After first volunteer force was mustered out at Ottawa, Gov. Reynolds, May 28, 1832, issued call for small ranger force and 1,000 volunteers, latter to rendezvous at Ottawa June 12, 1832 to augment 2,000 men governor called for on May 15, 1832.Reynolds Letter Book, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Letter of Capt. Bowling Green to Gov. Reynolds, from Lincoln's home village of New Salem, June 4, 1832, portrays attitude of Illinois frontier: "I have Raiseed A Malitia Company to Defend the frontiers if Necessary, we shall Wait your order if you think proper we should Like to Ranege on the frontiers at any of the points it is Dangerous the Boys has all got home well Except Hohimer, he is yet Like to Die. They appeared to Complain of the office[r]s when they first Come, but all appear satisfied, and willing to go back if it is thought proper, the people is alarmed in Fulton County and sent to me to Come with men to their assistanc no more, war is the order of the Day P.S. we are not anxious if the good of the Country Does not Require"Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Gen. Atkinson orders Capt. Iles' company to be ready to march "on an excursion of several days." Day is spent running bullets and getting flintlocks in order. Gen. Atkinson expresses satisfaction "at the prompt patriotic & soldierly conduct of the Illinois Corps of Volunteers under Col. Fry," which includes Capt. Iles' company. He urges them to re-enlist at end of their 20 days' service, offering them preference over "new levies," and inviting them "in terms of confidence & esteem to share with him in the trials, dangers, & he hopes honors of anticipated conquest."Elijah Iles, Sketches of Early Life and Times in Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois (Springfield, IL: Springfield Printing Co., 1883), 46; Atkinson Order Book, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Capt. Iles' company (reduced to about 50 men by assignment of detachment to help transport supplies from Illinois Rapids to Ottawa) leaves Ottawa on march to Dixon's Ferry with orders to report to Col. Zachary Taylor. "We wanted," wrote Capt. Iles, "to be as little encumbered as possible, and took nothing that could be dispensed with, other than blankets, tin cups, coffee pots, canteens, a wallet of bread, and some fat side meat, which we ate raw or broiled." Camp is made southeast of present town of Sublette in Lee County.Elijah Iles, Sketches of Early Life and Times in Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois (Springfield, IL: Springfield Printing Co., 1883), 46-48; Stevens, Black Hawk War, 286.

Capt. Iles' company reaches Dixon's Ferry in afternoon, and camps at spring half mile above ferry on left bank of river. Iles and Lt. Col. James D. Henry, who has come along for excitement, cross river and report to Col. Taylor. A few days before, when Taylor ordered company of volunteers to march to Galena, the men refused. Taylor wrote: "The more I see of the militia the less confidence I have of their effecting any thing of importance."Elijah Iles, Sketches of Early Life and Times in Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois (Springfield, IL: Springfield Printing Co., 1883), 46-48; Taylor to Atkinson, 2 June 1832, 9 June 1832, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Capt. Iles is ordered to Galena. He is to examine country for Indians and collect information. At sundown company meets Col. Henry Dodge of Michigan Territory (now Wisconsin) with about 100 mounted men who are en route to Atkinson's headquarters. Camp is made 20 miles from Dixon's Ferry.Elijah Iles, Sketches of Early Life and Times in Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois (Springfield, IL: Springfield Printing Co., 1883), 46-48; Stevens, Black Hawk War, 286; Taylor to Atkinson, 9 June 1832, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

March to Galena continues. Camp is made 100 yards from Apple River fort. There, the night before, Indians stole 12 horses, and today they shot at and chased two men into fort. Company sleeps with guns in their arms. Lt. Col. Henry drills men during night, forming them into two lines, front ready to fire and fall back to reload while other line steps forward.James M. Strode to Atkinson, 10 June 1832, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL; Elijah Iles, Sketches of Early Life and Times in Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois (Springfield, IL: Springfield Printing Co., 1883), 48-49.

When company arrives in Galena, they find townspeople demoralized. They report later to Col. Taylor that citizens are so terrified they would take no measures to prevent Indians recrossing Mississippi "were they to pass in sight of their doors."Taylor to Atkinson, 13 June 1832, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL; Elijah Iles, Sketches of Early Life and Times in Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois (Springfield, IL: Springfield Printing Co., 1883), 49-50; Strode to Atkinson, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

With letters and dispatches from Col. James M. Strode, Capt. Iles begins return march to Dixon's Ferry. Camp is made on same spot, near Apple River fort, used on 9th.Elijah Iles, Sketches of Early Life and Times in Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois (Springfield, IL: Springfield Printing Co., 1883), 49-50; Stevens, Black Hawk War, 286.

March continues. Camp is made on site used on 8th.Stevens, Black Hawk War, 286; Elijah Iles, Sketches of Early Life and Times in Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois (Springfield, IL: Springfield Printing Co., 1883), 49-50.

Capt. Iles brings his company into Dixon's Ferry. At Buffalo Grove, 12 miles from ferry, they pass camp of 170 Sioux, Menominee, and Winnebago Indians, under command of Col. William S. Hamilton. Capt. Iles reports signs of small parties of hostile Indians who have committed minor depredations, but who seem more anxious to get horses than scalps.Elijah Iles, Sketches of Early Life and Times in Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois (Springfield, IL: Springfield Printing Co., 1883), 49-50; Taylor to Atkinson, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Capt. Iles, charged with delivery of Col. Taylor's letter of June 13, 1832 to Gen. Atkinson, probably leaves Dixon's Ferry this morning for Illinois River. On 12th Gen. Atkinson moved his headquarters from Ottawa to Fort Wilbourn, recently erected near Crosiar's ferry on south side of Illinois River at foot of rapids. Fort is one and one-half miles below Little Vermilion River at head of steamboat navigation.IHi—BHWC, Taylor to Atkinson, 13 June 1832; Johnston Journal, 12 June 1832; Sangamo Journal, 28 June 1832; John M. Peck, A Gazetteer of Illinois (Jacksonville, IL: Goudy, 1834), 219.

Capt. Iles' company is mustered out by Lt. Robert Anderson. Lincoln re-enlists for 30 days as private in independent spy company under Capt. Jacob M. Early, Springfield preacher and physician who was private in companies of Lincoln and Iles.Elliott, Services of Illinois Soldiers, 174-76.

Spy company is given privileges-camping within lines, freedom from camp duties, and drawing rations as often and as much as they please.George M. Harrison to W. H. Herndon, no date, William H. Herndon Papers, Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.

Gen. Atkinson issues order against vending ardent spirits to Illinois volunteers.Atkinson Order Book, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Capt. Early's company is mustered into service.Muster Roll, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Capt. Early is ordered to proceed with his company of spies to Dixon's Ferry and report to Gen. Hugh Brady. Early's company remains at Dixon's Ferry until June 25, 1832.Atkinson Letter Book, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Battle is fought June 25, 1832 at Kellogg's Grove, about 38 miles northwest of Dixon's Ferry, between small force under Maj. John Dement and party of Sauk commanded by Black Hawk. Five white men are killed. Maj. Dement calls for assistance. At 4 P.M. Capt. Early's company is dispatched to grove.IHi—BHWC, Gen. Alexander Posey to Atkinson, 26 June 1832; Early to Atkinson, 26 June 1832; Broadside, 10 July 1834.

Capt. Early writes Gen. Atkinson: "I arrived here by day brake this morning [26th] & found Gen. Posey's men encamped here The circumstances connected with the attack on Maj. Dement's Bat[talion].are as well as I can gather substantially these Yesterday morning the Maj. ordered out a small party for the purpose of examining a trail leading to the Mississippi The detachment had not proceeded more than half a mile when they discovered a few Indians at a small distance from them the men rushed on them in a disorderly manner till they came to the main body of Indians where they were secreted in a thicket on seeing the Indians the men wheeled & fled precipitately & all the efforts of Maj. Dement to rally them were unavailing (for at the time the men commenced retreating before the Indians Maj. Dement came up with a reinforcement from the garrison The Maj. stated to me that his force on the field was equal in numbers to that of the enemy After the men retreated to the fort the Indians surrounded the house & commenced killing the Horses, they kept up a constant fire on the House & Horses for 2 or 3 hours. Major Dement Lost 5 killed & several wounded but none mortally when the Indians left the ground they retreated toward their encampment on the 4 lakes

"When Gen Posey came up about an hour by sun he sent a regiment in the direction in which the Indians had retired. When they had proceeded about ½ mile the Indians showed themselves from a thick wood which skirted the praeria . . . they [regiment] retired to their camps without engaging the enemy. The trail spoken of above has not yet been examined. Gen Posey says he will send a detachment with me to examine it. As soon as I see it you shall have the best information in my power to give you."Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Capt. Early's company starts back to Dixon's Ferry from Kellogg's Grove.Lt. Col. Wm. Davenport to Atkinson, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Brig. Gen. James D. Henry's brigade of volunteers, and regulars under Col. Zachary Taylor, accompanied by Gen. Atkinson and Gov. Reynolds, leave Dixon's Ferry at noon and take up line of march along left bank of Rock River. Each horseman packs 15 days' provisions. Twelve miles out, army camps.Stevens, Black Hawk War, 203-4; Johnston Journal, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Stillman's battlefield is reached in afternoon and army makes camp. Early's company reaches Dixon's Ferry some time before 6 A.M., and probably accompanies Col. Enoch C. March and John Marsh to Atkinson's camp. IHi—BHWC, Johnston Journal; Atkinson Letter Book, Lt. Reuben Holmes to Atkinson, Atkinson to Wm. S. Hamilton.

Army crosses Kishwaukee River and four miles above touches Rock River "which is very narrow at this place & continues to decrease in width rapidly to its source."LNT—Johnston Journal.