1813.

general Howard's expedition.

909

"At the village of L'abre Croche, an immense quantity of corn is raised; from thence to Milwaukie, on Lake Michigan, there are several villages where corn is grown extensively. These supplies, added to the fine fish which abound in the lakes and rivers, will furnish the enemy's garrison with provisions in abundance.

"Our little garrison on the Mississippi, half way up to the Prairie, (now Bellevue, Iowa,) has taught the Indians a few lessons on prudence. With about thirty effective men, those brave and meritorious soldiers, Lieutenant Hamilton and Vasquez, in a wretched pen, improperly called a fort, beat off five hundred savages of the North-West."

The following items are quoted from the Hon. John Reynolds:

"During the campaign in the summer and autumn of 1813, all the companies of rangers from Illinois and Missouri were under the command of General Howard. Large parties of hostile Indians were known to have collected about Peoria, and scouting parties traversed the district between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, then an entire wilderness.

" It was from these marauding parties that the frontier settlements of Illinois and Missouri were harassed. It became an object of no small importance, to penetrate the country over which they ranged, and establish a fort at Peoria, and then drive them to the northern wilderness.

"The rendezvous for the Illinois regiment was 'Camp Russel,' two miles north of Edwardsville. Thence they removed a short march, and encamped on the Mississippi, near the mouth of Piasa, opposite Portage des Sioux. Here they remained three weeks, waiting the arrival of the Missouri troops, who crossed the river from Fort Mason. The baggage and men of this party were transported iu canoes, and the horses made to swim. The whole force from the two territories, when collected, made up of the rangers, volunteers, and militia, amounted to about fourteen hundred men.

"After the middle of September, they commenced the march, and swam their horses over the Illinois river, about two miles above the mouth. On the high ground in Calhoun county, they had a skirmish with a party of Indians.

" The army marched for a number of days along the Mississippi bottom. On or near the site of Quincy, was a large Sac village, and an encampment that must have contained several hundred warriors.   It appeared to have been deserted but a short period.

" The army continued its march near the Mississippi, some distance above the Lower Rapids, and then struck across the prairies