ST. CHARLES COUNTY HISTORY

Category: Events

I try to share history that is informative or thought-provoking even if a bit controversial. I have lots of friends with very diverse backgrounds and ancestry, and it’s not my wish to insult anyone. It’s not my intent to stir trouble but to simply tell the story with documents written at the actual time of the event.  This is the earliest reference to Cottleville I’ve found yet. This is not my retelling, but an actual report of events as written by an eyewitness at the time, with its original spelling and punctuation. Please do not judge anyone or any history, with the morals of today. However, we can learn from it, and that is why I share it. This isn’t history any of us learned in school. Local history books refer to it as the Battle of the Sink Hole, the last incident of what is called the War of 1812.

“On Saturday, May 27, 1815, the Missouri Public Gazette published the extract of a letter from Captain David Musick of the St. Louis County Rangers to Col. William Russell, Commander of this District, dated Lower Cuivre Ferry, May 25, 1815. “About eleven o’clock yesterday, we were alarmed by the firing of guns in the direction of fort Howard, and immediately mounted such horses as were within reach and proceeded in full speed to the assistance of Cap Craig whom we found closely engaged with the Indians and pretty equally matched with respect to number.

Having arrived in good season, just on the rear of the Indians, who immediately broke and ran; a part of them retreated into a sink-hole and baffled every art to get them out, as they had a better chance to kill than to be killed. The affair commenced as followed-

Five men that were detached in a canoe, to convey some necessaries to the fort received a heavy fire from a party of Indians concealed in the bushes near Cottles field, three were killed dead, the fourth received a tomahawk in his head and died this morning; the fifth made his escape and was pursued to the Fort by the Indians. Captain Craig and a party ran immediately to the assistance of the canoe, and compelled the Indians who had possession of her to retreat to the woods, where they made a stand and fought him. Captain Craig was killed at the commencement of the engagement, a man of the name of Gibbony was killed close to him, three others in his company were wounded; also a citizen who shared in the action received a wound, supposed mortal.

In the height of the action, I arrived in the rear of the Indians, and attempted to surround them, but they broke and and took possession of a sink hole, where they were secure from our fire. A battery (or blind) was hastily made on the wheels of a cart and ran up to the mouth of the sink, but the men could not discover an Indian, although at that moment Lieut Spears was shot dead near the wheels, which induced the men behind the moving battery to retreat and leave him, as it was certain death to all who would attempt to bear him off the ground.

All our exertions to dislodge the enemy was unavailing as they were entirely covered from our view. During the action, another party attacked the Fort but could not make no impression. Five Indians were found dead on the spot, and a number of their wounded were trailed to Bobb’s creek, where their canoes were moored. We lost this affair several brave men, I give ehm in the order they fell, viz.

Killed in the Canoe

Hubbard Tyon, Antoine Pelky, and Francis Larame, of Cap Craigs company, and George Burns, formerly of my company (discharged.)

Killed at the battle ground.

Captain Craig, Alexander Gibbony and Lieut. Spears; the latter at the mouth of the sink, endeavoring to dislodge the Indians.

Wounded

John Patterson and Mr. M’Cormick the latter a citizen, mortal. –Corporal Abraham Lettz and Benj. Hail, supposed not mortal. – Charles Cardinal is missing, supposed to be killed.

I cannot say too much in praise of the gallantry of the officers and men under my command, both in the attack, and exertions to dislodge the enemy from their retreat in the sink hole.

Messrs M’Cormick. Ira Cottle, James Woods and Rob. M’Clelland, citizens deserve credit for their spirited exertions in this affair. I had only 18 or 20 men with me; Cap. Craig had about 39 of his company.”

Source: Missouri Gazette and Public Advertiser (St. Louis, Missouri) Saturday, May 27, 1815, Page 3

Image from Picture Cave, Missouri of “He Who Wears Human Heads as Earrings” also known as “Gets Hit With Deer Lungs.” In Ho-chunk (Winnebago) tradition this figure is called “Red Horn.” Though hard to see details, the face painting of this hero/deity matches that of the Osage Wa-ho-beck-ee. Other aspects of this image correlate with Osage and other Siouan tribal traditions. Photo Credit: Michael Dickey