In afternoon army crosses into Michigan Territory (now Wisconsin) at Turtle Village, where Beloit now stands. Camp is made on "the plain between Rock river & the creek."Johnston Journal, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL; John H. Wakefield, Wakefield's History of the Black Hawk War (Chicago: Caxton Club, 1908), 76-77.

Army encamps opposite mouth of Yahara River (sometimes called River of the Four Lakes).Johnston Journal, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Capt. Early's company marches in advance of army. They find main trail of Black Hawk's band near southern outlet of Lake Koshkonong. Camp is made one and one-half miles below the lake until July 6, 1832. Early's company is busy performing spy and scout duty.Johnston Journal, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL; John H. Wakefield, Wakefield's History of the Black Hawk War (Chicago: Caxton Club, 1908), 78-80.

Lincoln's mess is composed of his stepbrother John D. Johnston, G. B. Fanchier, George M. Harrison, privates, and First Corp. R. M. Wyatt.George M. Harrison to W. H. Herndon, no date, William H. Herndon Papers, Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.

Regulars and Henry's brigade march up east bank of Rock River under command of Gen. Brady. They camp four or five miles above mouth of White Water at an old Indian village.IHi—BHWC, Atkinson Letter Book, Johnston Journal; M. L. Clark to W. Clark, Photocopy.

Indians fire on camp, wounding soldier. Black Hawk is believed in camp in the fork of White Water and Rock. In search of ford, Gen. Atkinson advances up White Water over difficult and almost impassable route some 10 miles, and camps.IHi—BHWC, Johnston Journal, Atkinson to Adj. Gen. Roger Jones, 19 November 1832; Journal of Ninevah Shaw, Photocopy.

Indian guides advise Gen. Atkinson that White Water cannot be turned. Council of war is held, deciding to return to mouth of river, near present Fort Atkinson. After two-day chase through swamps and sink holes, enemy is as far away as ever. "If we had pushed on up the river," wrote Gov. Reynolds later, "by forced marches, for a day or two, the Indians would have been reached and the war ended." John Reynolds, Reynolds' History of Illinois. My Own Times: Embracing also the History of My Life (Chicago: Chicago Historical Society, 1879), 251. On reaching camp site of 6th, army halts. Atkinson Letter Book, Johnston Journal, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL; John H. Wakefield, Wakefield's History of the Black Hawk War (Chicago: Caxton Club, 1908), 83.

Gen. Atkinson writes Gen. Winfield Scott: "The country is so cut up with Prairie, wood and swamp, that it is extremely difficult to approach them. Indeed many parts of the country for miles is entirely unpassable, even on foot. We are engaged at this moment [July 9] in throwing a Bridge across this creek (White Water) with a view of getting up with the enemy, who is represented to be only five or six miles before us." Gen. Atkinson has 450 regulars, and about 2,100 mounted volunteers, with 100 Indian allies.Atkinson Letter Book, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Early's company is probably one of scouting parties sent out in morning. They report Indians still nearby, but later party returns with news that Sauk have advanced "up the country" about 12 miles, causing Atkinson to postpone pursuit.Atkinson Letter Book, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL; John H. Wakefield, Wakefield's History of the Black Hawk War (Chicago: Caxton Club, 1908), 83-84; Stevens, Black Hawk War, 210; Johnston Journal, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Lacking provisions, volunteer troops are dispersed. Brigades of Alexander and Henry are sent to Fort Winnebago, now Portage, Wis., for supplies. Posey's brigade is sent to southern Wisconsin mineral district to remain until further orders, and Capt. Early's company is mustered out. Lincoln writes Early's mustering-out roll. Discharge papers sent by Capt. Early July 26, 1832 to Lincoln and other members of his company state that company is honorably discharged "with the special thanks of Brig. Gen. H. Atkinson, Commander in Chief of the Army of the Illinois Frontier . . . at Headquarters on White Water of Rock River."Photocopy; Atkinson Letter Book, Atkinson Order Book, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Early's company begins march to Dixon's Ferry. Stevens (211) says that Early's men accompany Col. John Ewing's regiment on march, but that regiment left army before 10th.Return of Illinois Mounted Volunteers, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL; IHi—Eddy MSS, Affidavit of Tarlton Dunn, 2 August 1833; Sangamo Journal, 19 July 1832.

It was probably detachment under Adj. Isaac Parmenter that Early's company escorted back to Dixon's Ferry.Muster Rolls, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Night previous to starting home, Lincoln's horse and that of George M. Harrison are stolen.Harrison to W. H. Herndon, no date, William H. Herndon Papers, Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.

U.S. Infantry encamps near mouth of White Water.Johnston Journal, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Four days are probably passed by Capt. Early's company in traveling 200 miles to Peoria by way of Dixon's Ferry. Ferry is probably reached on night of 12th. Through generosity of friends, Lincoln and Harrison ride horseback part of way. George M. Harrison to W. H. Herndon, no date, William H. Herndon Papers, Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA; Ward H. Lamon, The Life of Abraham Lincoln: From His Birth to His Inauguration (Boston: Osgood, 1872), 118; Z. C. Palmer to Johnston, 13 July 1832, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Company breaks up at Peoria. Lincoln and Harrison purchase canoe and start down Illinois River. Stop is made at Pekin, where Lincoln makes oar and Harrison purchases provisions. Resuming journey, one pulls oar while other steers. River is very low and it is hard pull to "make half the speed of legs on land; in fact we let her float all night and in the morning always found objects still visible that were beside us the previous evening."

They are invited aboard log raft to share meal of "fish, corn bread, eggs, butter and coffee . . . the only warm meal . . . for several days."George M. Harrison to W. H. Herndon, n.d., William H. Herndon Papers, Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.

Selling canoe in Havana, Lincoln and Harrison start afoot to New Salem. "The long strides of Lincoln after slipping back in the burning sand six inches every step were just right for me," wrote Harrison. "And he was greatly diverted when he noticed me behind him stepping in his tracks to keep from slipping."George M. Harrison to W. H. Herndon, n.d., William H. Herndon Papers, Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.

[Sangamo Journal, at Lincoln's request, carries correction: "Some weeks ago [May 3] we gave a list of those candidates [eight] of this County (omitting, by accident the name of Capt. Lincoln, of New Salem,) who were on the frontier periling their lives in the service of their country."]

Lincoln certifies that Nathan Drake served in his company, having been enrolled April 29, 1832 and discharged June 8, 1832. "Given under my hand this 24th July 1832. A. Lincoln, Captain."ISLA—Photocopy.