Attack at Ament's Cabin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Attack at Ament's Cabin
Part of the Black Hawk War
An 1887 depiction of the attack
Date June 17 or June 18, 1832 Location Near present day Dover, Illinois. Result No military result
Belligerents
United States	Potawatomi
Commanders and leaders
	Mike Girty
Strength
7	30
Casualties and losses
1 KIA	0

The Attack at Ament's Cabin was an important event during the Black Hawk War. It happened on June 17 or 18, 1832. The cabin was located near what is now Dover, Illinois. John L. Ament and his brother settled there in 1829. Later, Elijah Phillips bought out Ament's brother.

When the Black Hawk War started in 1832, Ament and Phillips left their cabins for safety. But they returned later to get their things. On the morning of June 17 or 18, a group of Potawatomi warriors attacked them. This group was led by Mike Girty. They were likely the same group involved in the Indian Creek massacre in May. Phillips was killed during the attack. The other men quickly hid inside Ament's cabin. Soldiers from Hennepin arrived later. They found Phillips' body and chased the attackers for a short time. Then they returned to Hennepin, Illinois with Phillips' body.

What Led to the Attack?

Settling Near Native American Lands

John L. Ament and his brother Justin settled in this area in 1829. They claimed land in what is now Bureau County, Illinois. Soon after, Elijah Phillips bought Justin Ament's land. Phillips then built his own cabin nearby.

West of their cabins was a large Native American sugar camp. This camp was part of Ament's land claim. Native Americans used this camp every year during winter and spring. A group of about twelve families lived there. Their chief was named Meommuse. They had been making sugar at this spot for 42 years. When Ament and Phillips settled there, relations between the settlers and the Native American tribes became difficult.

The Black Hawk War Begins

In 1804, a treaty was made between the Governor of Indiana Territory and some Sauk and Fox leaders. Because of this treaty, the Sauk and Fox tribes left their lands in Illinois. They moved west of the Mississippi River in 1828.

However, Sauk Chief Black Hawk and others did not agree with this treaty. They said the full tribal councils were not asked. They also said the leaders who signed the treaty did not have the right to give away the land. Black Hawk was upset about losing his birthplace. From 1830 to 1831, he led his group, called the "British Band," back into Illinois several times. Each time, he was convinced to return west without fighting.

In April 1832, Black Hawk returned to Illinois again. He had about 1,000 warriors and other people with him. He hoped other tribes and the British would join him. But he found no allies. He tried to go back to Iowa. However, actions by the Illinois militia led to the Battle of Stillman's Run. More fights followed. The militias from Michigan Territory and Illinois were called to find Black Hawk's Band. This conflict became known as the Black Hawk War.

Before the Attack

Stillman's Run     Buffalo Grove     Plum River     Indian Creek     St. Vrain     Fort Blue Mounds     Spafford Farm     Horseshoe Bend     Waddams Grove     Kellogg's Grove     Ament's Cabin     Apple River Fort     Sinsinawa Mound     Wisconsin Heights     Bad Axe                                                                                                     Michigan Territory (Wisconsin) Illinois Unorganized Territory (Iowa)

Map of Black Hawk War sites Battle (with name) Fort / settlement Native village Symbols are wikilinked to article

Growing Tensions

Before the attack, there was already bad feeling between Ament and Meommuse's group at the sugar camp. Meommuse's people had used the camp for a long time. They were angry that Ament built his cabin so close to it. The tension had already caused problems. Ament had even shot one of the Native American dogs.

Before the attack, Potawatomi chief Shabbona warned Ament and Phillips. He told them that settlers along Bureau Creek were in danger. The men listened to these warnings. They left their homes with their families, leaving their belongings behind. After some time, they decided it was safe to go back. They wanted to get their deserted possessions.

The Journey Back

About two weeks after leaving, seven men went back to the settlement. The group included Elijah Phillips, J. Hodges, Sylvester Brigham, John L. Ament, Aaron Gunn, James G. Forristall, and 16-year-old Ziba Dimmick. They left Hennepin, Illinois for Ament's cabin. Phillips was a private in the militia. It's not clear if the others were militia members.

The group left on June 16 or 17. They arrived at Ament's cabin in the early evening. The cabin was about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of present-day Dover, Illinois. They ate dinner and spent the rainy night there.

The Warriors Wait

A young warrior saw the settlers arrive. He told the group at the sugar camp about it. While the settlers ate dinner, a group from the sugar camp quietly hid in the bushes. They got close to Ament's cabin without being seen. Some of these warriors were Potawatomi. One was a son of Chief Meommuse. This group was also believed to be responsible for the May 21 Indian Creek massacre. They had also attacked a minister, Adam Payne, on the road to Ottawa. This specific group of Potawatomi was led by Mike Girty.

The warriors waited in the bushes, planning to attack when the settlers left the cabin. But it started to rain. The group waited for many hours in the rain. The storm did not stop. So, they decided to wait until the next morning to attack.

The Attack at Ament's Cabin

The next morning, either June 17 or 18, the group of about 30 Native Americans returned. They hid in their positions and waited for the settlers. When the settlers woke up, Brigham and Phillips went onto the porch of Ament's cabin. They talked for a few minutes. They did not notice the moccasin tracks around the property.

Phillips decided to go to his cabin. It was about half a mile (0.8 km) from Ament's. He wanted to finish a letter to his parents. Brigham planned to go with Phillips. He went into his cabin for a moment. Once inside, he heard the sound of musket fire outside. Phillips had been shot twice and fell to the ground. The attacking warriors immediately rushed towards him with their tomahawks.

The other settlers quickly ran into Ament's cabin. They shut the door and aimed their weapons through cracks in the walls. Two men stood near the doorway with their weapons. Hodges' weapon touched Girty's chest. This made Girty and his group retreat into the woods. Young Dimmick was very anxious and begged to leave. He was sent to Hennepin on horseback to get help. The men at the cabin expected Dimmick to be shot as soon as he rode off. But he crossed the open prairie safely. Dimmick rode 16 miles (25.7 km) and arrived in Hennepin to report the attack.

After the Attack

Panic in Hennepin

Dimmick's report caused a panic in Hennepin. Citizens thought that Black Hawk's entire "British Band" was about to attack their town. Two companies of Rangers were in Hennepin that day. A call went out for volunteers to help the settlers at Ament's cabin.

Volunteers gathered, though some were hesitant to go. A rescue group of 30 to 70 men started towards Ament's cabin.

Finding the Settlers

When the Rangers arrived, they found Ament and the other men safely barricaded inside the cabin. Ament waved a white flag through the roof to signal the soldiers. Outside, they found Phillips' body. It was lying where he had fallen, in the dooryard, face up. He had been shot.

The Rangers formed a small group and chased the attackers. But they soon gave up. They returned to Hennepin with Phillips' body. His funeral took place the next day. Both citizens and soldiers attended it.