Gone for Soldiers: Eli Matthews (1804 - 1864), Mounted Rifleman

When I first saw the Ancestry hint for this maternal third great grandfather, I didn't think it was likely because the event was in 1827 which seemed very early. I had forgotten that my Matthews ancestors moved from Tennessee to Sangamon County, Illinois, in 1818 (when Eli would have been about 14).

[Ancestry.com. U.S. Army Indian Campaign Service Records Index, 1815-1858 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2017. Original data: Index to Compiled Service to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During Indian Wars and Disturbances, 1815-1858; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M629, 42 rolls)]

Here's how the National Archives summarizes the events of the Winnebago Disturbances or War:

Resentment against lead mining operations on Winnebago lands east of the Mississippi River lead to hostilities. On June 26, 1827, four Winnebago Indians attacked a farm house at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, killing two men and scalping a child. To protect the miners and other settlers, four companies of volunteers were formed; the settlers requested additional support from Illinois and the regular U.S. Army. By September 1, 1827, most of the troops had reached the center of hostilities and although prepared for battle, only a few small skirmishes took place. Seven days later, surrounded by troops, the Winnebago chiefs surrendered and agreed to hand over the six Indians responsible for the attacks.

Eli married Susan Hanon in 1823 so he would have been a young householder when the call came to Illinois militia groups to form up in response to the "Winnebago Disturbances."

I found Eli's name in the Illinois State Archives, giving his term of service as a little over a month:

[Database of Illinois Winnebago War Veterans]

It doesn't look as if he saw very much, if any, active hostilities before being discharged.

You can learn more about Eli's life in this earlier post.



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