. after the settlers were notified of peace and the Ioways and other Indians had gone down to Portage Desou [sic] to treat with the Commissioners appointed by the United States, David Jones, Stephen Turley, Thomas McMahan and this deponent, who had removed to Cooper's Fort during the war, believing that their property would be safe, brought their horses across the river into the bottoms below the Arrow Rocka mare of Henry Ferrils worth about sixty dollars, and a small horse, belonging to Braxton Cooper, was stolen from Coopers Fort. This deponent and others examined the trail of the Indians and were convinced that they had crossed the river, and heard them shooting in the bottom, where the horses had been put, viz. Below the Arrow Rock. This deponent and a party of men crossed the river next morning, and found an Indian trail leading up the Missouri, towards the mouth of the Chawton [sic] (Chariton); and they also found pens or pounds in the bottom, which the Indians had made and driven the horses into for the purpose of catching them. This deponent and his party followed the trail until they became satisfied that they had stolen the horses, and were making for the Ioway village. When the Ioway chiefs returned from the treaty at Portage Desiux [sic] they agreed to deliver up the horses; and this deponent, Herman Gregg and Braxton Cooper, went with the Chiefs and Interpreters to the Ioway village; and this deponent there saw in their possession Henry Ferrils mare, Braxton Coopers horse and a sorrel mare of David JonesThis deponent further saith, that some of the Ioway Chiefs offered to deliver some of the horses, and did bring up the sorrel mare of H. Ferril, and Braxton Coopers horse, for that purpose; but a party of Indians made pursuit and retook the mare and Cooper saved his horse by running him away from them.
Seventeen Ioway headmen led by Hard Heart signed the treaty of peace and friendship at Portage des Sioux on September 6, 1815. On October 15, the treaty commissioners, William Clark, Auguste Chouteau and Ninian Edwards reported, The Ioways are very desirous of coming more closely under the protection of the U.S. and for this purpose wish to cede part of their lands in order obtain annuitiesThis is a spontaneous offer on their part The issue of spontaneity on the Indians part is questionable. The Sauk and Fox cession of 1804 and the Osage cession of 1808 resulted in hard feelings once they understood what had been lost. Much of the land they had ceded was also claimed and hunted on regularly by the Ioway. Furthermore, until the outbreak of the war, the Ioway had been resisting further Sauk and Fox intrusion on their domain.
The Ioway may have been under pressure to make the cession due to the Lisas actions among the Missouri tribes. Lisa reminded Clark after the war, your excellency will remember that more than a year before the war broke out, I gave you intelligence that the wampum was carrying by British influence along the banks of the Missouri, and that all the nations of the great river were excited to join the war. They did not arm against the republic; on the contrary they armed against Great Britain and struck the Iowas [sic] the allies of that power. When peace was proclaimed, more than forty chiefs had intelligence with me; and together, we were to carry an expedition of several thousand warriors against the tribes of the upper Mississippi, and silence them at once.
There is a possibility that both factions of the Ioway were not represented at Portage des Sioux. The treaty itself gives no indication that this was the case. However, the Rock River Sauk under Black Hawk themselves remained recalcitrant and did not sign the peace treaty until May of 1816. In 1816, the Ioway were still living in the separate villages on the Chariton and Iowa Rivers and one more event occurred, perhaps the last one with a direct connection to the War of 1812.
In May of 1816, Robert and John Heath were engaged in salt making at the Boones Lick salt springs. On the 28th, John Ferril was at the salt works when John Heath came in and reported that two Negro men were missing, and he supposed killed or taken by the Indians. They searched the area and found a campsite nearby with scraps of deer hide, hog meat and a cane fife which Ferril kept. A small company of men pursued the same Indians, and routed them near the Buffalo Licks, on the Grand Charlatan (Chariton) where they were encamped; none of the Indians were seen nor were the negroes seen, but the Indians fled with such precipitation that they left their leggins, mockasins, [sic] bows, arrows, and chopping axes, and a water jug of the negroes
A few days after the two slaves had disappeared, Ioway trader Denis Julien and his men arrived at the Boones Lick from the Grand River. Ferril told them what happened and about the cane fife. On of Juliens employees Martin Dorian, told Ferril, that the Ioways had a cane fife he should know if he saw it. Dorian described the fife minutely and perfectly, and when it was shown to him, said it was the fife of the Ioways; that he had known for a long time past, that there was a party of ten Ioways had gone out at that time, supposed to hunt on the Charlatan [sic].
Except for the chopping axes and water jug found in the Indian camp, no trace of the two black men, named Henry and Nat, was ever found. Based on the depositions of the Boones Lick settlers, everyone appeared less concerned about the well being of the missing men than they were about the Heath brothers monetary loss, which totaled $1,400.00.
Fear of reprisals by the settlers for this incident may have finally precipitated the abandonment of the Chariton village. Major Stephen Long reported in 1817 that the majority of the 1,200 Ioway people were settled along the Mississippi. The following year, Potowatomie Indian agent Thomas Forsyth reported that the Ihowai were once again located in their old village on the Des Moines River.
After the 1816 incident at Boones Lick, the Ioway presence in Missouri was limited to hunting expeditions. Ioway influence and importance in the Missouri Territory began to wane rapidly. The war initiated by Manual Lisa between the Omaha and the Ioway in 1814 continued unabated until 1821. In 1824, the Ioway tribe entered into treaty negotiation with United States that resulted in the loss of most of their land in Missouri. In 1829 white settlers on the Chariton River attacked a band of Ioway on their way to meet with William Clark in St. Louis. The resulting tragedy was the so-called Big Neck War but in a true display of justice, a frontier jury absolved Chief Great Walker and his followers of any wrongdoing. The Ioway were settled on a small reservation north of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and ceded their last remaining tract of Missouri land in the Platte Purchase of 1836.
In conclusion, it appears that at the opening of the 19th century, the Ioway are solid British allies. However, a fracture developed within the tribe owing to American trade and by the beginning of the War of 1812 there were divided loyalties although it is unclear as to the size and extent of these factions. However, a slight majority of tribe appears to have supported the British during the war. Although the Ioway alone were too few pose a major military threat, they could mount effective guerilla raids and act in concert with other tribes. The disposition of the Ioway was a concern to William Clark and other frontier officials. In 1825, Clark calculated the dollar amount of property losses in Missouri attributed to the various Indian tribes during the war. He ranked the Ioway third at $2,950.00, significantly behind the Winnebago and far below the Sauk and Fox.
The factionalism brought about by the war had a devastating effect on Ioway society as it did on many tribes. The end of the war in 1815 signaled a vast increase in westward immigration and settlement. Simultaneously, the importance of Indian tribes to the United States as allies and trading partners declined. Now the Indians were simply an obstruction to be removed. In 1810, the Ioway had been a powerful force in regional events, claiming thousands of square miles of territory. By the 1830s, they were confined to a small reservation and visitors commented on their diminishing numbers, increasing dependence on government largesse and victimization by white whisky peddlers.
The northern Ioway tribe still has a small reservation at Whitecloud, Kansas. The southern Ioway have an agency at Perkins, Oklahoma. In recent years the Ioway have made significant efforts to recover and preserve their language and heritage. The Ioway also has been a leader in the efforts to repatriate the burial remains of Native Americans.
Bibliography
The Ioway Indians by Martha Royce Blaine, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK 1979.
Missouri Historical Review, April 2001 Denis Julien: Midwestern Fur Trader
By James H. Knipmeyer. State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia MO.
Historical Iowa(y) Settlements in the Grand River Basin of Missouri and Iowa by Timothy E. Roberts and Christy S. Richers, Missouri Archaeologist volume 57, December 1996
Ioway History and Treaties compiled by Lance Foster, member of the Northern Ioway Nation, 1997 http://home.earthlink.net/~ioway/history.html
The History of Missouri, Vol. I by David March, PHD, Lewis Historical Publishing, New York and West Palm Beach, 1967.
The Sac and Fox Indians by William T. Hagan, University of Oklahoma Press Norman OK. 1958
The Osages by John Joseph Mathews, University of Oklahoma Press 1932, Norman OK.
Diary of George C. Sibley May 7, 1808 to September 3, 1811, Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis MO, transcript courtesy of David Bennett
Hampshire Federalist, Springfield Massachusetts, Thursday January 4, 1810, David Bennett collection
MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS TERRITORIAL FORTS DURING THE WAR OF 1812
By Michael D. Harris
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Since research pertaining to early Missouri Territorial forts are usually general and lacking in detail, their physical descriptions can be confusing and inaccurate. Each fort had its own characteristics and accommodations. Though many early historical writers described the forts as home-forts, this can be only said of a portion of the forts. There were four distinct types of forts.
The first type of forts were the converted, pre-existing homes. They may have portholes or gunslits cut out of their walls with little else done for protection. In some cases, upper story windows served as the gun ports. Stockades around these types of fortifications have little historical documentation. Settlers first constructed the main building but with the advent of the "Indian threat", Missouri and Illinois U.S. territorial rangers assisted in fortification conversions. Professional soldiers did not occupy these types of forts as a rule but the U.S. territorial rangers did on a regular basis. The local leaders of these forts were chosen as Captains and were responsible for the training and drilling of the local militia.
The second type of forts were the military outposts. These forts were occupied by U.S. regulars and U.S. territorial rangers at various times. These forts had blockhouses constructed and were built with military purposes in mind. Some had stockades while others were simply a blockhouse. Out-buildings have yet to be mentioned in historical documents. The forts were not only used for protection for the local settlers but were used for staging of attacks on Indian camps and observation, referred to as "spying", on Indian movements. These forts were built by the Missouri and Illinois U.S. territorial rangers with the help of U.S. regulars from Fort Bellefountaine.
The third type of forts were the factory forts. These forts or factories were constructed because of treaty agreements to supply goods and services to the "friendly" tribe. They served to suppress anti-American feelings by tribe. Built for trade, they usually contained a blockhouse, out-buildings for the storage of furs and trade goods. There is no historical evidence of stockades.
The fourth type of fort was the cantonment. The only fort to qualify for this designation was Fort Belle Fountaine in St. Louis. This fort became the military nerve-center of the war effort in the west. It was a regular U.S. military installation with officer quarters, barracks, blockhouses, guard houses and a stockade. Fortunately, this fort is well-documented.
Not all forts built along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers can be mentioned. Some have been lost over the passing of time. With the exception of Fort Belle Fountaine and Fort Osage, the Spanish fortifications at St. Louis and St. Charles were built before the ninetieth century. These fortifications had fallen to disrepair in both towns by the start of the War of 1812. St. Charles contained at least one stone three-story tower and St. Louis contained the remains of Fort San Carlos, composed of several stone towers and entrenchments.
Since I have conducted a more intense study of the Missouri Territorial forts, most of the information presented here deal with them though what Illinois forts I am familiar with are presented as well.
The forts are marked as follows: home-forts (HF), military outpost (MO), factories (FACTORY).
MISSOURI TERRITORIAL FORTS
THE MISSISSISPPI RIVER FORTS
TEMPORARY STOCKADE (HF) This temporary stockade was erected in the year of 1812 in the now present town of Clarksville, Missouri. Was soon abandoned when some settlers were killed near by.
GILBERTS FORT (HF)
In the spring of 1812, Samuel Gilbert settled near the Salt river in Ralls county. That same year, Gilbert and his neighbors erected a blockhouse on high ground north-east of Shepards or Matson Mill.
FORT INDEPENDENCE (CAP-AU-GRIS FORT) (MO)
Built in the summer of 1813, Fort Independence was erected by the Missouri Rangers under the advisement of the inhabitants of Fort Howard, to observe the Indian movements on the Mississippi river.
PORTAGE DE SIOUX BLOCKHOUSE AND FORT LOOKOUT (MO)
On April 8, 1813, General Daniel Bissell of Fort Bellefontaine and territorial governor Benjamin Howard chose Portage de Sioux, Missouri to build a military post. Captain Desha with a subaltern and fifty-one men were instructed to build a blockhouse at Portage de Sioux. To protect the builders, a large fortified gunboat was left in the river near the blockhouse. To further watch and protect St. Louis, it was decided to place a battery of artillery on a island in the middle of the river just south of the village of Portage de Sioux. This battery was called Fort Lookout.
On July 15, 1815, a treaty was signed with the Indians near the blockhouse thus more or less ending the Indian attacks on the settlements.
FORT MASON (MO)
Built in April-May of 1812, Fort Mason was named after Lieutenant John Mason of Colonel Kibbys Rangers of St. Charles. Directed by Major Nathan Boone and General Benjamin Howard, the Missouri Rangers erected this small fort near the present-day Saverton, Missouri.
BUFFALO FORT (HF)
Erection of Buffalo Fort began in Decmber of 1811 and was finished during the early part of 1812. It was built on a high hill overlooking the Buffalo and Niox creeks, two miles southwest of the present town of Louisiana, Missouri. The fort enclosed a spring which still flows today.
FORT BELLE FOUNTAINE (CANTONMENT)
Fort Belle Fountaine was the first United States fort built west of the Mississippi river. Located on the Missouri river, north of the town of St. Louis. Fort Belle Fountaine became the military center for the area of the Missouri and Illinois territories. The fort was a stockade fort with barracks, blockhouses, powder magazine and dependent's quarters.
LOWER MISSOURI RIVER FORTS
FORT HOWARD (MO)
Upon the advisement of John Shaw, Fort Howard was erected. The fort took sixty or severty people to build over the period of two to three weeks. Two companies of Missouri Rangers were involved in its construction. The fort was a rectangle with its long sides running north and south. The stockade enclosed about half an acre. A well was dug inside the fort. Blockhouses were built on all corners except the southeast corner. The militia cut the pickets and the regulars put them up.35 The fort was located in the Mississippi river flood plain, below some bluffs. When the fort was complete, it was named after Governor Benjamin Howard. The fort became involved in one of the most active battles during the 1812 conflict, on May 24, 1815, the Battle of the Sinkhole.
CLARKS FORT (HF)
The date of the erection of Clarks Fort is not really known though it was probably around 1812. Major Christopher Clark was responsible for the forts erection.
LESTERS FORT (HF)
This fort was discovered by me on U.S. surveyors notes and map drawings of 1816. No other description has been made of the fort.
KENNEDYS FORT (HF)
Built in 1811, the fort was built for the defense of the Kennedy family. Thomas Kennedy was responsible for settling the area. The fort was built in a square with two blockhouses angling in the square.
JOURNEYS FORT (HF)
The Journey Fort was built by the three Journey brothers, Peter, Jospeh and James in the year of 1812. The fort was located fifteen miles west of the Pond Fort.
POND FORT (MO)
The Pond Fort was built by a company of Missouri Rangers in 1812, under the command of Captain James Callaway. It was named the Pond Fort because of a large pond north of the fort.
WOODS FORT (IM)
Though it is not really known who built Woods Fort, it became the center of military activity in the area. The fort was named after Zadock Woods who had a large dog-trot log house iside the fort which was used as a tavern. The fort was a rectangular stockade.
STOUTS FORT (HF)
Stouts Fort was a small stockade located on top of a small hill. It was located about one mile south of the town of Auburn, Missouri which has long since disappeared.
ZUMWALTS FORT (HF)
Jacob Zumwalt built the main saddle-bag log house in 1798. A spring was located at the bottom of the hill, below the house. There were as many as ten families that lived at the fort during the War of 1812. Before the war, Black Hawk was a frequent visitor of the Zumwalt family. It is said that Black Hawk was in love with one of Jacob Zumwalts daughters.
WHITES FORT (HF)
Named after Captain White, the fort is located roughly two miles from Fort Howard and built on Dog or Big Prairie. The settlers in the area helped build the fort. The fort was rectangular in shape, the long dimensions running east and west. The fort embraced one and a half acres.
COONTZS FORT (HF)
Not much is known about the fort. It was built on the Booneslick road, one and a half miles east of present-day Cottleville, Missouri. It was built by John and Nick Coontz in 1800.
HOWELLS FORT (HF)
Francis Howell built this fort in 1811. It was lcoated near a spring which is now part of the Busch Wildlife area, ten miles south-west of St. Charles, Missouri. Militia musters and drills were held there frequently.
CASTLIOS FORT (HF)
Located in the Busch Wildlife area, only one and a half miles from Howells Fort, Castlios Fort was not as large as Howells. John Caslito built the fort on Howells prairie near the Dardenne creek.
CALLAWAYS FORT (HF)
Little is known about the fort. Flaunders Callaway built a log house near Charette, a French settlement that has long been washed away by the Missouri river. Some historians believe that this two-story log house was part of Callaways Fort.
BOONES FORT (HF)
The fort was built by Daniel Morgan Boone with the help of his neighbors. It is said that the fort was the largest and strongest in the district. The fort seems to have had two or three blockhouses and picketing. Daniel Morgan Boones house was located within the fort.
McCOYS FORT (HF)
This fort is only mentioned once in records. There is no other reference to it.
LOUTRE ISLAND FORTS
Loutre Island is located northeast of the present town of Hermann, Missouri. The island is located in the Missouri river basin.
McDERMITS FORT (HF)
McDermits Fort was probably located several miles up the Loutre river from the other Loutre Island forts. No location for the fort is known at this time.
QUICKS FORT (HF)
Little is known about this fort. It was located on the west side of the Loutre river, not far from its mouth, near Loutre Island. It was built on the east end of Bests Bottom.
FORT CLEMSON (IM)
Built by the Missouri Rangers in 1812, the fort was named in honor of Colonel Eli Brady Clemson. It was located on the Loutre Island, next to the Missouri River. Captain James Callaway spent a considerable amount of time at the fort during the war, referred to it as Camp Clemson in letters to his wife. The only description of Fort Clemson calls it a small, crude fort with barracks.
BESTS FORT (HF)
Located in Bests Bottom at its western end, Isaac Best had built a blockhouse for his family. Quicks Fort was not far away. In 1814, Best and his family abandoned the fort and retired to Fort Clemson.
TALBOTS FORT (HF)
As with the other forts near the Island, little is known about it. It was located on the bluffs above Loutre island, not far from Fort Clemson.
GROOMS FORT (HF)
Located eight miles up the Loutre river, Jacob Grooms built a fort before or during the year of 1814. This fort may have been located along the same common road near McDermits Fort.
COTE SANS DESSEIN
Cote Sans Dessein was a small French settlement located east of present-day Jefferson City, Missouri, about twelve miles. The name means shoreline without design, because of the unusual mound formation it was located on. The hill rises up in the middle of the Missouri river valley, next to the river. The formation is approximately forty or fifty yards wide, thirty or forty yards high (varying from end to end) and one quarter of a mile long. The settlement consisted of several dozen log homes with about 200 inhabitants. Two forts were erected for the villages protection.
TIBEAUS FORT (HF)
Sometimes spelled Thibault, this fort was possible built by, or at least part of it, the Missouri Rangers. It was named after Joseph Tibeau. This fort was the main fort of the settlement. The fort was a two-story blockhouse with portholes on both floors.
ROYS FORT (HF)
Roys Fort was named for the Roy (sometimes spelled Roi because of its French origins) family that occupied it. It was located thirty or forty yards from the Missouri rivers edge and roughly 400 yards east of Tibeaus Fort. It sat on the flat river basin. The fort consisted of a blockhouse only. Roys Fort was much smaller than Tibeaus Fort. A log powder magazine stood about halfway between the forts but closer to the river than the forts. The Battle of Cote Sans Dessein occurred on April 4, 1815. The forts were attacked by the Sac and Fox Indians.
BOONESLICK FORTS
The Booneslick settlement was the last American settlement on the frontier. This settlement represented the most exposed American citizentry in the newly established territory. Several dozen families lived on both sides of the Missouri river.
STEPHEN COLES FORT (HF)
Stephen Cole settled the area in February of 1810. He settled in an area one and a half miles east of the present-day Boonville, Missouri. Where he put his fort is now called the Old Fort Field. In the summer of 1812, Stephen Cole and his neighbors built the fort. Little is known as to what it looked like other than it did have a stockade.
HANNAH COLES FORT (HF)
Hannah Cole moved into the area with Stephen Cole in 1810. After the killing of Samuel McMahan in 1811, it was decided to build a stronger fort around Hannah Coles cabin which was located on a bluff overlooking the Missouri river. The fort was a stockade of heavy picketing.
COOPERS FORT (HF)
Named after the Cooper family who lived there, the fort was a large stockade with log cabins built together to form an enclosure. The fort enclosed about one acre of land and had only one gate out of the enclosure.
COXS FORT (HF)
Sometimes called Andersons Fort, the fort was built in the Missouri river basin directly east of what later became Saline City, Missouri. The fort was built in 1814 and consisted of a blockhouse (possibly just a large log cabin) and a stockade. The fort was named after Jesse Cox who had moved there with his son-in-law, William Gregg and Coxs two sons.
HEADS FORT (HF)
The fort was located at a large spring and named after Captain William Head. The for was a small stockade. The fort was located several miles north of present-day Rochport, Missouri.
REEDS BLOCKHOUSE (HF)
Little is known about this blockhouse except for what I recently discovered in the legal records records. Located on William Reed's property which is now in the Missouri river.
FORT HEMPSTEAD (HF)
The fort was orginally named after Rev. David McClain (sometimes spelled McLain) and called McClains Fort. It was later renamed after Captain Stephen Hempstead. The fort consisted of probably two blockhouses and a stockade that surrounded about two acres of land.
KINKEADS FORT (HF)
Named in honor of David Kinkead, the fort was built similar to Coopers Fort and Fort Hempstead. It was a series of log cabins to form an enclosure.
McMAHANS FORT (HF)
Named for William McMahan who settled in the area. Located to the west of Boonville and four miles south of Arrow Rock, Missouri. This blockhouse was burned by Indians.
BUCKHART'S FORT (HF)
This fort is only mentioned once in a document but could be aa odd phonetic spelling for one of the above mentioned forts.
SIBLEYS FORT (FACTORY)
When Fort Osage was abandoned in 1812, George Sibley established a trading post or factory near present-day Arrow Rock, Missouri. The exact for the fort is unknown. The fort was built in 1813 and abandoned in 1814 when Indian raids around the area worsened.
JOHNSONS FORT (FACTORY)
Because of the agreement between General William Clark and the Sac and Fox Indians of the Missouri river, a trading post was established on the Little Moniteau creek, located upriver from present-day Jefferson City, Missouri. The fort was a two-story blockhouse.
FORT OSAGE (FACTORY)
Fort Osage was built in 1808 because of a treaty agreement with the United States and the Osage Indians. The fort was abandoned in 1812 when hostile Indian attacks increased on the Missouri river. The fort consisted of five blockhouses, barracks, a hospital, officer quarters, factory and traders area. The fort was reoccupied after the war.
ILLINOIS TERRITORIAL FORTS
These forts are under investigation. Fort Russell was considered the most important for the Illinois territory since most military excursions germinated from this fort. The forts are divided up for each county they were located in. Some research comments are included in the text. Though many of these forts were home-forts, I will not make designations till the research is finished.
BOND COUNTY
HILL'S FORT - Eight miles southwest of the present site of Greenville.
JONE'S FORT - On the east side of Shoal Creek.
NAT HILL'S FORT - On (Goshen) Doza Creek, a few miles above its mouth, directly east of Pierron, on east side of river.
CALHOUN COUNTY
CAMPBELL'S BLOCKHOUSE - A small blockhouse on the west bank of the Illinois River (Prairie Marcot), nineteen miles above the mouth, erected by Lt. John Campbell, U.S.A.. Located near Hardin, across the Mississippi river from the Cap au Gris Fort (Fort Independence).
CLINTON COUNTY
JOURNEY'S FORT - Located a short distance above the town of Aviston.
FORT __________ - Located on the site of the town of Carlyle.
HILL'S FORT - Near Hill's Ferry on the Kaskaskia River??? Could be the same one in Bond County??? Probably!
CRAWFORD COUNTY
FORT LA MOTTE - Located near Palestine. Built in 1812 by local inhabitants. Plaque on Il33 in east Palestine marks the site.
FORT FOOT - Built by the William Easton family and other settlers considered Fort LaMotte too crowded and constructed a new stockade on a site just north of Il 33 west of town. A family trait of the Eatons of large feet led to the name.
COOK COUNTY
FORT DEARBORN - Located where Chicago is at present..
FRANKLIN COUNTY
TOM JORDON'S FORT - Built in the Jordan (Jourdan) settlement in 1811 by Thomas and Francis Jordan, with the assistance of the militia from the U.S. Saline, on the road to the salt works and the town of Equality, in the eastern part of Franklin County, eight or nine miles east from old Frankfort.
FRANCIS JORDON BLOCKHOUSE - Built in the Jordan (Jourdan) settlement in 1810 by Thomas and Francis Jordan, with the assistance of the militia from the U.S. Saline, on the road to the salt works and the town of Equality, in the eastern part of Franklin County, eight or nine miles east from old Frankfort.
FRANK FORT - Built 1812. Located on river near Orient. Could this be related to old Frankfort?
FULTON COUNTY
FORT ___________- Located northeast of Havana.
HANCOCK COUNTY
FORT JOHNSON - Located on the site of the town of Warsaw. 1814.
FORT EDWARDS - Built in 1816. Near Warsaw, Illinois. Post-war fort, built as a direct result of the war.
JERSEY COUNTY
ILLINOIS RIVER BLOCKHOUSE - Built at the mouth of the Illinois River. Fort located near Grafton, across the Mississippi river from Portage de Sioux, Missouri.
LA SALLE COUNTY
FORT ___________? - Located at Starved Rock, near La Salle.
LAWRENCE COUNTY
FORT ___________- Built in 1812, located between Birds and Russellville.
MADISON COUNTY
FORT ___________- Built on the Mississippi River, opposite the mouth of the Missouri River.
FORT ___________ - Built on Silver Creek, northeast of Troy. See Butler's Fort.
FORT RUSSELL - Sometimes called 'Camp Russell'. Named in honor of Col. William Russell, U.S. Regulars. Very important fort. Established one and a half miles northwest of Edwardsville.
FORT BUTLER - Near the village of St. Jacob. Mentioned in the Wood River Massacre.
MOORE'S BLOCKHOUSE - Built by George Moore in 1808? On the farm owned by William Gill, then Klopmeyer. Madison County. Wood River Massacre narrative. At the residence of George Moore, a blockhouse had been built, on the east branch of Wood River.
CHILTON'S FORT - Possible located in Morine township. Major Isaac Ferguson was in command during 1812-14. Located on the east side of Silver Creek. Built no earlier than 1810. Named after Chilton family.
WOOD RIVER FORT - Located in section 10, township 5, range 9.
BARTLETT'S BLOCKHOUSE - Built by Joseph Bartlett in 1812. Located in the Wood River settlement.
BECK'S BLOCKHOUSE - Built by Paul Beck and located three miles east of Edwardsville. Used during the War of 1812.
THOMAS KIRKPATRICK'S FORT - Edwardsville. It stood to the north of the old courthouse about three hundred yards from the banks of the Cahokia Creek. Believed to be built by a military company of which John G. Lofton was captain.
STOCKADE FORT - Built in section one, township 4, range 9.
JONE'S BLOCKHOUSE - Located on southeast quarter of section 18, township 5, range 8.
JAMES KIRKPATRICK'S FORT - Located a couple of miles southwest of Edwardsville.
FRANK KIRKPATRICK'S FORT - Located a couple of miles southeast of Edwardsville.
LOFTON'S BLOCKHOUSE - Located in the American bottom, in the Nameoki township.
HAYE'S BLOCKHOUSE - Located in the American Bottom, in the Nameoki township.
_______________ FORT - Located one mile south of the old town of Milton.
BLOCKHOUSE - Located on section 1, near Alton, Illinois.
PREUITT'S BLOCKHOUSE- Built on the north half of section 18, on the land of Martin Preuitt, father of Solomon Preuitt. In the spring of 1817, the fort was taken down and removed to William Jones' land and was used as the residence of the Jones family.
MASSAC COUNTY
FORT MASSAC - Metropolis. 1759. This fort passed through the hands of several nationalities before the Americans. Became an important part of the War of 1812.
MONROE COUNTY
PIGGOTT'S FORT - Located west about a mile north of Columbia. Located along the Kaskaskia Trail. Stood at the foot of the bluffs. Built in 1783 by James Piggott.
NEW DESIGN SET FORT - Northwest of Waterloo.
WHITESIDE'S STATION - Built by William Whiteside in 1793. Located on road between Cahokia and Kaskaskia. Halfway between Columbia and Waterloo (1882).
PEORIA COUNTY
FORT CLARK - Located at present-day Peoria.
PULASKI COUNTY
POST WILKINS - Built 1800. Between Olmstead and Grand Chain, on the Ohio River.
RANDOLPH COUNTY
FORT GAGE - Located north of Chester on the Kaskaskia River.
FORT CHARTRES - Located on Mississippi River, near Prairie du Roche.
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
CHAMBER'S FORT - Few miles southeast of Lebanon, on the west side of Looking Glass Prairie.
WHITE COUNTY
McHENRY'S FORT - On Tanguary land, built by Captain William McHenry in the summer of 1812, and from which Captain McHenry's Company ranged.
COUNCIL'S FORT - On the Starkey place, built by Hardy Council in 1813.
WILLIAM'S FORT - East side of Big Prairie, built by Aaron Williams in 1813.
HANNA'S FORT - Built by John Hanna, a little south of George Hanna's house, on the site where a Methodist church stands.
LAND'S FORT - Built by Robert Land, who lived in it during the war, about a half a mile south of the Hanna Fort.
SLOCUMB'S FORT - Built by John Slocumb, east of Thomas Logan's farm.
BOULTINGHOUSE'S FORT - Built by Daniel Boultinghouse in the northern part of White County, near the prairie named after him. He was killed by the Indians near the house in 1813.
SKILLET FORT - Located between Skillet Creek and Little Wabash River.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY
BLOCKHOUSE - 1809. Near Hurst.
BLOCKHOUSE - 1811. East of Crainville.
OLD STONE FORT - Near or south of Carrier Mills in Saline County or in the town of Stonefort of Williamson County.
?
MIDDLETON'S FORT - On the Kaskaskia River.
GOING'S FORT - On the Kaskaskia River.
FINAL COMMENTS
The war in Missouri officially ended with the treaty signed in 1815 at the blockhouse near the village of Portage de Sioux. Most of the forts were dismantled and the logs used to build barns, corn cribs and other log structures. A few of the forts survived till the last thirty years but fell to modern progress. Except for a few of the fort sites that have been marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution, most of the sites have been lost or forgotten. The search continues. Only through archaeological excavations and revealing historical research can most of the fort sites be found.
Musicians of the 1st Infantry at the Battle of Lundy's Lane, 25 July 1814 by DavidBennett
Samuel Dixs Drummer Appointed 2-20-1809 Age- 19 Born Virginia Occupation Farmer Owens Company commanded by Lt. Vasquez
Jacob Rudolph Drummer Appointed 2-29-1812 Age- 22 Born PA Occupation Cordwainer Owens Company commanded by Lt. Vasquez
John Darley Fifer Appointed 9-30-1812 Age- 29 Born Ireland Occupation Cooper Owens Company commanded by Lt. Vasquez
Garret Garretson Fifer Appointed 3-2-1811 Age- 40 Born PA Occupation Cordwainer Owens Company commanded by Lt. Vasquez
Thomas King Drummer Appointed 1813 Age- 37 Born Virginia Occupation Seaman Symmes Company
Starks Simonds Fifer Appointed 1807 Age- 38 Born NH Occupation Cooper Symmes Company
John Harrison Drum Major Appointed 1807 Age- 33 Born England Occupation Musician Regimental Field and Staff
Jacob Rudolph Drummer Appointed 2-29-1812 Age- 22 Born PA Occupation Cordwainer Owens Company commanded by Lt. Vasquez
John Darley Fifer Appointed 9-30-1812 Age- 29 Born Ireland Occupation Cooper Owens Company commanded by Lt. Vasquez
Garret Garretson Fifer Appointed 3-2-1811 Age- 40 Born PA Occupation Cordwainer Owens Company commanded by Lt. Vasquez
Thomas King Drummer Appointed 1813 Age- 37 Born Virginia Occupation Seaman Symmes Company
Starks Simonds Fifer Appointed 1807 Age- 38 Born NH Occupation Cooper Symmes Company
John Harrison Drum Major Appointed 1807 Age- 33 Born England Occupation Musician Regimental Field and Staff
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Washerwomen Pricing:
By Sally Bennett: "Washerwomen" was used from about 1800 to 1815, this is the most commonly used term for women who did laundry in the historic record of this era, not laundress. The duties of the washerwoman was to wash the clothing of the soldiers. They earned 12 cents for every 12 pieces they washed when soldiers supplied the soap and .18 "without soap." Washer women or company tailors could eared .33 for making a "Ruffle shirt" or a "A plain shirt, (soldier) 20 cents." Hospital Matrons: this term should not be confused with nursing care as we now know it. The hospital matron was not a nurse.
Source: Standing orders of the 1st U. States Infantry, 1801.
Belle Fontaine Aug 29 1807 Morning Orders Margaret White not being a suitable person to attend the sick in the Hospital the Colonel directs that she be turned out, and Kitty Goodjer is appointed in her Room." Source: Bissell Book, MHM, St. Louis
“Sacketts Harbor Feb 13 1815
No washing done by day in front of barracks – No tubs, no buckets Camp women wash for every 20 men. 25 cents per month “Soap Furnished” “Punctually paid”
“Camp Detroit September 10 1815 No more than four washing women to each company…will be permitted to draw rations. Detachment orders. T. Hamilton, Captain”
Source: Minnesota historical society, Roll 2 MN35, Lawrence Taliaferro papers, undated and 1813-1868. Order Book, January – September 1815, 1st Infantry
By Sally Bennett: "Washerwomen" was used from about 1800 to 1815, this is the most commonly used term for women who did laundry in the historic record of this era, not laundress. The duties of the washerwoman was to wash the clothing of the soldiers. They earned 12 cents for every 12 pieces they washed when soldiers supplied the soap and .18 "without soap." Washer women or company tailors could eared .33 for making a "Ruffle shirt" or a "A plain shirt, (soldier) 20 cents." Hospital Matrons: this term should not be confused with nursing care as we now know it. The hospital matron was not a nurse.
Source: Standing orders of the 1st U. States Infantry, 1801.
Belle Fontaine Aug 29 1807 Morning Orders Margaret White not being a suitable person to attend the sick in the Hospital the Colonel directs that she be turned out, and Kitty Goodjer is appointed in her Room." Source: Bissell Book, MHM, St. Louis
“Sacketts Harbor Feb 13 1815
No washing done by day in front of barracks – No tubs, no buckets Camp women wash for every 20 men. 25 cents per month “Soap Furnished” “Punctually paid”
“Camp Detroit September 10 1815 No more than four washing women to each company…will be permitted to draw rations. Detachment orders. T. Hamilton, Captain”
Source: Minnesota historical society, Roll 2 MN35, Lawrence Taliaferro papers, undated and 1813-1868. Order Book, January – September 1815, 1st Infantry
Pile - Arms! by David Bennett
Throughout the 1980's and early 1990's, living historians struggled to find a correct Pile or Stack Arms for the War of 1812 era. The mainstay of tactics when the War began, was Baron De Steuben's "blue Book." Though Steuben went into great detail regarding camp and the march,the instructions were weak regarding "Pile Arms." The only mention was "The Piquets being sent off, the commanding Officer of Battalions commands their men to pile their arms, and dismiss them to pitch their tents." 1
In 1812, the Blue Book was replaced by Smyth's manual for the regular Army, "Regulations for the Infantry of the United States." Piling of Arms was not even mentioned. 2
The next Infantry manual to be adopted by the United States, "A Handbook for Infantry - 1813" was published by William Duane. His work like Smyth's was an abridgement of the 1791 French manual. Duane was not highly regarded as an officer nor was his numerous printings of manuals. Found on page 97 and 98, "The stacking of arms by two contiguous files in the order of two deep or in the order of 3 deep, is now the mode adopted, stacking the fire-locks of the three is easy, facing the centre rank to the Right, stepping with the left foot six inches Backward; and the fron rank coming to the Right about: the fire-locks stand in regular order; they are secured from moisture, and are easily resumed by the members on returning to the Ranks." His description of stacking arms with two ranks was not described and that for three ranks somewhat confusing. 3
A simple yet clear description of "Pile Arms" is found in E. Hoyt's "Practical Instructions" for officers, 1811.
"Piling Arms This is practiced when troops are dismissed, a short time from parade, and is reckoned a more safe method of securing the arms, than grounding, which on wet ground exposes them to dampness."
Let a squad, consisting of four men be drawn up in two ranks, at the distance of two paces; the front rank brought to the right about, and the whole to the order, with fixed bayonets. (Front Rank one pace forward, March. Right About, Face. Order arms. )
Pile - Arms!
The two men composing the first file, make a small pace forward with the left foot, turning their pieces outwards with the right hand till the barrels are forward, as the same time sloping them forward till the necks of the bayonets come in contact, and rest on each other; the second man in the front rank then seizes his piece with the left hand near the muzzle, and with both hands thrusts his bayonet under the necks of the bayonets of the first file, and making a pace with the right foot obliquely to the right, placing it upon the ground, making with the other butts, nearly an equilateral triangle; the second man in the rear rank will then turn his piece and place it against the others. If the recruits are to be dismissed, the instructor commands,
Clear from Arms! March!
The rear rank goes to the right about and the whole march to the rear, the front rank passing the arms.
If the squad consists of eight men, the next four pile in the same manner. In this manner a company a battalion, & c. may pile arms, each four (numbering from the right) making a pile. If there happen to be one or two men on the left flank, they must pile with the four on their right: if three remain they may form a separate pile." 4
"When the squad is reassembled for the purpose of resuming arms, the men will arrange themselves as they stood when piling arms; every man placing his right hand on his firelock without moving it. Squad Take - Arms. Shoulder - Arms. At the word of command, every man will gently disengage his fire-lock from the pile." 5
Sources:
1) Regulations for the Order and Discipline by Baron De Steuben. New York 1805 page 38
2) Regulations for the Infantry of the United States by "An officer of the army (Alexander Smyth). Philadelphia 1812
3) A Hand book for Infantry by William Duane Philadelphia 1813 page 97 & 98
4) Practical Instructions for Officers by E. Hoyt, 1811
5) Rules and Regulations for the field exercise and Manoeuvres of Infantry Concord 1817 pages 30 & 31
TO FIX, OR NOT TO FIX (BAYONETS) THAT IS THE QUESTION......
As the War between the United States and Great Britain edged closer and closer, the United States Army decided to retire the Steuben's "Blue Book." Ever since the War of Independence, the United States had relied on Baron De Steuben's "Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States."
In 1791, France had adopted a new manual for Infantry tactics that influenced the Infantry manuals of almost every nation. An attempt was made in 1810 to adopt an "abridgement" of this manual by the United States Army but did not come to be.
By March 30th, 1812, Col. Smyth's "Regulations for the Field Exercise, Manoeuvres, and conduct of the Infantry of the United States" printed in Philadelphia by Fry and Kammerer, was adopted as the official Infantry manual of the United States.
Steuben's manual however, remained the "official" manual for the Militia.
The new manual was based on the French 1791 manual but kept much of the regulations that was included in Steuben's.
There is however, one aspect of the "Manual Exercise" that is not found in Smyth's 1812 manual, and that is FIX BAYONETS and UN-FIX BAYONETS. It is simply, not there. There is an assumption therefore, that whenever the men would fall in, their muskets were always fixed.
There is evidence, that the "Peacetime army" before the war, were issued with some muskets where the bayonets were "braised" or welded on them. So the Army was not entirely unknown to the practice of keeping weapons fixed at all times.
The omission of fixing and un-fixing bayonets from Smyth's is
perplexing. There are always some situations where you can not have your weapon fixed. Examples are with the position of secure arms and also in regards to Funerals. Page 210 of Smyths states in the regulations concerning Funerals..."The escort being formed in line, with shouldered arms, without bayonets...."
So even Smyth realized that the men may have to un-fix bayonets at times.
The official United States manual (Steuben's) before March of 1812 did include Fix and Un-fix Bayonets. So did the troops continue to use what was in Steuben's?
Steuben Regulations (1805 printing) :
Fix------Bayonets! Three motions.
1st and 2nd motions the same as the two first motions of the secure.
3rd Quitting the piece with your right hand, sink it with your left down the left side, as far as may be without constraint, as the same time seize the bayonet with the right had, draw and fix it, immediately slipping the had down the stock, and pressing in the piece to the hollow of the shoulder.
Yet the story gets even more confused, for in March of 1813, the army abandons Smyth's manual for a manual written by William Duane. "A Hand Book for Infantry containing the First Principles of Military Discipline..." was published in Philadelphia by the author in 1813. The title page includes...." Adjutant Generals Office, Washington City, 19th March, 1813. General Orders, The "Hand Book for Infantry." compiled and
published by William Duane, of Philadelphia, will be received and observed as the system of Infantry Discipline for the Army of the United States. By Order of the Secretary of War. T. H. Cushing, Adjt. Genl. "
Duane writes on page 102, "Fix Bayonet --- This operation is
performed in two modes, at the right and at the left side. At the right side, it is performed at the order, by drawing the bayonet from the scabbard and fixing it on with the right had, and letting the firelock remain at the order. This is the shortest and best method; the other method from the shoulder, may be performed from the shoulder, in five motions, in this manner:
At the word FIX BAYONETS,
1. The right had crosses the body and holds the grasp;
2. The left hand is carried up and seizes the firelock;
3. It is brought down, with the left hand to the left side;
4. The bayonet is there fixed, which is followed,
5. By the shoulder.
On page 104 Duane writes...
At the word UNFIX BAYONETS...four motions...
1. Throw the muzzle of the firelock forward from the order with the right hand.
2. Force the bayonet by striking the ball of the right thumb against the
shoulder and unscrew the bayonet.
3. Return the bayonet to the scabbard.
4. Draw back the firelock to the position of the order with hand in front of the piece below.
5. Carry the left hand to the left side.
Duane also includes instructions to un-fix from the shoulder. His instructions printed above are a little confusing and illustrates while his "Handbook" was despised by many officers. In fact, many officers continued to use Smyths.
The point though, is that up to March of 1812, the U.States army had specific commands to fix and un-fix bayonets. The new manual written by Smyth did not include these motions but it was replaced by Duane's in 1813 that did include fix and un-fix bayonets in its manual exercise.
We may never know what commanders did from March of 1812 to March of 1813? Would they had simply used what was in Steuben's? If an officer had served in the army before March of 1812 he obviously would had been trained to use those commands. Steuben's is not entirely unlike what
is found in Duane's though the latter author suggests going from the Order to fix and un-fix.
Rest assured, if the officer wanted to fix or un-fix bayonets, he could find the commands to do so.
David C. Bennett
Army Sutlers: Transcribed by David Bennett
Sutler John H. Robinson, May, 1810, Fort Osage
Cotton hose; children's hose; drab cloth; drab plains; mixed plaines; grey plaines; yellow figured ribbon; green and yellow figured ribbon; pins; thimbles; paper pins; white tape; large hair combs; India Gurrah; Britannia mixed; diaper table clothes; white Dowlas; Marseilles patterned; swan down; jeans; madras handkerchiefs; small cotton ditto; cotton Romallas; colored Nankeen; Striped nankeen; black velvet; Aral Forrest cloth; white Casonette; red casonete; broad red gartering; blue spotted calico; red spotted calico; colored muslin; button moulds; narrow blue gartering; narrow red garterning; broad yellow gartering; small pierce buttons plain; small pierce buttons flowered; shirt buttons; suspenders; sewing silk; small buttons gilded; large buttons gilded; silk money purse; cotton money purse; twist; fine white thread; black thread; shoe thread; blue satin ribbon; broad ribbon assorted; narrow ribbon assorted; Kegs Tobacco; pepper; Ginger; Havanah Sugar; Barrel Coffee; Heel Baum; Sticks of Black Ball; pewter ink stand; looking glasses with frames; reams writing paper; quires writing paper; shoe makers awls; small looking glasses; knives and forks; chamber pot; wash bowl; clasp knives; flowered bowls; smaller flowered bowls; sugar dish; horn hair combs; pocket combs with cases; large hair combs; ivory combs; shoe makers awls; clothes brush; tea spoons; large spoons; cakes shaving soap; hand saw files; iron candle stick; green edge plates; blue edge plates; coarse shoes; indigo blue, table brushes; hearth brushes; paste boards; tea spoons; spoons; papers ink powder; papers red ink powder; pewter ink stand; large spoons; razors; box Hopkins razor paste; boxes wafers; double stock lock; trunk lock; scissors; silver cord; needles; red ferreting; dark ferreting; silk ferreting; large blank books; shaving boxes small; shaving boxes large; snuffer and tray; small gimlets; glue; snuffers; box pipes; panes glass; hand saw files; gun screws; large white tea cups and saucers; green edge plates; green edge plates small; large white plates; small white plates; blue edge plates small; white team cups and saucers; small sugar dish flowered; coarse shoes; boots; large fish hooks; small fish hooks; men's thimbles; women's thimbles.
December 1809, Coopers & Whistler's Store, Fort Dearborn, Indiana Territory:
Whiskey .50 cents quart; Tobacco .75 cents pound; Brown Sugar .25 cents pound; Black Ball .50 cents a stick; Shoe Brushes .75 cents a pair; Thread .06 1/4 skein.
May 1810, Fort Adam's Store, Mississippi Territory:
Barrel Mackerel; 32 gallons Sherry wine; best English Mustard; brown sugar; coffee; pepper; choclate; Best Hyson tea; candles; soap; black Ball; Segars; Whiting; Tin cups; large tin coffee pots; tobacco; shoe brushes
MUSTER ROLL OF THE FIELD AND STAFF ( 1 REGT INFANTRY ) UNDER THE COMMAND OF LT. COL. R. C. NICHOLAS FROM THE 24TH FEBRUARY WHEN LAST MUSTERED TO THE 30 APRIL 1814 ---
NO./NAME/RANK/DATE APPOINTMENT
1 Robert C. Nicholas, Lt.Col., 15 August 1812
2 John A. Shaw, Adj., 29 July 1813
3 Hanson Catlett, Regt. Surg., 18 February 1813
4 Samuel C. Muir, Surg. Mate, 7 April 1813
5 William Johnson, Sergt. Major, 3 Sept 1813
6 John Harrison, Drum Major, 1 November 1811
WE CERTIFY THAT THIS MUSTER ROLL EXHIBITS A CORRECT STATEMENT OF THE FILD AND STAFF UNDER THE COMMAND OF COLO. R.C. NICHOLAS AS MUSTERED BY US THIS 30 APRIL 1812. CAMP OHIO NEAR CUMBERLAND
[signed] JNO. CLEEVES SYMMES CAPT. MUSTERING OFFICER
HANSON CATLETT SURGEON 1ST REGT.US INFY.
Source: National Archives Series 3
1 Robert C. Nicholas, Lt.Col., 15 August 1812
2 John A. Shaw, Adj., 29 July 1813
3 Hanson Catlett, Regt. Surg., 18 February 1813
4 Samuel C. Muir, Surg. Mate, 7 April 1813
5 William Johnson, Sergt. Major, 3 Sept 1813
6 John Harrison, Drum Major, 1 November 1811
WE CERTIFY THAT THIS MUSTER ROLL EXHIBITS A CORRECT STATEMENT OF THE FILD AND STAFF UNDER THE COMMAND OF COLO. R.C. NICHOLAS AS MUSTERED BY US THIS 30 APRIL 1812. CAMP OHIO NEAR CUMBERLAND
[signed] JNO. CLEEVES SYMMES CAPT. MUSTERING OFFICER
HANSON CATLETT SURGEON 1ST REGT.US INFY.
Source: National Archives Series 3
SOLDIERS OF CLEMSON’S & SYMMES COMPANY 1808 - 1815 January,2006
By David C. Bennett
*John Findley Sergeant Appointed January 12,1807 reduced 1 June 1807;
Alias: Finly Corporal Appointed September 8,1807 promoted
Sergeant Appointed October 1, 1807 reduced 1 January, 1809
Tried June 3, 1807 “Drunkeness and contempt to Capt. Clemson”
“Reduced to Private”
Sergeant Appointed June 1,1809 reduced January 5,1811
Discharged January 11, 1812 time of service expired
*Thomas Taylor Sergeant Appointed April 1, 1807 reduced 28 May, 1807 Reenlisted October 10, 1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Corporal Appointed November 1, 1812
Tried July 27, 1813”Drunkeness” Suspend for thirty days privates duty
Sergeant November 1,1813
Dennis R. Scribner Sergeant Appointed May 1, 1807
Deserted June 22, 1807 “Falls of the Ohio”
*Claibourn B.. Battis Sergeant Appointed May 1, 1807
“Furlough” ”Benefit of Health” “St. Louis” Aug.14,1809 to [blank] Deserted November 19, 1809 “Fort Osage”
“10 Dolls. Reward Deserted on the 19th inst. When on indulgence of
pass, John C. Battis, Sergt. In Capt. Eli B. Clemson’s company, 1st
regiment U. S. infantry. The said deserter was born in Virginia, is 31
years of age, six feet high, dark complexion...wearing a uniform jacket
& great Coat, with a red collar, and white buttons.”
St. Louis Gazette 11-25-1809
*John Mckinzie Corporal Appointed January 13, 1807 reduced 7 September, 1807
Alias: McKinsey Corporal Appointed December 4, 1807 reduced 14 December, 1807
Corporal Appointed January 1, 1810 promoted
Sergeant Appointed January 5, 1811
Reenlisted November 1, 1811 at Fort Osage by Capt. Clemson Deserted June 16, 1812 “Fort Osage”
Alias: John McKenzie Ensign 19th Infantry Commissioned April 20, 1814
Transferred to 28th infantry 11 May 1814
ALS 25 May 1814 Newport Lt. John Brownson to Sec.of War:
Reports this officer is same Sgt who deserted in 1812
Struck off rolls 2 June 1814; arrested tried for desertion and
Dishonorable Discharge 13 October 1814
David Henderson Sergeant Appointed August 1, 1807 reduced 15 March, 1808
Deserted August 1, 1808 “St Louis”
*Samuel Miller Corporal Appointed October 1, 1806 reduced September 17,1807
Tried July 31, 1807 False statement to Sgt. Taylor - reduced to a pvt
Corporal Reinstated Deserted September 21, 1808 at “Fire Prairie”
“Retaken at Camp Belle fontaine Oct. 1,1808”
“8 days lost due to desertion”
Discharge August 7, 1811 “Time of service expired”
*John Burchard Corporal Appointed December 7, 1806 promoted Sergeant Appointed March 16, 1808 reduced July 25,1810
Sergeant Appointed August 10,1810 reduced July 19,1814
Reenlisted August 16, 1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
“On command” “portage De Sioux” Nov 18,1813 to Dec.30,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
“Present – Buffalo, serving on extra duty with Artillery Aug.31,1814”
Discharged July 5, 1815
George Nott Musician Appointed April 4, 1807 Fifer
Died July 20, 1807, “Fever” “in camp near St. Louis”
*Starks Simons Musician Appointed April 4, 1807 fifer
Alias: Simonds Discharged January 1, 1810 “Time of service expired”
Musician Reenlisted November 9, 1810 at Fort Osage by Lieutenant Brownson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17, 1814
*Mrs. B. Simonds Washerwoman Account with Robinson’s store owed $48.31 1/4
*John Harrison Musician Appointed May 1,1807 drummer
Tried December 13,1807 “threatening the beat Serg. Henderson”
Sentenced “asking the Sgt. Pardon”
Reenlisted November 1,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemso
Drum Major Appointed February 7, 1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17, 1814
*William Suttenfield Musician Appointed April 1, 1807 drummer
Corporal Appointed May 1, 1809
Deserted November 30, 1809
*Henry Agnew Private Discharged February 15,1812 ”Time of service expired”
*John Anthony Private Deserted April 8,1810 at Fort Osage “retaken”
Reenlisted January 4,1812 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
“On command” “Fort Independence” July 12,1813 to Nov.12,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17,1814
Deserted July 5,1815 (NJ)
George Allen Private Deserted May 21,1807 at Bedford, Pennsylvania
John F. Buck Private Transferred August 1,1807 Capt. Pinkney Company
Samuel Bonker Private Died June 16,1807 “small pox” at Newport, Kentucky
*Marcus Coles Private Deserted September 16,1807 at Belle Fontaine
Retaken September 18,1807 at “Saint Louis”
Reenlisted October 10,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
“On command” “Expedition against Indians”
Aug.30,1813 to Nov.28,1813
Tried Dec.27,1813 “Drunk on parade” “whiskey stopped Blk.hole”
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814 mortally wounded Died of wounds, September 7,1814 Buffalo, New York
*Isaac Caldwell Corporal Appointed January 1,1809 reduced March 31,1809
Discharged January 27,1811 at Fort Osage “time of service expired”
*David Creamer Private Reenlisted September 30,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
“On command” “Expedition against Indians”
Aug.30,1813 to Nov.28,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
*Andrew Chesnut Private Reenlisted October 2,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Alias: Chesnutt “On command” “Expedition against Indians” Aug.30,1813 to Nov. 28, 1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Died “Sackets harbour Hospital” April 30,1815”Natural death”
M255: #168 “C” roll #3: tried by General Court martial at Ft.Erie Nov 2,1814
For attempting to desert, 6 month hard labor “b. & c.” Got sick
Went into hospital April 28,1814
*John W. Culverhouse Private Tried October 23,1807 “plot of desertion”
discharged August 27,1811 at Fort Osage “time of service expired”
Samuel Coffran Private Transferred, never mustered with Clemson’s company
John Cunningham Private Died August 29,1807 of “Consumption” “Belle Fontaine”
John Lewis Desair Private Deserted October 20,1807 at Belle Fontain
“Retaken & delivered to Comdg. Officer Fort Pickering Nov. 3rd”
*Thomas Davis Private Reenlisted November 2,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
“On command” “On expedition against Indians”
Aug.30,1813 to Nov.28,1813
Greenbush Hospital October 28,1814 “Fever”
*Abijah Davis Private Reenlisted November 1,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
*John M. Dittmore Musician Appointed August 1,1807 fifer
Alias: Dittemor Tried October 8,1807 “disobedience of orders when on guard
Sentenced “thirty lashes” “punishment remitted ...by the court”
Tried January 16,1808 “stealing a pig from Col. Hunt”
“Thirty lashes” “punishment remitted”
Tried May 30,1808 “absenting himself from Guard & ... whiskey...”
Sentenced “thirty five lashes” reduced to private
Reenlisted November 15,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
“On command” “Fort Independence”
July 12,1813 to November 12,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17,1814
*John Dutcher Corporal Appointed January 1,1808 promoted
Sergeant Appointed June 1,1809 reduced August 19,1810
Corporal Appointed January 5,1811 promoted
Sergeant Appointed April 1,1812
“On command” “on Expedition against Indians”
August 30,1813 to Nov.28,1813
Commanded 32 enlisted men in 1st Platoon “on Expedition.....”
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Deserted 1814
*Cadez Dubois Private Deserted August 1,1808 “Saint Louis”
*Levi Ellis Private Reenlisted November 30,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Deserted June 16,1812 “Fort Osage”
*Joseph French Private Reenlisted December 4,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
*John Garmon Private Reenlisted January 2,1812 at Fort Osage
Tried Dec.27,1813 “drunk on parade”
Sentenced “black hole” “whiskey stopped 7 days”
“On command” “On Expedition against Indians”
Aug 30,1813 to Nov 28,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Died on march to Sacketts Harbor November 18,1814
*Charles Gowan Private Discharged February 3,1812 “time of service expired”
*Samuel B. Gartner Private Discharge February 11,1812 “time of service expired”
Alias: Gardner
*Richard Gartner Private Reenlisted November 18,1811
Alias: Gardner Corporal Appointed October 1,1812 reduced 12 July,1813 by his request
“On command” at “Fort Independence”
July 12,1813 to November 12,1813
Corporal Appointed December 24,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Deserted September 8,1814 at Fort Erie (NJ)
*Andrew Hoge Musician Appointed July 1st, 1809
Discharged January 16,1812
*Jacob Holtsinger Corporal Appointed May 1811 “discharged 6th Sept.”
Discharged September 3,1811 “time of service expired”
*John Harpell Private Reenlisted August 31,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Alias: Harple Battle of Lundy’s lane July 25,1814
Williamsville Hospital January 15,1815
*John Jones Private Reenlisted November 1,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Deserted “June 16,1812 “Fort Osage” with McKenzie, stole a rifle
*John Jourdan Private Reenlisted November 2,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
“On command” “at Portage DeSioux” Nov.18,1813 to Dec 30,1813
*James Kinkaid Private Deserted September 21,1808 “Fire Prairie”
Alias: Kinkead “Retaken Camp Belle Fontaine October 1,1808
Discharged August 8,1811 “time of service expired”
*John King Private Died November 14,1810 at Fort Osage “Seirus Liver”
Stephen Knoulton Private Died March 8,1808 “Apoplectic fit” “Camp Belle Fontaine”
James Knox Private Deserted October 20,1807 “Belle Fontaine”
“Retaken and delvd. To Comdg. Officer Fort Pickering Nov 3d, 1807”
Josiah Keene Private Transferred to Captain Pinkney’s company August 1,1808
*Christopher Lebar Private Reenlisted November 4,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814 Wounded
*Robert Marchbank Private Reenlisted October 10,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Corporal Appointed January 1,1813
“On command” “on expedition against Indians”
August 30,1813 to Nov.28,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane, July 25,1814
Wounded September 8,1814 Fort Erie by a 24 lb cannon ball.
“In Hospital” October 28,1814 “Williamsville N.Y.”
William Mitchell Private Discharged July 2,1807 by “Civil Authority” “Being a Minor”
William Morrison Private Deserted July 4,1807 “Mouth of Ohio”
*William McColly Private Discharged March 10,1812 “time of service expired”
*Mrs. M. McColly Washerwoman Account at Robinson’s store owed $19.72 1/4
*John Martinet Corporal Appointed January 1,1809 promoted
Alias: Martinett Sergeant Appointed October 1,1810
Discharged December 15,1811
*Mrs. Martinet Washerwoman Account with Robinson Store owed $20.37 ½
Sibley diary Sept. 23 Friday 1808 “I owe Mrs. Martinett for
Washing 26 p. in this month & in the last month & making
4 towels”
*William McCracken Corporal Appointed October 1,1807 promoted
Sergeant Appointed August 18,1810
Discharged March 20,1812
Thomas Owens Corporal Deserted August 1,1808 at St. Louis
Peter Omans Private Deserted September 16,1807 Belle Fontaine
*William Peterson Corporal Appointed April 1,1809 reduced May 15,1809
Waiter to Captain Clemson December 31,1810 to June 30,1811 Discharged January 26,1812
*Mrs. M. Peterson Washerwoman Account at Robinson’s store owed $20.43 ¾
Unknown for sure, wife of William or Henry Peterson
Cyrus Porter Private deserted June 11,1807 “Falls of the Ohio”
*Christopher Punk Private Reenlisted January 14,1812
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17, 1814
*Ezekiel Parker Sergeant Appointed June 1,1807 reduced September 18,1807
Tried September 20,1807 “disobedience of orders & neglect” reduced
Corporal Appointed June 1,1808 reduced December 7,1808
“Furlough” August 31,1811
Discharged September 26,1811
*Jacob Pieffer Private Discharged January 14,1812
*Loyd Pyott Private Reenlisted November 1,1811
Alias: Piott “on command” “expedition against Indians”
August 30,1813 to Nov.28,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814 Wounded
“Gunshot wound in the left leg, the ball entering the lower extremity of
the fibula & fracturing that bone in its passage & injuring the articulation of the ankle...”
Medical discharge May 22,1815 Sacketts Harbor.
Invalid Pension Morgan County Ohio $48.00 annual pension,
May 22, 1815 Transferred to Pennsylvania Sept. 4, 1821
*James Porter Private Died September 18,1811 at Fort Osage “infirmity & Fever”
*John Price Private Reenlisted January 14,1812 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Corporal Appointed January 15,1813 (NJ)
Sergeant Appointed November 1,1813 Reduced March 14,1814 (NJ)
Killed in Action, Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Or Wounded July 25,1814 died from wounds Sept.2,1814 (NJ)
*John Spencer Private Reenlisted October 10,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Invalid Pension Franklin County Mo.$48 annual allowance
May 22, 1815 $877.82 sums received. (Pension roll 1835)
*John Spence Private Reenlisted November 24,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17, 1814
Died April 17,1815 at Sacketts Harbour Hospital Natural causes
*William Sprouls Private Reenlisted October 31,1811
Corporal Appointed December 24,1813
Killed in Action Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
*John Smith Corporal Appointed June 1,1809 reduced May 1,1810
Corporal Appointed October 1,1811
Reenlisted October 2,1811
Died September 7,1812
“Between Ft. Osage & B.F.” “Shot”
“When going as express to Belle Fountaine”
John E. Smith Private Deserted November 3,1807 “near Fort Massack”
*Thomas Stewart Private Reenlisted September 30,1812 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
*William Scott Private Reenlisted January 1,1812 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17,1814
*Mathew Thornton Private Discharged July 5,1811 by Lt. Brownson “time of service expired”
Enlisted at Belle Fontaine by Captain Clemson October 7,1811
Killed in Action, Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
*Samuel C. TenEyck Private Reenlisted March 6,1812 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Killed in Action, Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
*Thomas Williams Corporal Appointed Oct. 1, 1810
Reenlisted November 20 1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Sergeant Appointed July 1, 1812 (MC233)
April 9,1815 Late Symmes Cmpany, 3rd US Infy. Detroit (MC233)
*John Williams Private Deserted September 211808 at “Fire Prairie”
“Retaken at Camp Belle Fontaine” “2 days lost by desertion”
Reenlisted January 6,1812 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Died September 25,1813 “nervous fever” at Belle Fontaine
*Jacob Wise Private Reenlisted October 10,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane, July 25, 1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17,1814
*John Whise Private Reenlisted October 10,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane, July 25, 1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17,1814
“In Hospital” Williamsville 1814 “sick”
James Wolf Private Deserted June 15,1807 at “Newport Kentucky”
*William Walker Private Reenlisted November 18,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane, July 25,1814
*John Williamson Private Discharged December 5,1811 “time of service expired”
*Anthony A. Rath Corporal Appointed August 19,1810
Sergeant Appointed
Discharged March 22,1812 “time of service expired”
*Jesse Sherwood Private Reenlisted October 31,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Deserted 1814
*Eseck I Sterry Corporal Appointed January 12,1807
Reduced September 19,1807
Discharged January 11,1812 “time of service expired”
*Clement Bonsell Private Reenlisted September 30,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Died December 24,1811 at “Fort Osage” “Appopletic fit”
Samuel Harrison Private Deserted August 28,1807 “Belle Fontaine”
John White Private “On command” August 8,1808 “Waiter to Lt. Dorr”
Died January 10,1809 “Camp Belle Fontaine” “inflammatory disease”
*Frederick Alspaugh Private Reenlisted May 27,1812 at Belle Fontaine by Captain Clemson
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17,1814
James Brotherton Private Transferred 1807. Lined off descriptive book.
*Stephen Follin Private Discharged November 30,1811 “time of service expired”
*Henry Peterson Private Discharged February 10,1812 “time of service expired”
*Edward Reiley Private Discharged January 8,1812 “time of service expired”
*Washington Wheeler Private Discharged April 8,1812 “time of service expired”
*Joseph Whitehouse Private Reenlisted June 30,1812 at Belle Fontaine by Capt. Clemson
Corporal Appointed July 1,1812 Reduced August 8,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane, July 25,1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17,1814
Private Enlisted in Artillery Aug. 31, 1816 for 5 years
Articifer Appointed Sept.1,1816 Deserted Feb.1,1817 (MC233/NA)
*William Farrell Private Discharged February 17,1813 “time of service expired”
*James Henderson Corporal Appointed September 1, 1808 Reduced December 31,1808
Corporal Appointed June 1, 1810
Discharged June 4, 1811 by Lt.Brownson “time of service expired”
Enlisted September 20,1811 by Capt.Clemson at Belle Fontaine
Sergeant Appoiinted April 1,1812. Reduced to Corporal per his request
Corporal Appointed July 12,1813 Reduced December 29, 181_ [unreadable]
Died November 28,1814 “fever”. Buried in Cheektowaga Cemetery.
Williamsville Hospital.
*Robert Page Private Discharged August 28, 1811 “time of service expired”
*Isaac Walton Private Discharged January 18,1812
William Johnson Sergeant Appointed January 1,1810
“On command” June 4,1809 Belle Fontaine “Clerk to Col.Bissell”
Sergeant Major Appointed September 3,1813 “Field and Staff”
Thomas W. Welch Private “On command” June 4,1809 “waiter to Col. Bissell”
Fort Belle Fontaine Orderly Book “June 1809” Privates
Wm. Johnson, Thomas W. Welch and John Durham recruits
Are also attached to Captain Clemson’s company 1st Regiment
“It is my intention to keep one public Servant only. Thos. W.
Welch of Capt Clemsons Company I wish to be the Man, but at
Present he is sick, having the Rheumatism” 3 Jany. 1813
John Durham Private “On command” June 4,1809 “waiter to Col. Bissell”
“Returned” January 7,1810
Deserted April 8, 1810 from Fort Osage “Retaken”
Discharged September 24,1813 by Capt. Symmes “time expired”
Schuyler Moorehouse Private Nov. 2,1814 GCM Desertion, sentenced “to be shot” pardoned (MC233)
“In Hospital” Williamsville January 15,1815
Jacob Miller Private “On Command” “Expedition against Indians” Aug. 30,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane, July 25, 1814
Died November 28,1814 at Williamsville Hospital (NJ) Fever (MC233)
William Mason Private Enlisted April 22,1811 “Philadelphia” by Captain Clemson
Corporal Appointed November 1,1813
Sergeant Appointed December 20,1814
ALS to Sec.War 11 May 1813 uncle of , James Gihon, claims that
Mason is a minor, apprenticed / Printer.
John Neiles Private Deserted June 16,1812 from Fort Osage w/McKenzie stole a rifle
James McCalmon Private “On Command” ”Expedition against Indians” Aug.30,1813
Died August 29, 1814 Fort Erie (Washington burned pg 157)
* Present, Fire Prairie September 4th, 1808.
17) UNIFORM CLOTHING: "...shall receive annually the following articles of uniform clothing, to wit: One hat, one coat, one vest, two pair of woollen and two pair of linen overalls, one coarse linen frock and trowsers for fatigue clothing, four pair of shoes, four shirts, two pair of socks, two pair of short stockings, one blanket, one stock and clasp, and one pair of half gaiters. January 11 1812 James Madison.
18) Rations: by David C. Bennett, 2019.
"The issued daily ration consisted of one pound and a quarter of fresh beef, or three quarters of a pound of salted pork, eighteen ounces of bread or flour, one gill or 4 ounces of rum, whiskey, or brandy, plus for every hundred rations, one quart of salt, four quarts of vinegar, four pounds of soap, and one and a half pounds of candles.[i] The candle ration came out to about one candle a day, for every six men.
[ii]
The salt ration would be doubled by 1812, and generally issued when fresh beef was issued to the men. Beef was generally issued fresh, at least two days a week, and a herd of “beeves” or cattle would be kept at each garrison. Whenever the Army contracted for salted pork to issue to soldiers, specific cuts were desired. Pork heads, legs and hands were excluded. The remaining meat cut in twenty each ten pound hunks were packed in well-seasoned heart of white oak hooped barrels with salt and saltpeter.[iii]
The flour was usually issued as one pound loaves of heavy bread made with lard; therefore each garrison generally maintained a bake oven. Every garrison would also establish a company garden to supplement the issued ration with vegetables. The practice of establishing gardens at military posts began in 1783 when army headquarters ordered “It is recommended to the troops to make regimental gardens for the purpose of raising greens and vegetables for their own use.” The army always working on the cheap suggested that “trusty soldiers” go into the country to collect “garden seeds of all kinds.” The orders did not state how the soldiers were to collect the seeds, but expected it “will become a matter of amusement and of emulation.” [iv]
About every six to eight enlisted men would form a mess, who would prepare their meals together. “Every Mess will furnish themselves with two corse table clothes…” the standing orders of the 1st U. States Infantry dictated, “…and the men of each Barrack Room must have two Corse Towels…” attached on a roller mounted on the back of the door in order for the men to wipe their hands and face. Each Sergeant would set the example for the men, “they are to Appear remarkably Clean.” Each soldier was expected to wash their hands before eating their meals, and the man detailed to cook for the mess, would take the meals to anyone of their mess mates who was on guard duty. [v]
Even though the law had been changed to substitute low alcohol “malt liquor or low wines”, the fact was that rye whiskey (which was clear, as aging whiskey in barrels was not a standard practice) was almost universally issued and consumed by the soldiers. [vi] The daily whiskey ration was the bane of the army, as many a soldier becoming helplessly addicted. The very first man ever to be tried by court martial in Captain Clemson’s new company, was his own First Sergeant John Findley, tried for “drunkenness and contempt to Capt Clemson,” his sentence was to be reduced to a private. Vinegar was used during the summer months to pickle vegetables, cucumbers and beets were common.
[i] Legislative History of the General Staff of the Army of the United States 1775 to 1901 Washington Government printing office 1901, Act of March 16, 1802. P. 333.
[ii] Nara Abstract, “Issued from the 1st of June 1810 to the 1st February 1811” Signed J. Brownson, 1st Regt Infantry Fort Osage documentary evidence.
[iii] William Jones, Washington City, October 4, 1813, NARA courtesy Mark Hilliard. When salted beef was issued, then only one pound comprised a ration. Beef legs, skins, necks, shoulders, clods and leg rounds were all excluded
[iv] “March 24, 1783 (Orders, General Headquarters, Newburgh, p.326 Legislative History of General Staff of U. S. Army.)
[v] Clemson/Symmes Company Book, RG 98, NA
[vi] pg 15 The Old Army Coffman ; pg 332-333 Act of March 16 1802 Legislative history of the Generla Staff of the Army of the Unkited states (Its organizatin, duties, pay, and allowances) from 1775 to 1901. Raphael P. Thian Washington GPO 1901 ; ibid pg 333 act of March 26, 1804
[vii] Clemson/Symmes Company Book, RG 98, NA
Updated 1 September 2019
All text on this site is under copyright.
By David C. Bennett
*John Findley Sergeant Appointed January 12,1807 reduced 1 June 1807;
Alias: Finly Corporal Appointed September 8,1807 promoted
Sergeant Appointed October 1, 1807 reduced 1 January, 1809
Tried June 3, 1807 “Drunkeness and contempt to Capt. Clemson”
“Reduced to Private”
Sergeant Appointed June 1,1809 reduced January 5,1811
Discharged January 11, 1812 time of service expired
*Thomas Taylor Sergeant Appointed April 1, 1807 reduced 28 May, 1807 Reenlisted October 10, 1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Corporal Appointed November 1, 1812
Tried July 27, 1813”Drunkeness” Suspend for thirty days privates duty
Sergeant November 1,1813
Dennis R. Scribner Sergeant Appointed May 1, 1807
Deserted June 22, 1807 “Falls of the Ohio”
*Claibourn B.. Battis Sergeant Appointed May 1, 1807
“Furlough” ”Benefit of Health” “St. Louis” Aug.14,1809 to [blank] Deserted November 19, 1809 “Fort Osage”
“10 Dolls. Reward Deserted on the 19th inst. When on indulgence of
pass, John C. Battis, Sergt. In Capt. Eli B. Clemson’s company, 1st
regiment U. S. infantry. The said deserter was born in Virginia, is 31
years of age, six feet high, dark complexion...wearing a uniform jacket
& great Coat, with a red collar, and white buttons.”
St. Louis Gazette 11-25-1809
*John Mckinzie Corporal Appointed January 13, 1807 reduced 7 September, 1807
Alias: McKinsey Corporal Appointed December 4, 1807 reduced 14 December, 1807
Corporal Appointed January 1, 1810 promoted
Sergeant Appointed January 5, 1811
Reenlisted November 1, 1811 at Fort Osage by Capt. Clemson Deserted June 16, 1812 “Fort Osage”
Alias: John McKenzie Ensign 19th Infantry Commissioned April 20, 1814
Transferred to 28th infantry 11 May 1814
ALS 25 May 1814 Newport Lt. John Brownson to Sec.of War:
Reports this officer is same Sgt who deserted in 1812
Struck off rolls 2 June 1814; arrested tried for desertion and
Dishonorable Discharge 13 October 1814
David Henderson Sergeant Appointed August 1, 1807 reduced 15 March, 1808
Deserted August 1, 1808 “St Louis”
*Samuel Miller Corporal Appointed October 1, 1806 reduced September 17,1807
Tried July 31, 1807 False statement to Sgt. Taylor - reduced to a pvt
Corporal Reinstated Deserted September 21, 1808 at “Fire Prairie”
“Retaken at Camp Belle fontaine Oct. 1,1808”
“8 days lost due to desertion”
Discharge August 7, 1811 “Time of service expired”
*John Burchard Corporal Appointed December 7, 1806 promoted Sergeant Appointed March 16, 1808 reduced July 25,1810
Sergeant Appointed August 10,1810 reduced July 19,1814
Reenlisted August 16, 1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
“On command” “portage De Sioux” Nov 18,1813 to Dec.30,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
“Present – Buffalo, serving on extra duty with Artillery Aug.31,1814”
Discharged July 5, 1815
George Nott Musician Appointed April 4, 1807 Fifer
Died July 20, 1807, “Fever” “in camp near St. Louis”
*Starks Simons Musician Appointed April 4, 1807 fifer
Alias: Simonds Discharged January 1, 1810 “Time of service expired”
Musician Reenlisted November 9, 1810 at Fort Osage by Lieutenant Brownson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17, 1814
*Mrs. B. Simonds Washerwoman Account with Robinson’s store owed $48.31 1/4
*John Harrison Musician Appointed May 1,1807 drummer
Tried December 13,1807 “threatening the beat Serg. Henderson”
Sentenced “asking the Sgt. Pardon”
Reenlisted November 1,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemso
Drum Major Appointed February 7, 1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17, 1814
*William Suttenfield Musician Appointed April 1, 1807 drummer
Corporal Appointed May 1, 1809
Deserted November 30, 1809
*Henry Agnew Private Discharged February 15,1812 ”Time of service expired”
*John Anthony Private Deserted April 8,1810 at Fort Osage “retaken”
Reenlisted January 4,1812 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
“On command” “Fort Independence” July 12,1813 to Nov.12,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17,1814
Deserted July 5,1815 (NJ)
George Allen Private Deserted May 21,1807 at Bedford, Pennsylvania
John F. Buck Private Transferred August 1,1807 Capt. Pinkney Company
Samuel Bonker Private Died June 16,1807 “small pox” at Newport, Kentucky
*Marcus Coles Private Deserted September 16,1807 at Belle Fontaine
Retaken September 18,1807 at “Saint Louis”
Reenlisted October 10,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
“On command” “Expedition against Indians”
Aug.30,1813 to Nov.28,1813
Tried Dec.27,1813 “Drunk on parade” “whiskey stopped Blk.hole”
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814 mortally wounded Died of wounds, September 7,1814 Buffalo, New York
*Isaac Caldwell Corporal Appointed January 1,1809 reduced March 31,1809
Discharged January 27,1811 at Fort Osage “time of service expired”
*David Creamer Private Reenlisted September 30,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
“On command” “Expedition against Indians”
Aug.30,1813 to Nov.28,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
*Andrew Chesnut Private Reenlisted October 2,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Alias: Chesnutt “On command” “Expedition against Indians” Aug.30,1813 to Nov. 28, 1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Died “Sackets harbour Hospital” April 30,1815”Natural death”
M255: #168 “C” roll #3: tried by General Court martial at Ft.Erie Nov 2,1814
For attempting to desert, 6 month hard labor “b. & c.” Got sick
Went into hospital April 28,1814
*John W. Culverhouse Private Tried October 23,1807 “plot of desertion”
discharged August 27,1811 at Fort Osage “time of service expired”
Samuel Coffran Private Transferred, never mustered with Clemson’s company
John Cunningham Private Died August 29,1807 of “Consumption” “Belle Fontaine”
John Lewis Desair Private Deserted October 20,1807 at Belle Fontain
“Retaken & delivered to Comdg. Officer Fort Pickering Nov. 3rd”
*Thomas Davis Private Reenlisted November 2,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
“On command” “On expedition against Indians”
Aug.30,1813 to Nov.28,1813
Greenbush Hospital October 28,1814 “Fever”
*Abijah Davis Private Reenlisted November 1,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
*John M. Dittmore Musician Appointed August 1,1807 fifer
Alias: Dittemor Tried October 8,1807 “disobedience of orders when on guard
Sentenced “thirty lashes” “punishment remitted ...by the court”
Tried January 16,1808 “stealing a pig from Col. Hunt”
“Thirty lashes” “punishment remitted”
Tried May 30,1808 “absenting himself from Guard & ... whiskey...”
Sentenced “thirty five lashes” reduced to private
Reenlisted November 15,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
“On command” “Fort Independence”
July 12,1813 to November 12,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17,1814
*John Dutcher Corporal Appointed January 1,1808 promoted
Sergeant Appointed June 1,1809 reduced August 19,1810
Corporal Appointed January 5,1811 promoted
Sergeant Appointed April 1,1812
“On command” “on Expedition against Indians”
August 30,1813 to Nov.28,1813
Commanded 32 enlisted men in 1st Platoon “on Expedition.....”
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Deserted 1814
*Cadez Dubois Private Deserted August 1,1808 “Saint Louis”
*Levi Ellis Private Reenlisted November 30,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Deserted June 16,1812 “Fort Osage”
*Joseph French Private Reenlisted December 4,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
*John Garmon Private Reenlisted January 2,1812 at Fort Osage
Tried Dec.27,1813 “drunk on parade”
Sentenced “black hole” “whiskey stopped 7 days”
“On command” “On Expedition against Indians”
Aug 30,1813 to Nov 28,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Died on march to Sacketts Harbor November 18,1814
*Charles Gowan Private Discharged February 3,1812 “time of service expired”
*Samuel B. Gartner Private Discharge February 11,1812 “time of service expired”
Alias: Gardner
*Richard Gartner Private Reenlisted November 18,1811
Alias: Gardner Corporal Appointed October 1,1812 reduced 12 July,1813 by his request
“On command” at “Fort Independence”
July 12,1813 to November 12,1813
Corporal Appointed December 24,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Deserted September 8,1814 at Fort Erie (NJ)
*Andrew Hoge Musician Appointed July 1st, 1809
Discharged January 16,1812
*Jacob Holtsinger Corporal Appointed May 1811 “discharged 6th Sept.”
Discharged September 3,1811 “time of service expired”
*John Harpell Private Reenlisted August 31,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Alias: Harple Battle of Lundy’s lane July 25,1814
Williamsville Hospital January 15,1815
*John Jones Private Reenlisted November 1,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Deserted “June 16,1812 “Fort Osage” with McKenzie, stole a rifle
*John Jourdan Private Reenlisted November 2,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
“On command” “at Portage DeSioux” Nov.18,1813 to Dec 30,1813
*James Kinkaid Private Deserted September 21,1808 “Fire Prairie”
Alias: Kinkead “Retaken Camp Belle Fontaine October 1,1808
Discharged August 8,1811 “time of service expired”
*John King Private Died November 14,1810 at Fort Osage “Seirus Liver”
Stephen Knoulton Private Died March 8,1808 “Apoplectic fit” “Camp Belle Fontaine”
James Knox Private Deserted October 20,1807 “Belle Fontaine”
“Retaken and delvd. To Comdg. Officer Fort Pickering Nov 3d, 1807”
Josiah Keene Private Transferred to Captain Pinkney’s company August 1,1808
*Christopher Lebar Private Reenlisted November 4,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814 Wounded
*Robert Marchbank Private Reenlisted October 10,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Corporal Appointed January 1,1813
“On command” “on expedition against Indians”
August 30,1813 to Nov.28,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane, July 25,1814
Wounded September 8,1814 Fort Erie by a 24 lb cannon ball.
“In Hospital” October 28,1814 “Williamsville N.Y.”
William Mitchell Private Discharged July 2,1807 by “Civil Authority” “Being a Minor”
William Morrison Private Deserted July 4,1807 “Mouth of Ohio”
*William McColly Private Discharged March 10,1812 “time of service expired”
*Mrs. M. McColly Washerwoman Account at Robinson’s store owed $19.72 1/4
*John Martinet Corporal Appointed January 1,1809 promoted
Alias: Martinett Sergeant Appointed October 1,1810
Discharged December 15,1811
*Mrs. Martinet Washerwoman Account with Robinson Store owed $20.37 ½
Sibley diary Sept. 23 Friday 1808 “I owe Mrs. Martinett for
Washing 26 p. in this month & in the last month & making
4 towels”
*William McCracken Corporal Appointed October 1,1807 promoted
Sergeant Appointed August 18,1810
Discharged March 20,1812
Thomas Owens Corporal Deserted August 1,1808 at St. Louis
Peter Omans Private Deserted September 16,1807 Belle Fontaine
*William Peterson Corporal Appointed April 1,1809 reduced May 15,1809
Waiter to Captain Clemson December 31,1810 to June 30,1811 Discharged January 26,1812
*Mrs. M. Peterson Washerwoman Account at Robinson’s store owed $20.43 ¾
Unknown for sure, wife of William or Henry Peterson
Cyrus Porter Private deserted June 11,1807 “Falls of the Ohio”
*Christopher Punk Private Reenlisted January 14,1812
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17, 1814
*Ezekiel Parker Sergeant Appointed June 1,1807 reduced September 18,1807
Tried September 20,1807 “disobedience of orders & neglect” reduced
Corporal Appointed June 1,1808 reduced December 7,1808
“Furlough” August 31,1811
Discharged September 26,1811
*Jacob Pieffer Private Discharged January 14,1812
*Loyd Pyott Private Reenlisted November 1,1811
Alias: Piott “on command” “expedition against Indians”
August 30,1813 to Nov.28,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814 Wounded
“Gunshot wound in the left leg, the ball entering the lower extremity of
the fibula & fracturing that bone in its passage & injuring the articulation of the ankle...”
Medical discharge May 22,1815 Sacketts Harbor.
Invalid Pension Morgan County Ohio $48.00 annual pension,
May 22, 1815 Transferred to Pennsylvania Sept. 4, 1821
*James Porter Private Died September 18,1811 at Fort Osage “infirmity & Fever”
*John Price Private Reenlisted January 14,1812 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Corporal Appointed January 15,1813 (NJ)
Sergeant Appointed November 1,1813 Reduced March 14,1814 (NJ)
Killed in Action, Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Or Wounded July 25,1814 died from wounds Sept.2,1814 (NJ)
*John Spencer Private Reenlisted October 10,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Invalid Pension Franklin County Mo.$48 annual allowance
May 22, 1815 $877.82 sums received. (Pension roll 1835)
*John Spence Private Reenlisted November 24,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17, 1814
Died April 17,1815 at Sacketts Harbour Hospital Natural causes
*William Sprouls Private Reenlisted October 31,1811
Corporal Appointed December 24,1813
Killed in Action Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
*John Smith Corporal Appointed June 1,1809 reduced May 1,1810
Corporal Appointed October 1,1811
Reenlisted October 2,1811
Died September 7,1812
“Between Ft. Osage & B.F.” “Shot”
“When going as express to Belle Fountaine”
John E. Smith Private Deserted November 3,1807 “near Fort Massack”
*Thomas Stewart Private Reenlisted September 30,1812 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
*William Scott Private Reenlisted January 1,1812 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17,1814
*Mathew Thornton Private Discharged July 5,1811 by Lt. Brownson “time of service expired”
Enlisted at Belle Fontaine by Captain Clemson October 7,1811
Killed in Action, Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
*Samuel C. TenEyck Private Reenlisted March 6,1812 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Killed in Action, Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
*Thomas Williams Corporal Appointed Oct. 1, 1810
Reenlisted November 20 1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Sergeant Appointed July 1, 1812 (MC233)
April 9,1815 Late Symmes Cmpany, 3rd US Infy. Detroit (MC233)
*John Williams Private Deserted September 211808 at “Fire Prairie”
“Retaken at Camp Belle Fontaine” “2 days lost by desertion”
Reenlisted January 6,1812 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Died September 25,1813 “nervous fever” at Belle Fontaine
*Jacob Wise Private Reenlisted October 10,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane, July 25, 1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17,1814
*John Whise Private Reenlisted October 10,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane, July 25, 1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17,1814
“In Hospital” Williamsville 1814 “sick”
James Wolf Private Deserted June 15,1807 at “Newport Kentucky”
*William Walker Private Reenlisted November 18,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane, July 25,1814
*John Williamson Private Discharged December 5,1811 “time of service expired”
*Anthony A. Rath Corporal Appointed August 19,1810
Sergeant Appointed
Discharged March 22,1812 “time of service expired”
*Jesse Sherwood Private Reenlisted October 31,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25,1814
Deserted 1814
*Eseck I Sterry Corporal Appointed January 12,1807
Reduced September 19,1807
Discharged January 11,1812 “time of service expired”
*Clement Bonsell Private Reenlisted September 30,1811 at Fort Osage by Captain Clemson
Died December 24,1811 at “Fort Osage” “Appopletic fit”
Samuel Harrison Private Deserted August 28,1807 “Belle Fontaine”
John White Private “On command” August 8,1808 “Waiter to Lt. Dorr”
Died January 10,1809 “Camp Belle Fontaine” “inflammatory disease”
*Frederick Alspaugh Private Reenlisted May 27,1812 at Belle Fontaine by Captain Clemson
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17,1814
James Brotherton Private Transferred 1807. Lined off descriptive book.
*Stephen Follin Private Discharged November 30,1811 “time of service expired”
*Henry Peterson Private Discharged February 10,1812 “time of service expired”
*Edward Reiley Private Discharged January 8,1812 “time of service expired”
*Washington Wheeler Private Discharged April 8,1812 “time of service expired”
*Joseph Whitehouse Private Reenlisted June 30,1812 at Belle Fontaine by Capt. Clemson
Corporal Appointed July 1,1812 Reduced August 8,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane, July 25,1814
Sortie of Fort Erie September 17,1814
Private Enlisted in Artillery Aug. 31, 1816 for 5 years
Articifer Appointed Sept.1,1816 Deserted Feb.1,1817 (MC233/NA)
*William Farrell Private Discharged February 17,1813 “time of service expired”
*James Henderson Corporal Appointed September 1, 1808 Reduced December 31,1808
Corporal Appointed June 1, 1810
Discharged June 4, 1811 by Lt.Brownson “time of service expired”
Enlisted September 20,1811 by Capt.Clemson at Belle Fontaine
Sergeant Appoiinted April 1,1812. Reduced to Corporal per his request
Corporal Appointed July 12,1813 Reduced December 29, 181_ [unreadable]
Died November 28,1814 “fever”. Buried in Cheektowaga Cemetery.
Williamsville Hospital.
*Robert Page Private Discharged August 28, 1811 “time of service expired”
*Isaac Walton Private Discharged January 18,1812
William Johnson Sergeant Appointed January 1,1810
“On command” June 4,1809 Belle Fontaine “Clerk to Col.Bissell”
Sergeant Major Appointed September 3,1813 “Field and Staff”
Thomas W. Welch Private “On command” June 4,1809 “waiter to Col. Bissell”
Fort Belle Fontaine Orderly Book “June 1809” Privates
Wm. Johnson, Thomas W. Welch and John Durham recruits
Are also attached to Captain Clemson’s company 1st Regiment
“It is my intention to keep one public Servant only. Thos. W.
Welch of Capt Clemsons Company I wish to be the Man, but at
Present he is sick, having the Rheumatism” 3 Jany. 1813
John Durham Private “On command” June 4,1809 “waiter to Col. Bissell”
“Returned” January 7,1810
Deserted April 8, 1810 from Fort Osage “Retaken”
Discharged September 24,1813 by Capt. Symmes “time expired”
Schuyler Moorehouse Private Nov. 2,1814 GCM Desertion, sentenced “to be shot” pardoned (MC233)
“In Hospital” Williamsville January 15,1815
Jacob Miller Private “On Command” “Expedition against Indians” Aug. 30,1813
Battle of Lundy’s Lane, July 25, 1814
Died November 28,1814 at Williamsville Hospital (NJ) Fever (MC233)
William Mason Private Enlisted April 22,1811 “Philadelphia” by Captain Clemson
Corporal Appointed November 1,1813
Sergeant Appointed December 20,1814
ALS to Sec.War 11 May 1813 uncle of , James Gihon, claims that
Mason is a minor, apprenticed / Printer.
John Neiles Private Deserted June 16,1812 from Fort Osage w/McKenzie stole a rifle
James McCalmon Private “On Command” ”Expedition against Indians” Aug.30,1813
Died August 29, 1814 Fort Erie (Washington burned pg 157)
* Present, Fire Prairie September 4th, 1808.
17) UNIFORM CLOTHING: "...shall receive annually the following articles of uniform clothing, to wit: One hat, one coat, one vest, two pair of woollen and two pair of linen overalls, one coarse linen frock and trowsers for fatigue clothing, four pair of shoes, four shirts, two pair of socks, two pair of short stockings, one blanket, one stock and clasp, and one pair of half gaiters. January 11 1812 James Madison.
18) Rations: by David C. Bennett, 2019.
"The issued daily ration consisted of one pound and a quarter of fresh beef, or three quarters of a pound of salted pork, eighteen ounces of bread or flour, one gill or 4 ounces of rum, whiskey, or brandy, plus for every hundred rations, one quart of salt, four quarts of vinegar, four pounds of soap, and one and a half pounds of candles.[i] The candle ration came out to about one candle a day, for every six men.
[ii]
The salt ration would be doubled by 1812, and generally issued when fresh beef was issued to the men. Beef was generally issued fresh, at least two days a week, and a herd of “beeves” or cattle would be kept at each garrison. Whenever the Army contracted for salted pork to issue to soldiers, specific cuts were desired. Pork heads, legs and hands were excluded. The remaining meat cut in twenty each ten pound hunks were packed in well-seasoned heart of white oak hooped barrels with salt and saltpeter.[iii]
The flour was usually issued as one pound loaves of heavy bread made with lard; therefore each garrison generally maintained a bake oven. Every garrison would also establish a company garden to supplement the issued ration with vegetables. The practice of establishing gardens at military posts began in 1783 when army headquarters ordered “It is recommended to the troops to make regimental gardens for the purpose of raising greens and vegetables for their own use.” The army always working on the cheap suggested that “trusty soldiers” go into the country to collect “garden seeds of all kinds.” The orders did not state how the soldiers were to collect the seeds, but expected it “will become a matter of amusement and of emulation.” [iv]
About every six to eight enlisted men would form a mess, who would prepare their meals together. “Every Mess will furnish themselves with two corse table clothes…” the standing orders of the 1st U. States Infantry dictated, “…and the men of each Barrack Room must have two Corse Towels…” attached on a roller mounted on the back of the door in order for the men to wipe their hands and face. Each Sergeant would set the example for the men, “they are to Appear remarkably Clean.” Each soldier was expected to wash their hands before eating their meals, and the man detailed to cook for the mess, would take the meals to anyone of their mess mates who was on guard duty. [v]
Even though the law had been changed to substitute low alcohol “malt liquor or low wines”, the fact was that rye whiskey (which was clear, as aging whiskey in barrels was not a standard practice) was almost universally issued and consumed by the soldiers. [vi] The daily whiskey ration was the bane of the army, as many a soldier becoming helplessly addicted. The very first man ever to be tried by court martial in Captain Clemson’s new company, was his own First Sergeant John Findley, tried for “drunkenness and contempt to Capt Clemson,” his sentence was to be reduced to a private. Vinegar was used during the summer months to pickle vegetables, cucumbers and beets were common.
[i] Legislative History of the General Staff of the Army of the United States 1775 to 1901 Washington Government printing office 1901, Act of March 16, 1802. P. 333.
[ii] Nara Abstract, “Issued from the 1st of June 1810 to the 1st February 1811” Signed J. Brownson, 1st Regt Infantry Fort Osage documentary evidence.
[iii] William Jones, Washington City, October 4, 1813, NARA courtesy Mark Hilliard. When salted beef was issued, then only one pound comprised a ration. Beef legs, skins, necks, shoulders, clods and leg rounds were all excluded
[iv] “March 24, 1783 (Orders, General Headquarters, Newburgh, p.326 Legislative History of General Staff of U. S. Army.)
[v] Clemson/Symmes Company Book, RG 98, NA
[vi] pg 15 The Old Army Coffman ; pg 332-333 Act of March 16 1802 Legislative history of the Generla Staff of the Army of the Unkited states (Its organizatin, duties, pay, and allowances) from 1775 to 1901. Raphael P. Thian Washington GPO 1901 ; ibid pg 333 act of March 26, 1804
[vii] Clemson/Symmes Company Book, RG 98, NA
Updated 1 September 2019
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