The Battle of Campbell's Island
On the morning of July 19, before breakfast, the boats all set sail and
started up the river, with a fine breeze. During the night a .party of
Indians arrived at the Sac village from Prairie du Chien, coming down Rock
River, Black Hawk said they brought the Sacs six kegs of powder and told
them that the fort at Prairie du Chien had been captured by the British.
These messengers also told the Sacs that the British wished them to again
join them in the war against the Americans, which the Indians agreed to
do.
Black Hawk's memory is at fault. He does not state exactly what these
Indian messengers told him. Colonel McKay, whose army of British and
Indians had attacked Prairie du Chien, in a letter to his superior
officer, under date of July 27, 1814, says that on the 17th of July, about
three o'clock in the afternoon, after the gunboat "Governor Clark " had
been driven from its position by the British cannon and had started down
the river, that he immediately sent off a canoe with three men: an Iowan,
who had come from Mackinac with him, and two of the six Sauks, who had
joined him on the Fox River, that he gave them four kegs of gun powder and
ordered them to pass the "Governor Clark" and get as soon as possible to
the rapids at the Rock River, where he believed the gun-boat would run
aground; that they should collect all the Sacks and annoy the" Govern-or
Clark" and prevent their landing to get fire wood, etc.
Early in the morning, Black Hawk collected his warriors and determined to
attack the boats, which had now started up the river. As Black Hawk says:
"I collected my warriors and determined to pursue the boats. I immediately
started with my party by land in pursuit, thinking that some of their
boats might get aground, or that the Great Spirit would put them in our
power, if he wished them taken."
The boats had just passed the head of Rock Island when the boat commanded
by Major Campbell was grounded on the rocks, and he was compelled to
discharge and put off part of her loading into the other boats before he
could release his boat.
After proceeding about six miles the wind increased to a hurricane.
Campbell's boat being still heavily loaded, he says: "I was afraid of her
dashing to pieces on the rocks, and ordered her to be put shore, which in
doing from the severe gale of wind which was blowing, and the roughness of
the water, dashed her so hard on shore it was impossible to get her off
while the storm lasted." The boat was driven on the north shore of an
island lying about six miles east of Moline and which since that day has
been known as Campbell's Island. It lies near the eastern shore in Rock
Island County and belongs to the State of Illinois.
Black Hawk says: "About half way up the rapids I had a full view of the
boats, all sailing with a strong wind ; I soon discovered one boat badly
managed and was suffered to be driven ashore by the wind; they landed by
running hard aground, and lowered their sail, the others passed on."
The ground where the boat landed was covered with high grass, hazel and
willow bushes for a considerable distance up and down the shore. Campbell
immediately placed two sentinels about sixty yards from the boats and the
men then commenced getting their breakfast.
They had not been on the island more than twenty-five or thirty minutes
when the Indians commenced their attack, both sentinels were killed the
first fire, and one other man on shore.. Campbell ordered the cable cut
and the boat to be gotten off, in doing of which two men were killed and
three wounded. Finding the gale blowed directly on land, and that it was
impossible to get her off, he ordered his men to defend the boat to the
last extremity.
The boats of Lieutenants Rector and Riggs were about three miles up the
river at this time, Lieutenant Riggs' being in advance. He heard the
report of the firing and saw the smoke rising from where Campbell's boat
lay. He tacked his boat and signaled Rector, who also tacked and both
sailed for Campbell's boat, Rector's boat being the first to reach the
scene of the battle. Savages were seen among the trees and bushes, and a
large number of Indians were seen coming in canoes from the eastern shore.
It was estimated that about four hundred Indians surrounded them. The
savages commenced giving their war-whoop and pouring in on them a fire of
musketry and arrows. Major Campbell's right wrist was fractured by a
musket ball during the first onslaught, and he was carried into the cabin
of his boat and laid on a bunk, while his men gallantly returned the fire
of the Indians.
Campbell's boat was so near the bank that the Indians were able to fire in
at the port oar holes. The storm had now become so violent that it was
fully an hour before the other boats were able to come to Campbell's
assistance.
Riggs' boat was driven ashore about one hundred yards below Campbell's
boat, and Rector to avoid a similar fate, had let go an anchor, and lay
about twenty yards above Campbell's boat. The rangers from both barges
kept up a brisk fire on the Indians.
This unequal contest waged for several hours, when the firing from
Campbell's boat becoming less frequent, led Lieutenant Rector to believe
that most of Campbell's men were either killed or wounded.
Riggs' boat was the best fortified, but his crew had been weakened. When
Campbell's boat was stranded on the rocks he sent a sergeant and ten men
to help him off, and Camp-bell did not return the men.
Rector's boat had among its crew many of the French from Cahokia who were
experienced sailors. The wind was still a raging tempest, and the fire of
the Indians was becoming more destructive to the boats. "At this time,"
Black Hawk says, "I prepared my bow and arrows to throw fire to the sail,
which was laying on the boat, and after two or three attempts succeeded in
setting the sail on fire." Campbell's boat was soon in flames. Lieu-tenant
Rector could not remain inactive and witness the horrible death of
Campbell and his companions. In the face of the tempest and the galling
fire of the foe, he cut his anchors, a number of his men got out into the
water, keeping the boat between them and the Indians, they pushed their
boat against the fire of the Indians up to Campbell's boat. The wounded in
Campbell's boat were first transferred to Rector's boat, and then those
who were unhurt; so loaded was Rector's boat that the water was running in
at the oar holes and almost all of the provisions were thrown overboard to
lighten the boat. The Indians all the time kept up a murderous fire. In
taking the men from Campbell's boat the Major was shot through the body.
Black Hawk in his autobiography states at this time : "We wounded the war
chief."
Rector's men still in the water, and keeping the boat between them and the
Indians, hauled their boat out into the stream, swimming alongside of the
boat until the channel was reached and the boat had been carried out of
gunshot, when they climbed into the boat. Rector's boat was crowded, but
the men took to their oars and rowed night and day until they reached St.
Louis.
The casualties were: killed on Campbell's boat, ten regulars, one woman
and one child; on Rector's boat, one ranger, and on Riggs' boat, three
rangers; a total of sixteen.
Wounded on Campbell's boat, ten regulars and one woman; on Rector's boat,
four rangers, and on Riggs' boat four rangers; also Major Campbell and Dr.
Stewart, the garrison surgeon, who was shot in the breast ; a total of
twenty-one, making the total casual-ties thirty-seven. All fought with the
courage of heroes. Rector and his men risked their lives to save their
comrades, and the battle at Campbell's Island has no equal for daring and
heroism during the War of 1812 in the west.
Lieutenant John Weaver, of the regulars, who was second in command on
Campbell's boat acted bravely; it was largely by his exertions that the
wounded were safely transferred to Rector's boat.
Almost all of the ammunition for the expedition and the supplies for Fort
Shelby, except a box of musket balls, was on Campbell's boat and captured
by Black Hawk. nothing being saved. The regulars fought with their shirts
off, and saved only their arms and fatigue overalls.
Early Settlements of Rock County
Source: Historic Rock Island County, pub. Kramer & Company, Rock Island, Illinois, 1908