30 THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY: 
Ieee tr ta tpg eee tee SE Ey aa ee es 
sent with men and supplies to reinforce the feeble garrison. 
He had proceeded as far as Rock Island, where he had an 
interview with Black Hawk, who then claimed to be neu- 
tral, though unquestionably secretly espousing the cause of 
the British. Just after this interview, the news of the 
capture of Prairie du Chien was received by Black Hawk 
from an Indian runner, and deeming this a favorable op- 
portunity to throw off his assumed neutrality, a party under 
the leadership of this celebrated chieftain started in pursuit 
of Campbell’s party. They were overtaken while carelessly 
preparing for a noon repast, in the narrow channel separat- 
ing Campbell’s Island from the Illinois shore, one boat 
being fastened to the main bank, while another was an- 
chored a short distance out in the stream, The attack was 
made by rapid firiny from a concealed ambuscade, with a 
view to cut off and destroy the party in the shore boat. By 
great risk and exposure the boat in the current was turned 
toward the shore, and the threatened land party transferred 
to it, when the shore boat was abandoned, and left to be 
plundered and burned by these treacherous savages. Lieut. 
Campbell, himself severely wounded in the encounter, as 
well as several of his men, finally made good their retreat, 
and returned to St. Louis to report the ill result of their ex- 
pedition. This unfortunate commander has inadvertently 
secured permanent recognition of his disaster, by havin 
his name affixed to what is stil] known as “ Campbell’s 
Island.” 
_ Doubtless from the representations made by Lt. Camp- 
bell on his return to St. Louis, as well as from other evi- 
dences of hostility on the part of the Indians on Roek 
a view to punish them, and if possible bring them to terms. 
mere aa 
