the purpose of preventing a war between the Menomenies and the Foxes, and demanding the surrender of those Indians who had committed the murders at Fort Crawford.  After Black Hawk and his party had proceeded some distance up Rock river, he was overtaken by an express from General Atkinson, with an order for him to return and recross the Mississippi, which he refused to obey, on the ground that the General had no right to make such an order; the Indians being at peace and on their way to the prophet’s village, at his request, to make corn.  Before they had reached this point, they were overtaken by a second express from General Atkinson, with a threat, that if they did not return, peaceably, he would pursue and force them back.  The Indians replied that they were determined not to be driven back, and equally so not to make the first attack on the whites.  Black Hawk now ascertained that the Winnebagoes, although willing that he should raise a crop of corn with them, would not join in any hostile action against the United States.  The Pottowatomies manifested the same determination, and both denied having given the prophet any assurances of co-operation.  Black Hawk immediately came to the conclusion, that if pursued by General Atkinson, he would peaceably return with his party, and recross the Mississippi.  He was encamped at Kish-wa-cokee, and was preparing to compliment some Pottowatomie chiefs, then on a visit to him, by a dog-feast.

In the mean time the Illinois militia, ordered out by Governor Reynolds, upon his hearing of this second “invasion,” of the state, had formed a junction with the regular troops under General Atkinson at Rock island, the latter assuming the command of the whole.  From this point, the militia, being generally mounted, proceeded by land to Dixon’s ferry on Rock river, about half way between the mouth of that stream and the encampment of Black Hawk.  General Atkinson with three hundred regulars and three hundred militia ascended Rock river in boats to the same point.  Major Stillman, having under his command a body of two hundred and seventy-five mounted volunteers, obtained leave of General Whitesides, then in command of the Illinois militia, at Dixon’s ferry, to go out on a scouting expedition.  He proceeded up Rock river about thirty miles, to Sycamore Creek, which empties into that river on the east side.  This movement brought him within a few miles of the camp of Black Hawk and a part of his braves, at the time when the old chief was engaged in getting up a dog-feast in honour of his Pottowatomie visitors.

[Illustration:  BATTLE OF SYCAMORE CREEK.]