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Battle of the Sink Hole

The Battle of the Sink Hole, sometimes known as "Forgotten War", was fought on May 24, 1815, after the official end of the War of 1812, between Missouri Rangers and Sauk Indians led by Black Hawk. According to Robert McDouall, the British commander in the area, the Sauk had not received official word from the British that the Treaty of Ghent had ended the war with the U.S.

Battle of the Sink Hole
Part of American Indian Wars and War of 1812

Site of the battle was in Lincoln County, Missouri
DateMay 24, 1815
Location
Near present-day Old Monroe, Lincoln County, Missouri, US
Result Uncertain
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 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.

The battle was fought in a low spot near the mouth of the Cuivre River in Missouri, site of the present-day city of Old Monroe in what is now Lincoln County near Fort Howard and Fort Cap au Gris.[1]

A contingent of 50 Rangers and Regulars, led by Captain Peter Craig, confronted the Sauk and Fox tribes roughly 300 meters south of Fort Howard. Captain David Musick, with 20 soldiers from Cape au Gris, joined the fray from the Cuivre River, located 3 kilometers south of the initial engagement. The Sauk and Fox forces split, with some retreating north to Bob's Creek, while Black Hawk and about 20-35 warriors sought refuge in a sinkhole. American forces partially encircled the sinkhole, effectively trapping Black Hawk's group. The karst terrain of the sinkhole provided natural cover, allowing the Native American forces to hold their ground despite being outnumbered by the superior American forces. Both groups pulled back at nightfall, and the outcome of the battle was uncertain.[2]

An ambush by the Sauk of a company of rangers led to a prolonged siege: seven Rangers (including their commander, Captain Peter Craig) and one Sauk were killed and an additional 3 Rangers were wounded. Conflicting accounts of the action were given by John Shaw[3] and by Black Hawk.[4]

After the battle, in 1816, Black Hawk entered into negotiations with the US government, ultimately reaffirming the Treaty of St. Louis.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Life, Missouri (2024-05-24). "The Battle of the Sink Hole is Fought Near Old Monroe: May 24, 1815". Missouri Life Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  2. ^ Black Hawk and the Battle of the Sink Hole. 1900s.
  3. ^ Stevens, Walter B. (1921). Centennial History of Missouri (The Center State) /One Hundred Years in the Union. St. Louis: S. J. Clarke.
  4. ^ Black Hawk (1916) [1834]. Milo M. Quaife (ed.). Life of Black Hawk, Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak. Chicago: Lakeside Press. pp. 66–68.
  5. ^ "Black Hawk: Resisting American Expansion". Eighteen Twelve (Canada). Archived from the original on 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
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38°56′00″N 90°41′13″W / 38.933384°N 90.687068°W / 38.933384; -90.687068


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