Grinnell Gallery
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Pottawattomie-Illini Battle Site
In 1769...
The Pottawattomie chief Pontiac was murdered. Believing the Illinois indians to be responsible, his tribesmen formed an alliance with the Ottawa, Chippewa, Sauk and Fox and headed south for revenge. Initially fleeing this onslaught, the Illinois rallied at the bend of the Little Calumet river to face their adversaries. Though making a determined stand, after several days the overwhelming numbers of the Pottawattomie alliance could not be resisted... and the Illinois retreated to what is now Joliet and Morris, Illinois... and from there on to Starved Rock, where they were nearly annihilated (according to legend).
These are photographs of the routinely flooded riverbend where most of the Illinois warriors were killed during the battle. The reason for this location are obvious -- It's on a slight rise and beneath it is swampy ground. These advantages in terrain, however, were not enough to win the day and preserve their people.
NOTE: Today many scholars question the legend of Starved Rock. This (separate) battle site (along the Little Calumet) may have been associated with the sequence of events leading up to Starved Rock later on... however it does appear that there was a battle of some sort at this location between the Illinois and the Pottawattomie alliance. Written records from the first white settlers in the immediate area refer to the area as a 'battleground' and numerous artifacts (clubs, knives, etc) have been found here over the years.
BattlePic1423
BattlePic1443
BattlePic1446
BattlePic1448
BattlePic1452
BattlePic1455
BattlePic1461
BattlePic1463
In 1769...
The Pottawattomie chief Pontiac was murdered. Believing the Illinois indians to be responsible, his tribesmen formed an alliance with the Ottawa, Chippewa, Sauk and Fox and headed south for revenge. Initially fleeing this onslaught, the Illinois rallied at the bend of the Little Calumet river to face their adversaries. Though making a determined stand, after several days the overwhelming numbers of the Pottawattomie alliance could not be resisted... and the Illinois retreated to what is now Joliet and Morris, Illinois... and from there on to Starved Rock, where they were nearly annihilated (according to legend).
These are photographs of the routinely flooded riverbend where most of the Illinois warriors were killed during the battle. The reason for this location are obvious -- It's on a slight rise and beneath it is swampy ground. These advantages in terrain, however, were not enough to win the day and preserve their people.
NOTE: Today many scholars question the legend of Starved Rock. This (separate) battle site (along the Little Calumet) may have been associated with the sequence of events leading up to Starved Rock later on... however it does appear that there was a battle of some sort at this location between the Illinois and the Pottawattomie alliance. Written records from the first white settlers in the immediate area refer to the area as a 'battleground' and numerous artifacts (clubs, knives, etc) have been found here over the years.
BattlePic1423BattlePic1443BattlePic1446BattlePic1448BattlePic1452BattlePic1455BattlePic1461BattlePic1463