After march of 25 miles, camp is made on Crooked Creek, six miles northeast of Macomb.Elliott, Services of Illinois Soldiers, xvii; Diary of O. H. Browning, in Stevens, Black Hawk War, 117-18.

March of 20 miles is made. Volunteers camp on large prairie, two miles from timber or water, 18 miles south of Yellow Banks. Much dissatisfaction and murmuring is heard from troops about cold and dampness of ground.Diary of O. H. Browning, in Stevens, Black Hawk War, 117-18.

Gen. Atkinson and U.S. troops leave Fort Armstrong at 9:30 A.M. aboard Java, arriving at old Sauk village at 11 A.M. U.S. troops join volunteers at Rapids of Rock River, but steamboat is unable to pass rapids.Illinois Advocate, 15 May 1832; IHi—BHWC, Johnston Journal; Journal of Felix St. Vrain, Photocopy.

Survivors of Stillman's brush with Indians arrive at Dixon's Ferry in early morning with news of "terrible slaughter." Mad scramble of returning soldiers disheartens those encamped at Dixon's Ferry. Before daybreak, governor issues call for 2,000 volunteers to rendezvous at Hennepin June 10, 1832.Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

At 7 A.M. Whiteside's army, including Capt. Lincoln's company, starts for site of Stillman's engagement. They arrive before sunset and find bodies scalped and mangled.Whiteside to Atkinson, 18 May 1832, 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), 52; IHi—William Orr to John York Sawyer, 1 July 1832.

Dead soldiers are buried. Before return march to Dixon's Ferry begins, Gen. Whiteside draws up army in battle line, "doubtless by way of challenge to Black Hawk." Hasty march is made by hungry army back to ferry. Gen. Atkinson has not arrived. Volunteers are eager to go home, and only by earnest appeal of Gov. Reynolds are officers able to hold men. Gen. Atkinson is encamped six miles below Dixon's Ferry.IHi—BHWC, Johnston Journal; Whiteside to Atkinson, 18 May 1832; William Orr to John York Sawyer, 1 July 1832; John Reynolds, Reynolds' History of Illinois. My Own Times: Embracing also the History of My Life (Chicago: Chicago Historical Society, 1879), 236-37.

Army starts up Rock River, regulars taking cannon and supplies by keelboat. Camp is made 12 to 14 miles from Dixon's Ferry.Stevens, Black Hawk War, 146-47; Elliott, Services of Illinois Soldiers, xvii; IHi—BHWC, Atkinson Order Book, Johnston Journal.

Army meets William S. Hamilton at noon about six miles below Kishwaukee River. He reports that Indians had passed up that river. Regulars encamp above mouth of Old Man's Creek, and volunteers below. This is third camp above Dixon. Day's march is 16 miles. On march up Rock, volunteers apparently follow trail which is sometimes distant from river, but they encamp on river each night with regulars, who are in charge of keelboats.Johnston Journal, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL; Elliott, Services of Illinois Soldiers, xvii.

Gen. Atkinson, with regulars, returns to Dixon's Ferry, general headquarters and base of operations. Col. Zachary Taylor is ordered to accompany volunteers as inspector general, and to "superintend their movements, order of encampment, of battle, etc." Capt. W. S. Harney is sent along as assistant inspector. Gen. Whiteside with 1,400 men marches 10 miles northeast to Kishwaukee River.Atkinson Letter Book, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL; Stevens, Black Hawk War, 161.

Army marches 12 miles, following Indian trail to small Potawatomi village between the Kishwaukee and its south branch (both streams are sometimes called Sycamore Creek).Elliott, Services of Illinois Soldiers, xvii; Zachary Taylor to Atkinson, 26 May 1832, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

It is probably on this day that two men who have been out in search of their horses return to camp with the report that body of Indians going north toward Rock River has crossed army's trail. Gov. Reynolds calls council of brigade officers, who decide against pursuing Indians.Zachary Taylor to Atkinson, 26 May 1832, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL; John Reynolds, Reynolds' History of Illinois. My Own Times: Embracing also the History of My Life (Chicago: Chicago Historical Society, 1879), 237-39; Whiteside to Atkinson, 27 May 1832, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL; William Orr to John York Sawyer, 1 July 1832.

Army moves 25 miles and encamps near Capa's village on South Branch, west of present Sycamore, Ill.Elliott, Services of Illinois Soldiers, xvii; R. B. Way, ed., The Rock River Valley, 2 vols. (n.p., 1926), 1:118.

Lincoln's company marches 20 miles and encamps six miles from Paw Paw Grove.Elliott, Services of Illinois Soldiers, xvii.

Some volunteers reach Fox River, 20 miles north of Ottawa; day is spent searching men for plunder taken from Indian villages.Stevens, Black Hawk War, 162; Taylor to Atkinson, 26 May 1832, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Gen. Whiteside's army arrives at Ottawa and mustering out begins. Regiment to which Lincoln's company is attached marches 20 miles and encamps two miles above mouth of Fox River.Elliott, Services of Illinois Soldiers, xvii; Taylor to Atkinson, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

At suggestion of Col. Taylor, Gov. Reynolds calls for re-enlistment of five or six companies to serve until new levies arrive. Taylor to Atkinson, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL; Reynolds to Atkinson, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Capt. Lincoln's company is mustered out of U.S. service by Nathaniel Buckmaster, Brigade major.John G. Nicolay and John Hay, Abraham Lincoln: A History, 10 vols. (New York: Century, 1890), 1:96.

Lincoln writes muster roll of his company, certifying that remarks on activities of several members are accurate and just.ISLA—Photocopy.

He then enrolls in company of Capt. Elijah Iles for service in 20-day regiment. Muster Rolls, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

[After all-day ride from Dixon's Ferry, Gen. Atkinson arrives in Ottawa.Atkinson's Letter Book, Black Hawk War Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.]

Lt. Robert Anderson musters Lincoln and 71 others into company of mounted volunteers under Capt. Elijah Iles. Company contains former generals, colonels, and captains. Lincoln furnishes his own arms and horse. Arms are valued at $10 and horse and equipment at $120.IHi—BHWC, Muster Roll, Atkinson Order Book; IHi—Journal, X, 422-28 (Anderson to E. B. Washburne, 10 May 1870).

[Lt. Robert Anderson, Third Regiment, U.S. Artillery, was appointed assistant inspector general of troops in field on May 9, 1832. Lt. Anderson's order of appointment was signed by Lt. Albert Sidney Johnston. Col. Jacob Fry, in command of re-enlisted volunteers, is ordered by Gen. Atkinson to put Ft. Johnson, on south side of Illinois River opposite mouth of Fox River, into best condition possible to protect inhabitants.IHi—Journal, X, 422-28 (Anderson to E. B. Washburne, 10 May 1870); Atkinson Letter Book.]

Gen. Atkinson returns in evening after hurried trip to Illinois Rapids (Peru), to see Gov. Reynolds. He has decided not to take up pursuit of Black Hawk until new militia forces arrive June 15, 1832.Atkinson Letter Book.