Battle of Stillman's Run

On this day in 1832, the first battle of Black Hawk's War occurred. The battle was named for the panicked retreat by Major Isaiah Stillman and his detachment of 275 Illinois militia after being attacked ~50 Thâkîwaki (Sauk) Meskwakis (Fox), and Kickapoo warriors led by Black Hawk. Black Hawk was hoping to reclaim land that was taken over by the United States in the disputed 1804 Treaty of St. Louis. They had recrossed the Mississippi River from Iowa to resettle in Illinois, their traditional territory before this conflict occurred. State militias of Wisconsin and Illinois were mobilized to hunt down Black Hawk's band. The band consisted of Thâkîwaki (Sauk), Meskwaki, some Potawatomi, and some Kickapoo; in addition some members of the Ho-Chunk nation were sympathetic to Black Hawk. Interestingly, Abraham Lincoln was apparently present as part of the militia and no further details are known, likely because the American defeat was so embarrassing. On the day of the battle, Black Hawk's scouts were noticed by the militia, who chased them back toward the main force of Black Hawk's warriors and their skirmish line. Black Hawk and his force concealed themselves and ambushed the pursuers. Believing that thousands of Sauk and Meskwaki were attacking them, the militia panicked and fled back to the main force camped at Dixon's Ferry. 12 Americans were killed and possibly 2-3 Sauk were casualties.