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Captain Ardin Biggerstaff's Black Hawk War Diary
What follows is a transcription of Captain Ardin Biggerstaff’s 31 May to 25 August 1832 diary, which he kept during and detailing his service in the Black Hawk War as
a member of the Illinois militia.Hand written in cursive using the Captain’s personal writing style (including no punctuation and somewhat creative, at least to today’s style, capitalizations), some of
the diary’s wording is spelled phonetically, therefore, in several cases rather difficult to decipher with absolute accuracy and certainty. A photocopy of the original
diary came into my possession from Captain Biggerstaff’s great-great-great grandson, Mr. James Ford, who found the original bound copy in his mother’s house. I
am greatly honored and appreciative to Mr. Ford for choosing to send this copy to me. After reading the diary, I decided to take it upon myself to attempt to
transcribe the contents for prosperity. With this said, I retain no copyrights of the following pages. All copyrights fully remain with James Ford and/or his
designees. My sole contributions are the transcriptions, the rather meager rough map of the basic area covered in Captain Biggerstaff’s journey, the short biography of
Captain Biggerstaff, and the formatting of this copy.This copy is posted here on my web page with the permission of Mr. Ford. For this, again, I am grateful to him.
I can only hope that I translated the contents of Captain Biggerstaff’s diary correctly and did justice to his writings and memory. Any miss-readings or miss-
interpretations of these contents are solely my responsibility, for which I humbly apologize in advance.
Robert C. Daniels
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A memberrandom of the
Camppaign in the Year 1832 To The Mishigan Tarritory
Against The Black Hawk:
A diary of Captain Ardin Biggerstaff during the Black Hawk War
Transcribed by
Robert C. Daniels
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Copyright © 2018 by James Ford. All rights reserved.
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Introduction...................................................................iii
Ardin Biggerstaff's Short Biography.................................iv
Map...............................................................................v
Captain Ardin Biggerstaff's Diary......................................1
Works Cited..................................................................25
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What follows is a transcription of Captain Ardin Biggerstaff’s 31 May to 25 August 1832 diary, which he kept during and detailing his service in the Black Hawk War as a member of the Illinois militia. The original diary consists of eight 2-sided approximately 7 ½” x 6” pages (totaling 16 pages), loosely bound together by a small thread. The first 10 pages contain brief daily entries of his adventures. At the end of the diary, after several blank pages, one of the final slips of paper lists birthdays of six apparent family members. Hand written in cursive using the Captain’s personal writing style (including no punctuation and somewhat creative, at least to today’s style, capitalizations), some of the diary’s wording is spelled phonetically, therefore, in several cases rather difficult to decipher with absolute accuracy and certainty.
A photocopy of the original diary came into my possession from Captain Biggerstaff’s great-great-great grandson, Mr. James Ford, who found the original bound copy in his mother’s house. I am greatly honored and appreciative to Mr. Ford for choosing to send this copy to me. After reading the diary, I decided to take it upon myself to attempt to transcribe the contents for prosperity. With this said, I retain no copyrights of the following pages. All copyrights fully remain with James Ford and/or his designees. My sole contributions are the transcriptions, the rather meager rough map of the basic area covered in Captain Biggerstaff’s journey, the short biography of Captain Biggerstaff, and the formatting of this copy.
In transcribing these pages I endeavored to copy the words Captain Biggerstaff wrote word for word, including all his “miss-“ or “creative-spellings,”
capitalizations, and colloquialisms as they appear in the original copy. I did, however, take the liberty of adding correct spellings, at least the first time they appear, in brackets, as well as left spaces between each date’s entry. In addition, I included a few footnotes. All of these editions are simply meant to assist the reader in better understanding the Captain’s writings. A photocopy of each original page will proceed my transcription of that page. Please understand that these photocopies are photocopies of photocopies, so they are rather light and can be somewhat difficult to read on their own. Luckily, I was working off a PDF copy, which I was able to enlarge using my computer screen to better view and interpret. Nonetheless, some of the words were still rather difficult to decipher with full accuracy. Whenever this occurred, I made an educated guess taking the sentence or phrase of the word placement in consideration as well as like words or even cursive letters elsewhere in the diary. When this arose, I placed a [?] after the “transcribed” word.I can only hope that I translated the contents of Captain Biggerstaff’s diary correctly and did justice to his writings and memory. Any miss-readings or miss-interpretations of these contents are solely my responsibility, for which I humbly apologize in advance.
Robert C. Daniels
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Ardin Biggerstaff’s Short Biography
Ardin Biggerstaff was 25 years old during the Black Hawk War, having been born on 5 April 1807, possibly in Muchlenberg, Kentucky. During the war he commanded the 2nd Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment of the 1st Brigade of the Illinois Mounted Volunteers from 16 June to 13 August 1832. The 2nd Company originated around McLeansboro, Illinois, which, as much as can be ascertained, is also where Biggerstaff lived. According to his will, Captain
Biggerstaff had farm land along with several farm animals when he died just before his 33rd birthday on 3 March 1840 in McLeansboro, Illinois. So, it can be
“assumed” that, at least after the war, he was a farmer. He is buried in Concord Cemetery in McLeansboro.Soon after the Captain’s return home from the war, in 1833 he married Eliza Jane Lane Prince – Prince is the last name of Eliza’s second husband. Ardin and Eliza would have four children: Lewis, b. 1834; Mary Elizabeth (Mitchell), b. 1837; Lucy (Pierce), b. 1839; and Milo, b. unknown. Interestingly, Eliza is the daughter of Lieutenant Lewis Lane, the 1st Lieutenant of Captain Biggerstaff’s volunteer company during the war. Lewis Lane was 13 years older than Biggerstaff and reportedly fought in the War of 1812.[2]
One would ask why or how a young, 25 year-old farmer could become a captain over older volunteers, such as Lane. This can be easily be explained by the custom of the times of state militias throughout the entire country electing their own officers (below the rank of colonel), sergeants, and corporals, each volunteer having a vote for each position. Who they individually voted for would depend upon the personal charisma of each candidate for the respective position. In addition, if one, once elected, proved to be too harsh on their charges or loss favor in other ways in the eyes of their men, they could just as easily and quickly be voted out. Apparently, Ardin Biggerstaff had whatever his company wanted in their chosen company commander.
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[1] James Ford, “Re: 1832 Black Hawk War diary,” email, 2018; “Will of Arden Biggerstaff,” “The Yesterdays of Hamilton County, Illinois,” accessed, 10 July 2018, http://www.carolyar.com/Illinois/
Wills/BiggerstaffArden.htm; Find a Grave, accessed, 7 July 2018, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27230738/ardin-biggerstaff; Ancestry.Com, accessed, 7 July 2018, https://search.ancestry.com/
cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&new=1&MSAV=1&msT=1&gss=angs-g&gsfn=Arden&gsln=Biggerstaff&msbdy=1858&msbpn__ftp=Muhlenberg%2c+Kentucky%2c+USA&msddy=1840&msdpn__ftp=
Hamilton%2c+Illinois%2c+USA&cpxt=0&catBucket=p&uidh=000&cp=0&gl=ROOT_CATEGORY&gst=&MSV=1; Isaac H. Elliott, Illinois Soldiers in the Black Hawk War 1831-32 and in the
Mexican War 1846-48, (Springfield, Il: Journal Company, Printers and Binders, 1902), accessed, 7 July 2018, https://books.google.com/books?id=p-hOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA16&lpg=PA16&dq=Ardin+Biggerstaff&source=bl&ots=odZRctfS6A&sig=WeC_W901dKt3Uqw1uFJk4cQspp4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=
0ahUKEwiGmMatno7cAhXi0FQKHcgQDMkQ6AEIOjAE#v=onepage&q=Ardin%20Biggerstaff&f=false, 16-17.[2] Ibid.
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Map
Rough route of Captain Biggerstaff’s journey
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Captain Ardin Biggerstaff’s Diary
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A memberrandom
of the
Camppaign
in the Year 1832
To
The Mishigan
Tarritory
Against
The Black Hawk
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May the 31st 1832
Marched from McLainsborough [McLeansboro, Illinois] to Judge atdkinson [3] & campt [camped] ___________________
June the 1st 1832
1st) Marcht [marched] through Mount Vernom & campt in 6 miles of
SalemVandalia Faett [Fayette] County3rd [?] Marcht past
throughVandalia a bout 10 oclock & campt one mile the other side4th Marcht through Hillsborough [Hillsboro] Moungumery [Montgomery] County
5th Marcht to the magoupin point [Macoupin River(?)] & campt
6th Marcht in 6 miles of Springfield Sangamon County & campt
7th Marcht through Springfield and campt on the Bank of Sangamon River
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[3] No village or town relating to “Judge atdkinson” can be located. Could this possibly be a reference to a farm owned by a Judge Atkinson?
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8th Marcht a crofs [across][4] Sagamon & sault river [Salt Creek] & Campt on the Bank of Sugar Creek
9th Marcht a crofs Mcanow river [Mackinaw River] in Taswell [Tazewell] County & Campt
10 Marcht & campt in 8 miles from Crow Creek in Fulton County
11 Marcht & Campt in 5 miles of Henapen [Hennepin]
12th Marcht to Henapen and took Breakfast on the Bank of Illinois river about 180 miles from the Mouth Continued our marcht within one Mile of Fort Wilburn [Wilbourn] & Campt
13th Continued at Campt
14th Took up line of Marcht swimed our horses a crofs the Ilinois river at Fort Wilburn Continued the Marcht about one Mile & a half & Campt
15th Lay at Camp
16th Continued at Camp & Elected our Field officers to wit Dr. Posey Brigadier General Samual Leach Col Joseph Nutten [?] Major
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[4] The “fs” in the term “a crofs” was especially challenging in the deciphering process. It was easily understood from the surrounding words that the phrase meant across or crossed, but the “f” simply made little sense, and in some instances the “s” was left off. Yet it became apparent in such other words as loss (lofs) and pressed (prefsed) that his “fs” meant “ss”.
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17th Continued at Camp
18th Mustered in o Service & mooved near Fort Wilburn Sentinels placed out the first time
19th Our spie Battalion Marcht the Balance of our Brigade lay at Camp
20th Frederick Mayberry Discharged March about 8 Miles & Campt on Little vermillion [River]
21st Marcht
& Campt on Baro Creekand Camp on Baro creek [Bureau Creek]22nd Marcht a crofs the winebago creek & Big Elk Horn & Campt in a large prairie with out wood to Burn
23rd Marcht a crofs Rock river at fort Dixon and Campt one Mile of the river
24th Lay at Campt
25th Marcht to Buffellow grove [Buffalo Grove] fort left our Bagage prefsed [pressed] forward on a force March to Carlgue grove [Kellogg’s Grove] where Major J. Demint [Dement] with
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his spie Battalion was this day defeated by the Indians five of his men killed dead on the ground & two wounded
Indian Lofs [loss] three left on the ground supposed several more killed that was taken off we arrived at Carlgues or Battle ground a bout 2 hours by Sun
[before sundown(?)] The Indians having fled we pitch our camps26th We made Serch after the Indians found none Returned near the Battle ground & Campt
27th Remain at Camp wating for Capt Hall & a detacht company of our Brigade that was sent Back to the Buffellow grove after our Bagage which return this
day at night28th Marcht & campt near the Michigan Territory line
29th Marcht a crofs Picalallica [Pecatonica] river & Campt at fort Hamilton having for the first time Since we started hard rains and thunder
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30th Lay at Campt
July the first Lay at Campt
2nd Marcht a crofs the east fork of Picatallica swimed our horses and campt on the Bank
3rd Marcht and Swimed tow [two(?)] creeks & Campt in 4 Miles of Sugar Creek at Dewees Diggins
4th Marcht a crofs Sugar river & Campt near the fore [four] lakes [5]
5th Marcht and Campt on the mud lake
6th Marcht on a force Marcht a crofs Rock river thense up s.d [said(?)] river on which Marcht Several horses give out & was left
Campt on mouth of White river where we hand our more wounded by the Indians Capt Dun [Dunn] Wounded by one of our Sentinals
7th Marcht about 12 Miles up white river and campt where all three Brigades lay together
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[5] Modern-day Madison, Wisconsin, area.
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8th Marcht Back and Campt at the Same place at Mouth of white river
9th Remain at Campt
10th Marcht to wards fort Hamilton about 12 Miles & Campt
11th Marcht a crofs catfish at the Mouth and a crofs sugar Creek & camp at Dewees diggings
12th Marcht to fort Hamilton & Campt
13th Remain at Campt
14th Remain at Campt
15th Remain
16th Remain
17th Marcht 1 Mile & Campt
18th My Company Marcht in serch of Indians that had the night before attacked Wm Baker & run him some distance & Campt at fort defiance
19th Marcht east direction in serch of Indians finding none return to the fort & Campt
20th Marcht Back to fort Hamilton & Campt
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21st Continued at Campt
22nd Marcht to Dodgeville
within& Campt23rd Marcht about 8 Miles east of Dodgeville & Campt
24th Marcht to Hellenia [Helena] & Campt
25th Remain at Campt
26th Remain a detacht part of our Brigade the Balance a crofs the wisconsin river in serch of the Indians
27th Remain
28th Remain
29th I having Command of the troops left & in pursuance to orders Marcht on my way to fort Hamilton 18 Miles & Campt at Dodgeville
30th Marcht 25 Miles to fort Hamilton & Campt
31st Remain
August the
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August the first Remain
2nd Remain
3rd Marcht one Mile towards Hamilton & Campt
4th Remained at Campt
5th Remain
6th Remain
7th Remain
8th Remain
9th The foot men [6] Marcht with Major Thellan to Galenia [Galena, Illinois] on their way home The Mounted men left under my Command Marcht one Mile
on there way to fort Dixon & Campt Where Capt Hall came up with us with the news that on the 2nd day of this mot [month(?)] they had Defeated the Indians the
lofs of our men was 6 killed dead on the ground & 20 wounded the lofs of the Indians were between 2 & 4 hundred the Exeact number could not be ascertained on
a c count of them being killed in the river
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[6] Most likely unmounted infantry. Although most of the Illinois militia, which Captain Biggerstaff was a member of, were mounted, some were not and were used to man various forts.
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10 Marcht 26 Miles & Campt at Crlague [Kellogg’s Grove (?)]
11th Marcht 18 Miles & Campt at the Burnt house
12th Marcht 20 miles to fort Dixon & Campt
13th Mustered out of Services my Company Started for home all But Dr. Riley & Erg [?] Milton [?] & my Self we remain on account of Dr. Rileys health not
being sufficient to ride a horse Back we procured a carriage14th Remain
15th Crofs Rock river & Campt
16th Moove on our Journey home with much Joy Mr. Riley health being so that he could ride in the Carriage we travel 32 Miles to Buffellow Creek
17th Travel 31 Miles in [?]eare [Bureau (?)] County
18th Crofs the Illinois river at fort Clark 28 Miles to Taswell Co
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19th Thence a crofs the Mcanaw [Mackinaw] river 26 Miles
20th Thence a crofs Sugar Creek & Sault River & sangamon River in sangamon County 31 Miles
21st Thence to the Magoupin point [Macoupin River(?)] 33 Ms [miles]
22nd Thence through Hills Borough [Hillsboro] 29 Ms
23rd Thence through Vandalia 36 Ms
24th Thence to Maxcells [?] 33 Ms
25th Thence to McLainsborough [McLeansboro] 32 Ms
February A Biggerstaff Capt
17 [?]
Par husband i Seat mi Self to let you know that i am Well atprSent [at present] trust and hope [?] these few lines ma found you Well [7]
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[7] This last paragraph was particularly difficult to decipher. I can only hope I translated it correctly, or at least within the gist of what Captain Biggerstaff meant.
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Samuel Biggerstaff was born 17th day of December 1821
Joshua Biggerstaff was born 18th day of October 1823
Jane Biggerstaff was 1st day of November 1825
Ceiley Biggerstaff was born 13th day of November 1827
Wm H Biggerstaff was born 30th day of January 1830
James A Biggerstaff was born 30th day of October 1832
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Works Cited
Ancestry.Com. Accessed, 7 July 2018, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-
bin/sse.dll?rank=1&new=1&MSAV=1&msT=1&gss=angs-g&gsfn=Arden&gsln=Biggerstaff&msbdy=1858&msbpn__ftp=Muhlenberg%2c+Kentucky%2c+
USA&msddy=1840&msdpn__ftp=Hamilton%2c+Illinois%2c+USA&cpxt=0&catBucket=p&uidh=000&cp=0&gl=ROOT_CATEGORY&gst=&MSV=1.Biggerstaff, Arden. “A memberrandom of the Camppaign in the Year 1832 To The Mishigan Tarritory Against The Black Hawk.” 1832.
Elliott, Isaac H. Illinois Soldiers in the Black Hawk War 1831-32 and in the Mexican War 1846-48. Springfield, Il: Journal Company, Printers and Binders,
1902. Accessed, 7 July 2018, https://books.google.com/booksid=phOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA16&lpg=PA16&dq=Ardin+Biggerstaff&source=bl&ots= odZRctfS6A&sig=WeC_W901dKt3Uqw1uFJk4cQspp4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiGmMatno7cAhXi0FQKHcgQDMkQ6AEIOjAE#v=onepage&q=Ardin%20Biggerstaff&f=false.
Find a Grave. Accessed, 7 July 2018, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27230738/ardin-biggerstaff.
Ford, James. “Re: 1832 Black Hawk War diary,” email, 2018.
“Will of Arden Biggerstaff.” “The Yesterdays of Hamilton County, Illinois.” Accessed, 10 July 2018, http://www.carolyar.com/Illinois/Wills/BiggerstaffArden.htm.
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