apple river fort today known frontier forts hastily completed settlers northern illinois southern wisconsin following onset black hawk war located present day elizabeth illinois united_states fort settlement built week forts attacked war attacked band led battle apple river fort hour ensued forces eventually withdrawing fort suffered militia man killed action wounded war fort stood occupied sold private property owner dismantled building today replica fort stands site original constructed non profit organization replica based earlier archaeological investigations site revealed information layout settlement fort listed national_register_of_historic_places state illinois took operations site designated apple river fort numerous illinois historic sites slated close october cuts illinois budget governor removed office new illinois governor reopened site history early history earliest settlers vicinity apple river fort probably miners likely arrived decade fort construction miners settled site built log near trail route ferry obtained fresh water nearby spring black hawk war background fort construction motivated consequence treaty governor council leaders fox native american tribes treaty land settlement ceded million acres km2 fox land united_states annual treaty controversial chief disputed validity said tribal councils consulted council negotiated treaty authority land treaty allowed fox remain land sold discovery lead illinois 1820s miners began moving area ceded treaty fox returned winter hunt found land occupied white settlers forced return west mississippi_river angered loss birthplace led number incursions mississippi persuaded return west time april encouraged promises alliance tribes british moved called british band warriors non combatants crossed river illinois finding allies attempted return iowa illinois militia actions led clash construction apple river fort site advanced quickly number engagements followed militias illinois mobilized hunt construction constructed early settlers region present day elizabeth illinois protection black hawk war onset settlers southern wisconsin northern illinois constructed series forts fortified homes apple river fort forts erected defeat newspaper reported finished completed days later militia company formed local families single men boys unit elected local surveyor land owner commander settlement militia contingent settlement time fort completion home families traveled long distances families like took residence nearby family resided homestead near new fort relatively contemporary descriptions fort exist complete later descriptions mention detail found post black hawk war text history county trees dragged area enclosed foot trench dug proposed line post raised place filled hold timber erect projecting feet high corner fort formed walls existing log house settlers lived opposite corner built block house stories upper story likely constructed existing agricultural second story projecting feet indians come near building purpose setting fire exposed guns settlers yard extant long dwelling purposes corners occupied houses elevated benches built outward projections log wall stand fort attacked afternoon june sac warrior man war party fort defended thirty men boys women children man named wounded hip early action lasting hour ensued apple river fort suffered fatality man wounded battle women rose occasion aid defence fort singled bravery motivated fort settlers especially women support defenders number casualties absorbed force unknown war war ended fort remained standing 1840s immediate aftermath war conclusion site occupied purchased land fort united_states federal government salvaged logs usable fort process construct barn property fort site remained relatively ensuing years non profit organized archaeological investigation conducted june reconstruction effort ended today replica fort stands south original site remains preserve archaeological integrity state historic site apple river fort site set close october cuts budget illinois governor supporters historic site elizabeth led appealed protest legislators governor closing economic impact fort closing community delay proposal close seven state parks dozen state historic sites including apple river fort went ahead november new governor reopened closed state parks february march quinn announced committed reopening state historic sites june began attempting locate original site fort spring local tales told fort situated hill far main street elizabeth group unable determine tale hired archaeologist determine location old frontier fortification archaeological investigation site led fever river research consultation summer portion investigation initial site yielded pre civil war artifacts subsequently research team lightly site perform controlled surface collection surface collection yielded wide range artifacts including different types glass personal items small amounts brick stone structural materials items retrieved collection strongly suggested occupation site occurred early 19th century probably extending short term site uncovered original fort smaller estimated foot foot area significant contributions understanding nature early settlement archaeologists efforts fort site allowed construction replica beginning volunteers built fort tools materials settlers logs stripped split hand split hand trench dug connect cabin interior walls built foot long logs addition volunteers completed firing stands hand design archaeological investigation site found display nearly identical construction pattern fort blue black hawk war frontier fort near present day wisconsin major difference structures placement buildings walls apple river uncovered dozen original features apple river fort remains found fort southeast corner fort food storage dairy processing pit northwest corner fort west fort log buildings largest cellar located beneath fort southeast corner trash pit 1840s cellar yielded earliest archaeological material collected site significance played role black hawk war forts attacked conflict fort attacked band led site original fort holds potential yield significant sub surface archaeological artifacts data military archaeological significance added november january state illinois took operation reconstructed center state operates area illinois purchase funded illinois grant
Apple River Fort