Schoolcraft Describes the "Rock Fort"

THE LEGEND OF STARVED ROCK

 

To the Editor's knowledge, the following is the first printed Account of the traditional episode which gave Starved Rock its name.-Editor.

With great exertions, we had proceeded two or three miles above the Vermillion, and about 4 o'clock, we encamped near a remarkable isolated hill, called by French voyageurs Le Rocher, and

ROCK FORT

This is an elevated cliff on the left bank of the Illinois, consisting of parallel layers of white sandstone. It is not less than two hundred and fifty feet high, perpendicular on three sides, and washed at its base by the river. On the fourth side it is connected with the adjacent range of hills by a narrow peninsular ledge, which can only be ascended by a precipitous, winding path. The summit of this rock is level, and contains about three-fourths of an acre. It is covered with a soil of several feet in depth, bearing a growth of young trees. Strong and almost inaccessible by nature, this natural battlement has been still further fortified by the Indians, and many wars ago was the scene of a desperate conflict between the Pottowattomies, and one band of the Illinois Indians. The latter fled to this place for refuge from the fury of their enemies. The post could not be carried by assault, and tradition says that the besiegers finally succeeded, after many repulses, by cutting off the supply of water. To procure this article the besieged let down vessels attached to ropes of bark, from a part of the precipice which overhangs the river, but their enemies succeeded in cutting off these ropes as often as they were let down. The consequence was a surrender, which was followed by a total extirpation of the band.

On gaining the top of this rock we found a regular entrenchment, corresponding to the edge of the precipice, and within this other excavations, which, from the thick growth of brush and trees could not be satisfactorily examined. The labour of many hands was manifest, and a degree of industry which the Indians have not usually bestowed upon works of defence. We found upon this elevation broken muscle shells, fragments of antique pottery, and stone, which had been subjected to the action of heat, resembling certain lavas.

Source:  HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT, Travels in the Central Portions of the Mississippi Valley (1825), 319-310   rpt. in Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society.  v. ?   (19??)