Battle of Waddams Grove

Battle of Waddams Grove
Part of the Black Hawk War
Battle took place over hill in background, the marker locates site of William Waddams' cabin, the first permanent white settler in Stephenson County, 1832.
Date June 18, 1832 Location Near Waddams Grove, Illinois Result minor American victory
Belligerents
United States	Sauk
Commanders and leaders
James W. Stephenson
Strength
12+	unknown
Casualties and losses
3 KIA	2-6 KIA

The Battle of Waddams Grove, also known as the Battle of Yellow Creek was part of the Black Hawk War. It took place in present-day Stephenson County, Illinois on June 18, 1832. After several incidents of Sauk Indian raids on settlers along the Apple River, Captain James W. Stephenson left Galena with a group of volunteer militia in pursuit of the Native party. The group clashed on June 18, 1832 near Yellow Creek and the ensuing battle descended into a bayonet and knife fight in which several Sauk and three militia men were killed. Stephenson was severely wounded by a musketball to the chest during the fighting. The dead were eventually interred in a memorial cemetery in Kellogg's Grove, Illinois where a stone monument was erected in memory of those killed during the war.