Execution of Lucy and James Sample

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Execution of Lucy and James Sample


caption=Nehemiah Matson's 1878 depiction of the Sample's execution by burning.
partof=the Black Hawk War
date=mid–May 1832 (possibly 18 May or 19 May)
place= South of present day Princeton, Illinois.
result= No military result
combatant1= United States
combatant2= Potawatomi
commander1=none
commander2=Mike Girty
strength1=2
strength2=small band
casualties1=2 non-combatants executed
casualties2=1 KIA|The execution of Lucy and James Sample probably occurred in mid-May 1832 near the present-day location of Princeton, Illinois, United States. James Sample was a Methodist minister who, along with his wife, had staked a claim near Rock Island, Illinois. When the Black Hawk War erupted between settlers in Illinois and Michigan Territory, and Sauk Chief Black Hawk's "British Band" in 1832, the Samples fled to the safety of Fort Armstrong. Eventually, they determined it safe to leave the fort and set out for lands east of the Illinois River. They never arrived at their destination because they were ambushed by a band of Potawatomi led by Mike Girty. The band captured the couple, returned them to their camp and decided to execute them. The Samples were bound to a tree and executed by burning. The incident and their whereabouts went unknown for at least 30 years afterward.

Background

As a consequence of an 1804 treaty between the Governor of Indiana Territory and a group of Sauk and Fox leaders regarding land settlement, the tribes vacated their lands in Illinois and moved west of the Mississippi in 1828. However, Sauk Chief Black Hawk and others disputed the treaty, claiming that the full tribal councils had not been consulted, nor did those representing the tribes have authorization to cede lands. Angered by the loss of his birthplace, between 1830–31 Black Hawk led a number of incursions across the Mississippi River into Illinois, but was persuaded to return west each time without bloodshed. In April 1832, encouraged by promises of alliance with other tribes and the British, he again moved his so-called "British Band" of around 1,000 warriors and non-combatants into Illinois.Lewis, James. " [http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/blackhawk/page2c.html The Black Hawk War of 1832] ," Abraham Lincoln Digitization Project, "Northern Illinois University". Retrieved 1 August 2007.] Finding no allies, he attempted to return to Iowa, but the undisciplined Illinois militia's actions led to the Battle of Stillman's Run." [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/diary/002795.asp 14 May: Black Hawk's Victory at the Battle of Stillman's Run] ," Historic Diaries: The Black Hawk War, "Wisconsin State Historical Society". Retrieved 6 August 2007.] A number of other engagements followed, and the militias of Michigan Territory and Illinois were mobilized to hunt down Black Hawk's Band. The conflict became known as the Black Hawk War.

The period between initial battle at Stillman's Run and the 24 June Battle of Apple River Fort was filled with war-related activity and events. A series of attacks at Buffalo Grove, the Plum River settlement, Fort Blue Mounds, and various attacks in other places including the war's most famous incident the Indian Creek massacre, all took place between mid-May and late June 1832." [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/diary/002816.asp 21 May, Indian Creek, Ill.: Abduction of the Hall Sisters] ," Historic Diaries: The Black Hawk War, "Wisconsin State Historical Society". Retrieved 21 September 2007.] The week before the Battle of Apple River Fort was an important turning point for the militia: between 16–18 June two key battles, one at Waddams Grove and the other at Horseshoe Bend, played a role in changing public perception about the militia after its defeat at Stillman's Run." [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/diary/002869.asp James Stephenson Describes the Battle at Yellow Creek] , Historic Diaries: The Black Hawk War, "Wisconsin Historical Society". Retrieved 21 September 2007.] " [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/diary/002865.asp 16 June: Henry Dodge Describes The Battle of the Pecatonica] ," Historic Diaries: The Black Hawk War, "Wisconsin State Historical Society". Retrieved 21 September 2007.] " [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/diary/002874.asp 16 June: Peter Parkinson Recalls the Battle of the Pecatonica] ," Historic Diaries: The Black Hawk War, "Wisconsin State Historical Society". Retrieved 21 September 2007.] After the inconclusive skirmish in late June at Kellogg's Grove, Black Hawk and his British Band fled the approaching militia through Wisconsin. They passed through what are now Beloit and Janesville, then followed the Rock River toward Horicon Marsh, where they headed west toward the Four Lakes region (near modern-day Madison).McCann, Dennis. " [http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=597233 Black Hawk's name, country's shame lives on] ," "Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel", 28 April 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2007.] On 21 July 1832, the militia caught up with Black Hawk's band as they attempted to cross the Wisconsin River in Dane County, near Sauk City.Cole, Harry Ellsworth, ed." [http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.ColeStandardv1 A Standard History of Sauk County, Wisconsin: Volume I] ", Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1918, pp. 170-171. Available online via [http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/WI/ The State of Wisconsin Collection] , University of Wisconsin. Retrieved 2 August 2007.] The engagement that followed is known as the Battle of Wisconsin Heights and was the penultimate battle of the war. The war would end at the Battle of Bad Axe on 1 August and 2. When the militia finally caught up with Black Hawk's British Band at the mouth of the Bad Axe River, hundreds of men, women and children would be killed by pursuing soldiers, their Indian allies, and a U.S. gunboat.

Chronology

The timeline surrounding the execution of James Sample and his wife, Lucy, is imprecise. Perry Armstrong stated in his 1887 work "The Sauks and the Black Hawk War" that the execution happened around 5 April, the day Black Hawk crossed the Mississippi into Illinois. Armstrong goes on to assert that the execution had no connection, direct or indirect, to the Black Hawk War. Armstrong also states that 5 April was the day the Samples were married.Armstrong, Perry A. "The Sauks and the Black Hawk War" ( [http://books.google.com/books?id=XfkfC5mOPdoC&pg=PA399&vq=Adam+Payne&dq=%22Indian+creek+massacre%22#PPA403,M1 Google Books] ), H.W. Rokker: 1887, pp. 404. Retrieved 4 October 2007.]

In Frank Stevens' 1903 "The Black Hawk War" the execution of the Samples is treated as part of a series of murders and attacks that occurred in northern Illinois during the war. His timeline puts the date of the event at least several weeks after Black Hawk's crossing of the Mississippi. Stevens also implies that the couple were married well before 5 April, though he states they were recently married. Nehemiah Matson's 1872 "Reminiscences of Bureau County: In Two Parts" attributes chronology similar to Stevens', placing the actual execution on 18 May or 19 May 1832.Matson, Nehemiah. "Reminiscences of Bureau County: In Two Parts", [http://genealogytrails.com/ill/bureau/History/MatsonBook/MatsonBookPage6.html#11 Chapter IX] , Republican Book and Job Office, Princeton, Illinois: 1872, pp. 93–103. Retrieved 6 October 2007.]

Prelude

James Sample, a young Methodist preacher, staked his land claim in the fall of 1831 near Saukenuk, the winter passed by rather uneventfully but by spring 1832 war was imminent. When Black Hawk crossed the Mississippi into Illinois Sample was engaged in working his land. The return of Black Hawk caused widespread panic and Sample and his young bride fled, along with others to nearby Fort Armstrong on Rock Island where he and his wife remained for several weeks before they decided to leave and return east of the Illinois River. Relieving themselves of their personal effects the couple began their journey from Rock Island on horseback along the old Sauk Trail. They intended to spend a night in the cabin of Henry Thomas, about a mile north of their route, on Kellogg's Trail.Stevens, Frank. "The Black Hawk War", Chapter XXIII: Various Illinois Murders, 1903, republished Heritage Classic Books: 1993, (ISBN 1556138598), ( [http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/navigate.pl?lincoln.3552 Table of Contents] ), via Abraham Lincoln Digitization Project, Northern Illinois University.]

When the couple arrived at Thomas' cabin, they found it vacant and barricaded. The Samples continued on and probably camped for the night, finding the Bureau Creek hazardous to cross during darkness. In the morning they swam the creek, and set out for the cabin of Eli and Elijah Smith, which they found in much the same state as Thomas' cabin. Moving on to Elijah Epperson's cabin they found it as deserted as the rest of the cabins. The couple attempted to find provisions at Epperson's cabin but found nothing and, weary and hungry, were forced to continue their journey.

The couple was spotted by a Potawatomi lookout while at Epperson's cabin. As the settlers traveled the band of warriors quietly approached on horseback until, within a close distance, they raised a war cry and attacked. The Samples raised their horses to a gallop and fled their attackers as gunfire erupted around them. The shooting wounded Sample and his wife was wounded by a thrown tomahawk as they attempted to flee. The couple was first able to distance themselves from their pursuers but as they ran Lucy Sample's horse became mired in mud and was unable to continue on. James Sample dismounted, rather than leaving his wife to her fate, and prepared to defend them. As the Native Americans approached James Sample drew his pistol and shot one of the attackers dead. The couple, however, was captured.

Execution

After the Samples were captured, they were bound, mounted on horseback and carried back to the Potawatomi camp. At the camp, the Potawatomi band held council over the prisoners fate with their leader, Mike Girty. Sample was acquainted with the well-known Girty through his ministerial work on the frontier. Sample begged Girty for their lives, offering him all he owned in exchange for their safe return to Fort Armstrong. The pleas were ignored; the council had decided to kill the couple.

The Samples were stripped naked and tied to a tree and a fire of dry limbs was kindled around their feet, up to their knees. Girty then approached the prisoners and scalped them with his long knife; he took the scalp of Lucy Sample and, using its long hair, tied it around his neck. Surrounded by burning fagots the couple pleaded for their lives and then, as the flames began to consume them, to be put out of their misery with gunfire or tomahawk. Their pleas again went ignored as the Native Americans danced around the burning prisoners. Once the Samples were dead more fagots were piled onto the flames and their remains consumed.

Aftermath

While still at Rock Island the Samples, had promised to write friends, specifically George Davenport's wife, when they reached safety. These letters were never received and the sudden disappearance of James and Lucy Sample remained a mystery for more than 30 years. On his deathbed, Mike Girty confessed to the execution, describing the details of the act he and his band of Potawatomi were responsible for. The site of the execution was a solitary burr oak tree isolated from the forest and about "four rods" south of Knox Graveyard. The location is south of present-day Princeton, Illinois. A year after the execution the site was settled by a James Hayes. Around the tree where fire consumed the remains of the Samples, Hayes noticed many human bones, though at the time they were believed to belong to Native Americans.

The story remained unknown until Girty, along with a Potawatomi chief called Half Day confessed it to Matson. During the war, rumors persisted along the frontier that a man and his wife disappeared while traveling from the Mississippi to the Illinois River. In 1836, Shabbona told Matson that a man and woman were executed by burning during the war but he was unaware of their names. Even before Girty and Half Day confessed to the execution, the Samples' nephew, Britt Sample, had said that his aunt and uncle disappeared during the war and were presumed killed by Native Americans.

ee also

*Minor attacks of the Black Hawk War

Notes