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David Bailey (militia officer)

January 01, 1970

David Bailey (1801–1854) was an American militia officer and abolitionist in the Illinois Militia who was a key participant in the Black Hawk War. Most notably, he served at the Battle of Stillman's Run, where he and Lt. Col. Major Isaiah Stillman were defeated by Black Hawk's British Band at Stillman Creek in present-day Ogle County, Illinois, on May 14, 1832.

David Bailey in an undated portrait.

In addition, Bailey was the defendant in an emancipation legal case defended by Abraham Lincoln entitled Bailey vs. Cromwell. This 1841 Illinois Supreme Court case was Lincoln's first recorded emancipation case.[1]

Biography edit

David Bailey was a native of Hillsboro, New Hampshire, born there on June 12, 1801. He was the next to youngest son of Joseph Bailey, who was born February 8, 1772, in Rowley, Massachusetts, and whose father bore the name of Daniel Bailey. The Bailey ancestors came over on the Mayflower. David Bailey cane to Pekin, Illinois, when in his eighteenth year, and was engaged as a merchant in this place on the outbreak of the Black Hawk War. He then entered the service as a captain of militia, and was soon promoted to major, and afterward colonel of his regiment, having charge of the army stationed at Ft. Dearborn. While there he met and afterward married Miss Sarah Ann Brown, who was born in Connecticut May 25, 1811; she was the daughter of Rufus Brown, one of the earliest settlers of the city of Chicago.[2]

Black Hawk War edit

Joining the 5th Regiment as a major in early 1832, he was given independent command of a battalion of mounted Illinois Volunteers. With a combined force of 341 men, of which Bailey commanded three companies of 197 soldiers, he and Lt. Col. Major Isaiah Stillman were ordered by Governor John Reynolds to guard the settled areas of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers after receiving reports of Black Hawk moving in to threaten the frontier.[3]

On May 12, while staying at Dixon's Ferry, he and Stillman encountered Brigadier General Samuel Whiteside and Governor Reynolds, having been en route to Black Hawk's camp by way of the village of the Winnebago Prophet. Despite objections by Whiteside, he and Stillman were directed by Reynolds to "coerce" Black Hawk's British Band, then camped at Old Man's Creek, to surrender. Proceeding up the Rock River with Stillman's troops, they set up camp two days later near Old Man's Creek (near present-day Stillman Valley, Illinois) unaware that they were only 7 miles (11 km) south of the Sauk encampment.

Through the local Potawatomi, Black Hawk was told of the presence of the Illinois Militia and sent three messengers to the militia camp under a white flag in order to negotiate a peace with Stillman and Bailey. Upon encountering the three messengers, they were brought back to the militia encampment. As there was no Sac interpreter available, progress was slow in discussing surrender terms. During the proceedings, fighting broke out when militiamen shot at scouts seen on the hillside, resulting in the death of one of the emissaries and a militia flagbearer, while the other two messengers escaped to report back to Black Hawk.

During the subsequent battle against Black Hawk's forces, Bailey and Stillman's disorganized militia were ambushed and thrown into retreat. In an attempt to cover their retreat, 12 militiamen under Captain John Giles Adams fought to the death while holding off their Sauk pursuers on a hill south of the militia camp.[4][5][6]

The presence of Bailey during the battle is unclear, although it is presumed he had some role in directing the 30-mile (48 km) retreat back to rejoin the main force at Dixon's Ferry, as he and Stillman survived to make their report. As the main force left to follow Black Hawk up the Kishwaukee River, Bailey and Stillman were left to guard the supplies and the wounded at Dixon's Ferry; however, what remained of their command left for their homes soon after General Henry Atkinson and Brigadier General Whiteside left camp.[7]

Although held responsible for the defeat, it is accepted by many historians that both Bailey and Stillman may have been unfairly blamed for the disastrous battle which was due more to the unclear orders given by Governor John Reynolds, whose actions may have been politically motivated.[8]

Bailey vs Cromwell edit

"In 1841, Lincoln defended Major David Bailey, a friend with whom Lincoln had served in the Black Hawk War. Bailey was being sued by the estate of Dr. William Cromwell for refusing to pay to Cromwell's estate four hundred dollars for an 'indentured servant', Nance Legins-Costley. In 1836, when he was moving to Texas, Cromwell had arranged to have Bailey purchase the unwed and pregnant Nance. In exchange, Bailey, an abolitionist, signed a promissory note agreeing to pay Cromwell four hundred dollars when he received legal proof of Nance's indentured status. Lincoln won that case on the basis that involuntary servitude was illegal in Illinois and that Cromwell's case could not produce the record of the woman's voluntary indentured status. Nance was free."[9]


References edit

  1. ^ The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery. Eric Foner, 2011 (pg. 47)
  2. ^ Portrait and Biographical Record of Tazewell and Mason Counties, Illinois
  3. ^ Armstrong, Perry A. The Sauks and the Black Hawk War: With Biographical Sketches, Etc. Springfield, Illinois: H.W. Rokker, 1887. (pg. 300-304)
  4. ^ Bauer, Karl J. Zachary Taylor: Soldier, Planter, Statesman of the Old Southwest. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1985. (pg. 60-61) ISBN 0-8071-1851-6
  5. ^ Moses, John. Illinois, Historical and Statistical. Chicago: Furgus Printing Company, 1889. (pg. 365-367)
  6. ^ Thwaites, Reuben Gold. How George Rogers Clark Won the Northwest: And Other Essays in Western History. Chicago: A.C. McClerg & Co., 1903. (pg. 147-149)
  7. ^ Campbell, Henry Colin. Wisconsin in Three Centuries, 1634-1905. New York: The Century History Company, 1906. (pg. 192-193)
  8. ^ Miller, Richard Lawrence. Lincoln and His World. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books, 2006. (pg. 164-165) ISBN 0-8117-0187-5
  9. ^ William F. Moore and Jane Anne Moore, Collaborators for Emancipation: Abraham Lincoln and Owen Lovejoy (pg. 53)

January 01, 1970
david, bailey, militia, officer, david, bailey, 1801, 1854, american, militia, officer, abolitionist, illinois, militia, participant, black, hawk, most, notably, served, battle, stillman, where, major, isaiah, stillman, were, defeated, black, hawk, british, ba. David Bailey 1801 1854 was an American militia officer and abolitionist in the Illinois Militia who was a key participant in the Black Hawk War Most notably he served at the Battle of Stillman s Run where he and Lt Col Major Isaiah Stillman were defeated by Black Hawk s British Band at Stillman Creek in present day Ogle County Illinois on May 14 1832 David Bailey in an undated portrait In addition Bailey was the defendant in an emancipation legal case defended by Abraham Lincoln entitled Bailey vs Cromwell This 1841 Illinois Supreme Court case was Lincoln s first recorded emancipation case 1 Contents 1 Biography 2 Black Hawk War 3 Bailey vs Cromwell 4 ReferencesBiography editDavid Bailey was a native of Hillsboro New Hampshire born there on June 12 1801 He was the next to youngest son of Joseph Bailey who was born February 8 1772 in Rowley Massachusetts and whose father bore the name of Daniel Bailey The Bailey ancestors came over on the Mayflower David Bailey cane to Pekin Illinois when in his eighteenth year and was engaged as a merchant in this place on the outbreak of the Black Hawk War He then entered the service as a captain of militia and was soon promoted to major and afterward colonel of his regiment having charge of the army stationed at Ft Dearborn While there he met and afterward married Miss Sarah Ann Brown who was born in Connecticut May 25 1811 she was the daughter of Rufus Brown one of the earliest settlers of the city of Chicago 2 Black Hawk War editJoining the 5th Regiment as a major in early 1832 he was given independent command of a battalion of mounted Illinois Volunteers With a combined force of 341 men of which Bailey commanded three companies of 197 soldiers he and Lt Col Major Isaiah Stillman were ordered by Governor John Reynolds to guard the settled areas of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers after receiving reports of Black Hawk moving in to threaten the frontier 3 On May 12 while staying at Dixon s Ferry he and Stillman encountered Brigadier General Samuel Whiteside and Governor Reynolds having been en route to Black Hawk s camp by way of the village of the Winnebago Prophet Despite objections by Whiteside he and Stillman were directed by Reynolds to coerce Black Hawk s British Band then camped at Old Man s Creek to surrender Proceeding up the Rock River with Stillman s troops they set up camp two days later near Old Man s Creek near present day Stillman Valley Illinois unaware that they were only 7 miles 11 km south of the Sauk encampment Through the local Potawatomi Black Hawk was told of the presence of the Illinois Militia and sent three messengers to the militia camp under a white flag in order to negotiate a peace with Stillman and Bailey Upon encountering the three messengers they were brought back to the militia encampment As there was no Sac interpreter available progress was slow in discussing surrender terms During the proceedings fighting broke out when militiamen shot at scouts seen on the hillside resulting in the death of one of the emissaries and a militia flagbearer while the other two messengers escaped to report back to Black Hawk During the subsequent battle against Black Hawk s forces Bailey and Stillman s disorganized militia were ambushed and thrown into retreat In an attempt to cover their retreat 12 militiamen under Captain John Giles Adams fought to the death while holding off their Sauk pursuers on a hill south of the militia camp 4 5 6 The presence of Bailey during the battle is unclear although it is presumed he had some role in directing the 30 mile 48 km retreat back to rejoin the main force at Dixon s Ferry as he and Stillman survived to make their report As the main force left to follow Black Hawk up the Kishwaukee River Bailey and Stillman were left to guard the supplies and the wounded at Dixon s Ferry however what remained of their command left for their homes soon after General Henry Atkinson and Brigadier General Whiteside left camp 7 Although held responsible for the defeat it is accepted by many historians that both Bailey and Stillman may have been unfairly blamed for the disastrous battle which was due more to the unclear orders given by Governor John Reynolds whose actions may have been politically motivated 8 Bailey vs Cromwell edit In 1841 Lincoln defended Major David Bailey a friend with whom Lincoln had served in the Black Hawk War Bailey was being sued by the estate of Dr William Cromwell for refusing to pay to Cromwell s estate four hundred dollars for an indentured servant Nance Legins Costley In 1836 when he was moving to Texas Cromwell had arranged to have Bailey purchase the unwed and pregnant Nance In exchange Bailey an abolitionist signed a promissory note agreeing to pay Cromwell four hundred dollars when he received legal proof of Nance s indentured status Lincoln won that case on the basis that involuntary servitude was illegal in Illinois and that Cromwell s case could not produce the record of the woman s voluntary indentured status Nance was free 9 References edit The Fiery Trial Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery Eric Foner 2011 pg 47 Portrait and Biographical Record of Tazewell and Mason Counties Illinois Armstrong Perry A The Sauks and the Black Hawk War With Biographical Sketches Etc Springfield Illinois H W Rokker 1887 pg 300 304 Bauer Karl J Zachary Taylor Soldier Planter Statesman of the Old Southwest Baton Rouge Louisiana State University Press 1985 pg 60 61 ISBN 0 8071 1851 6 Moses John Illinois Historical and Statistical Chicago Furgus Printing Company 1889 pg 365 367 Thwaites Reuben Gold How George Rogers Clark Won the Northwest And Other Essays in Western History Chicago A C McClerg amp Co 1903 pg 147 149 Campbell Henry Colin Wisconsin in Three Centuries 1634 1905 New York The Century History Company 1906 pg 192 193 Miller Richard Lawrence Lincoln and His World Mechanicsburg Pennsylvania Stackpole Books 2006 pg 164 165 ISBN 0 8117 0187 5 William F Moore and Jane Anne Moore Collaborators for Emancipation Abraham Lincoln and Owen Lovejoy pg 53 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David Bailey militia officer amp oldid 1211138437, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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