commander, who had shown not only good military skill in coming to the
rescue of his party, but in withdrawing his little party to the Fort.
After Dement's engagement General Posey's brigade started for Fort
Hamilton and remained there a short time. News of Dement's engagement
and march of Posey's brigade having been received at Dixon's Ferry,
where the two other brigades were stationed, Gen. Alexander, with the
2d brigade was ordered to cross Rock river and march to Plum river to
intercept the Indians, as it was deemed probable that they would make
for that point to cross the Mississippi. Gen. Atkinson, with regulars,
and Gen. Fry with his brigade, remained at Dixon waiting for news of
the route taken by the Indians. Next day Capt. Walker and three
Pottowottamie Indians came into Dixon and reported seventy-five
Pottowottamies ready to join the army now encamped at Sycamore creek,
and they were afraid that Black Hawk and his army was not far off. For
their protection, and to await the coming of the balance of the second
brigade, Col. Fry, of Henry's brigade, was sent forward immediately. The
next morning Gen. Henry's brigade moved forward with Gen. Atkinson
at the head, intending to march up Rock river, to the Four Lakes, and
camped at Stillwell's battle-ground the first night and joined Col. Fry
and his Pottowottamie Indians on the 29th, and continued their march. On
the 30th, when going into camp, they saw signs of Sac Indians, but the
sentinels were undisturbed during the night. The next day they saw one
Indian, but he was on the other side of Plum river. On the 2d of July,
Major Ewing being in front, spied a fresh trail, and soon after came
upon the fresh trail of Black Hawk's entire force, at a point near
Keeshkanawy Lake. Scouts from the battalion came up to Black Hawk's
encampment, from which they had apparently taken their departure a few
days before. Here they found five white men's scalps which had been left
hung up to dry. This battalion continued to march around the lake in
detachments, one of which found where there had been another encampment,
but on returning to camp and comparing notes they began to despair of
finding the main body of Black Hawk's army in that region. On the 5th
of July, Gen. Atkinson with his army took a rest. During the day some
scouts brought in an old Indian nearly blind and half famished with
hunger, whom the Indians had left in their flight. After eating, Gen.
Atkinson questioned hi