Did Stillmans men fire upon messengers bearing a white flag?
Black Hawk’s Autobiography: “I sent three braves with a white flag to the camp that we might hold council with them, and descend Rock River again.” Hon. John Atwood A SLANDER REFUTED: Some writers tell us that the Indians were bearing a white flag, and had come to negotiate terms of peace. Both Brown’s and Edward’s Histories of Illinois, on file in the State Historical Libary at Sprigfield, deny the charge and declare with a great deal of emphasis the story to be maliciously false. When was the first shot fired? Grand Old Times of McLean County Stillman’s guards, who had been out during the day to the right, left, rear and front, came in. The left guard broguth in some Indian ponies, which they had found, and created quite an excitement. Some of the men began to ride the ponies. Just then some Indians appeared on the hill to the north. The officers thought them to be some of the guard but Davis Simmons said to Stillman, “no, the advance guard came in some time ago, General. It’s Indian
