Untitled Document

Fort Armstrong Blockhouse

FORT ARMSTRONG.

The treaty of Ghent, December 24, 1814, ended the war of 1812, but the failure of the American arms on the Upper Mississippi, the defeat and disaster of our three river expedi tions by the Indians in that year, spread a feeling of gloom and uncertainty over all the settlers in the then northwest country. The Preemption Act of Congress, however, had the effect of causing the tide of emigration to set into Illinois. In order to afford our settlers better protection the War Department decided to erect a number of forts on the Upper Mississippi, at such points where they would prove the most serviceable.

In his letter dated September 5, 1805, to General James Wilkinson, Lieutenant Pike says: 'I have chosen three places for military establishments." None of these, however, was on the island of Rock Island. Yet Pike describes the site of Fort Armstrong as one that is suitable, if objection is made to the one chosen being on the west side of the river, and says there is "no water but that of the Mississippi."

During the war of 1812 the country around the mouth of Rock River had been the seat of most of the Indian trouble. Here was the leader of the Indians in this section of the country, and here was the largest Indian village, and its inhabitants were unfriendly to the Americans.

In September, 1815, the Eighth United States Infantry, un der command of Colonel R. C. Nichols, left St. Louis for the upper river to locate and build a fort somewhere near the mouth of Rock River in the then Indian country, so that white settlers might have protection from the numerous tribes who had, previous to this, been incited against the Americans by the British soldiers and traders. In November the expedi- tion had only reached the Des Moines River, where it went into winter quarters. During the winter Colonel Nichols was placed under arrest and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel William Lawrence, major of the regiment, was placed in charge. In April, 1816, Brevet Brigadier General Thomas A. Smith, colonel of the rifle regiment, arrived with his regiment and took command. The expedition proceeded up the river, arriving at the mouth of Rock River early in May. The foot of the island of Rock Island was selected as the site for the fort and May 10 the troops were landed on the island and set to work cutting trees and quarrying rock. General Smith remained on the island only until proper shelter, protection and defense had been prepared for the troops and then with his rifle regiment went up the river to Prairie du Chien. Before leaving General Smith sent a messenger to the Sacs and Foxes at their village on Rock River inviting them to a council, but they refused to come.

The Eighth Infantry under Colonel Lawrence proceeded with the construction of the fort which, when completed, was named Fort Armstrong, in honor of General John Armstrong, then Secretary of War. The fort was 400 feet square, the lower half of the walls being of stone and the upper half of hewn logs. At the northeast, southeast and southwest angles block houses were built. The fort was at the extreme northwest angle, the corner of the fort being about 200 feet from the island end of the present bridge.

About the time the fort was completed the Indians began crossing to the island and would watch the soldiers in its con struction. They would often sing and go through some of their dances to amuse the soldiers, and the latter began to think that the Indians were peaceful. The Hon. Bailey Davenport described an incident during this time that shows that the Indians had not become reconciled to the erecting of the fort. He said: "One day a small party came over to dance, and after the dance the colonel in command gave them presents. In a few days after, and while a large number of soldiers were out cutting timber, a large party of warriors, headed by the Ne-ka-le-quat, came over in canoes and landed on the north side of the island, and danced up to the entrance of the encampment, and wanted to enter and dance in front of the commander's tent. About the same time a large party of warriors was discovered approaching over the ridge from the south side of the island, headed by Keokuk. The colonel immediately ordered the bugle sounded to recall the soldiers from the woods, and had all under arms (about 600) and the cannon run out in front of the entrance, ready to fire. The Indians were ordered not to approach any nearer. The colonel, taking the alarm before Keokuk's party got near enough to rush in, saved the encampment from surprise and massacre."

Black Hawk does not mention this. In speaking of the building of the fort he said, "We did not, however, try to prevent their building the fort on the island, but we were very sorry, as this was the best island on the Mississippi, and had long been the resort of our young people during the sum mer. It was our garden (like the white people have near their big villages), which supplied us with strawberries, blackberries, plums, apples, and nuts of various kinds ; and its waters supplied us with pure fish, being situated in the rapids of the river. In my early life I spent many happy days on this island."

ROSTER AT THE FORT

Early Days of Rock Island

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Illinois Ancestors

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