Elizabeth Armstrong (settler)

Elizabeth Armstrong was a settler at the site of the Apple River Fort in present-day Elizabeth, Illinois. She was praised for her bravery during the Battle of Apple River Fort in the 1832 Black Hawk War.

Early life

Elizabeth Armstrong was an early settler at the Apple River settlement, in present-day Elizabeth, Illinois. She was the wife of John Armstrong.[1]

Black Hawk War

On June 24, 1832 the Black Hawk War came to the hastily constructed Apple River Fort. There were 20–25 armed militia inside Apple River Fort at the time of the attack. Another 40 women, children and other settlers were resident in the Apple River Settlement. Clack Stone was in command of the garrison stationed at the fort, most of whom were not present for the battle.[1][2]

As Black Hawk's British Band closed in on the fort the villagers took shelter inside the fort while the 20–25 men stationed there immediately fell back and took up their positions at the portholes inside the blockhouse. A vicious firefight erupted, involving around 150–200 of Black Hawk's British Band.[2][3] The battle raged for at least 45 minutes with heavy gunfire from both sides.[4] At the battle's onset most of the settlement's women had been huddled in the cabins, but Armstrong rallied the others to provide support to the soldiers. She assumed command of the women, assigning them to such tasks as molding musketballs and reloading the weapons while the soldiers tried to keep up their stream of gunfire.[1][4]

Legacy

Elizabeth Armstrong was praised as a heroine for her actions during the battle, displaying the kind of courage under fire the militia had so badly lacked during the first months of the Black Hawk War.[1] Her actions, in part, helped give Black Hawk the impression the Apple River Fort was heavily defended and a frontal attack would be inane.[1] There has been disagreement regarding the name of the woman who assumed command at Apple River Fort; a 1900 collection from the Wisconsin Historical Society described her as "Mrs. Graham."[5] The same source stated that Armstrong was "cursing & swearing like a pirate" throughout the battle; so angry that even Black Hawk's band purported to hear her.[5] The same collection described such action as "profane" and "a great drawback upon her credit."[5] A newspaper report in Galena, Illinois described Armstrong's actions at the Battle of Apple River Fort.[6] "Elizabeth Armstrong took charge of the women's activities and set a coolheaded, courageous example."[6] It has also been suggested that Armstrong was the namesake for the village of Elizabeth.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "June 24, Elizabeth, Ill.: Women Save the Apple River Fort," Historic Diaries: The Black Hawk War, Wisconsin State Historical Society, accessed April 12, 2009.
  2. 1 2 Marshall, Janet A. and Marshall, Mary K., Black Hawk's War 1832, 1997, pp. 90-94.
  3. ↑ "Apple River Fort," Historic Sites, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, accessed April 12, 2009.
  4. 1 2 Harmet, A. Richard. "Apple River Fort Site, (PDF), National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, March 31, 1997, HAARGIS Database, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, p. 14, accessed April 12, 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, (Google Books), The Society: 1900, Vol. XV, p. 278, accessed April 12, 2009.
  6. 1 2 Trask, Kerry A. Black Hawk: The Battle for the Heart of America, (Google Books), Henry Holt: 2006, pp. 229, (ISBN 0805077588).
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