The Forgotten Massacre
On the side of the road, past Spring Bay, going North, towards Lacon, there sits a small stone monument. Countless motorists pass it daily and miss it. Even a worker at a small tavern right across the road knew nothing about how important it is to our local history.
I was afraid before heading out it wouldn't be located. The descriptions I had to go on were seemingly contradicting each other. "A 5ft tall statue..." "A small plaque set in stones..." Turns out, both descriptions were right. The monument looks to sit in someone's front yard, and is fairly unnoticeable. Which is sad, considering the history. Then again, the story behind it isn't glorious by any means. This plaque is a simple reminder of a massacre which happened 206 years ago.
To many, the name Chief Black Partridge is unfamiliar. Or, if recognizable, has ties to the Fort Dearborn Massacre. He was viewed as a hero, after saving the life of a woman from being scalped by a member of an opposing Native tribe. Due to these events, Chief Black Partridge was near Chicago at the time his village was set upon, by no other than Governor Ninian Edwards. Ninian Edwards was eager to exact revenge on Natives after the Fort Dearborn Massacre. He set his sights on villages north of Peoria, and struck out with 300 rangers. They struck the village at night, killing 30 villagers, mostly elders, women and children. Only 2 Rangers were killed in the brief battle. However, for the Potawatomies, their village was destroyed, burned to the ground in the battle.
The survivors forded the Illinois River, going to Gomo's camp, which is present day Chillicothe. Edwards, fearing reprisal, marched his men to Crugar, which is past Washington. Later, he would be reprimanded for his actions as the attack angered the U.S. government due to Black Partridge being supportive and cooperative with members of the US military.
Chief Black Partridge returned after being a hero in the north, to find his village destroyed. His own daughter had been slain, along with her infant child. He vowed to exact revenge, and led a force against settlements in Randolph, St. Clair and Madison counties. But peace was soon restored and he retired to live out his days in his former village. He passed in 1819 or 1820. Records are unclear regarding this.
Today, the monument shown is but a small memorial to both a disgraceful tragedy and to a man who had been working to prevent such losses. It is located across the road from Midway Duck Inn, and although worn and weathered, still stands to mark the beginning of the end for French colonists and Native American tribes in the Ilinois River Valley area.
