Battle of the Sink Hole facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of the Sink Hole
Part of American Indian Wars and War of 1812
Site of the battle was in Lincoln County, Missouri
Date May 24, 1815 Location Near present-day Old Monroe, Lincoln County, Missouri, US Result Indian tactical victory
Belligerents
Sauk	United States Missouri Rangers
Commanders and leaders
Black Hawk	United States Peter Craig
Strength
Band	Company
Casualties and losses
1 killed	8 killed 5 wounded 1 missing

The Battle of the Sink Hole was a fight that happened on May 24, 1815. It took place even after the War of 1812 had officially ended. This battle was between a group of American soldiers called the Missouri Rangers and Sauk Native Americans. The Sauk warriors were led by a famous chief named Black Hawk.

The Sauk people did not know that the war had ended. The British, who were their allies, had not told them about the Treaty of Ghent. This treaty was the peace agreement that officially stopped the fighting between the United States and Great Britain.

Black Hawk led the Sauk Indians against the Missouri Rangers in the Battle of the Sink Hole on May 24, 1815, from a painting by artist George Catlin.

What Was the Battle of the Sink Hole?

The Battle of the Sink Hole was a small but important conflict. It happened during a time when the United States was expanding. This led to many battles between American settlers and Native American tribes. The War of 1812 was a larger conflict. It involved the United States fighting against Great Britain and its Native American allies.

Who Fought in This Battle?

On one side were the Sauk warriors. They were led by their brave chief, Black Hawk. The Sauk were fighting to protect their lands and way of life.

On the other side were the Missouri Rangers. These were American soldiers. They were part of the rangers who protected the frontier. Their commander was Captain Peter Craig.

Where Did the Battle Happen?

The battle took place in a low area of land. This spot was near the Cuivre River in what is now Missouri. Today, this area is close to the city of Old Monroe. It is located in Lincoln County.

There were also two forts nearby. These were Fort Howard and Fort Cap au Gris. These forts were built to protect American settlers.

The Upper Mississippi River during the War of 1812. 1: Fort Bellefontaine U.S. headquarters; 2: Fort Osage, abandoned 1813; 3: Fort Madison, defeated 1813; 4: Fort Shelby, defeated 1814; 5: Battle of Rock Island Rapids, July 1814 and the Battle of Credit Island, Sept. 1814; 6: Fort Johnson, abandoned 1814; 7: Fort Cap au Gris and the Battle of the Sink Hole, May 1815.

What Happened During the Battle?

The Sauk warriors set up an ambush for the Missouri Rangers. An ambush is a surprise attack. The Rangers were a "company," which is a military group. When the Rangers walked into the trap, a long fight began. This fight is sometimes called a "siege."

During the battle, seven Missouri Rangers were killed. This included their leader, Captain Peter Craig. One Sauk warrior also died in the fighting. People who were there gave different stories about exactly what happened.

What Happened After the Battle?

Even though the War of 1812 was over, this battle showed that tensions were still high. In 1816, the year after the battle, Black Hawk met with the U.S. government. They talked about peace.

Black Hawk agreed to follow an earlier agreement. This was called the Treaty of St. Louis from 1804. This treaty had given a lot of Sauk land to the United States.