Wanted: Illinois & Michigan
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The Irish Rebellion. During the early days of canal construction, a battle, of sorts, occurred in this vicinity, between Buffalo Rock and Ottawa, in which several men were killed, many wounded, and about 60 arrested. In the few resources detailing this event there are many contradictions and ambiguities which have only served to cloud the issue. Taking all these sources into consideration, as well as other information pertinent to the situation, the author proposes the following interpretation of the incident known as the "Irish Rebellion. "
In 1837 or ‘38, a quarrel between the Irish Catholic laborers (called the "Corkonians") and the Protestant Irish laborers ( called the "Far-Downs"), spilled over into the labor camps between Marseilles and LaSalle. Apparently a fight between the two factions, at Marseilles, ended with the Protestants being thoroughly beaten. Elated by their victory, The Corkonians took their bravado toward Ottawa where they commandeered a ferry boat and crossed the Fox River. At Ottawa’s "Kerry Patch" they were joined by Edward Sweeney and 200 other Irishmen spoiling for a fight. Flushed with power and vowing to drive out the Far-Downs, the mob set off down the line, toward Peru, destroying the shanties of (and maltreating) any Far-Downs they came upon along the way.
In the meantime, Sheriff Woodruff, at Ottawa, sent a warning to his deputy, Zimri Lewis, in Peru, and himself began gathering a posse. Lewis, forewarned, immediately organized a noisy reception for the Corkonians, who, after a second day of unrestrained excesses, were surprised by the boisterous resistance than now confronted them. Intimidated by the noise, if not by the numbers, Sweeney’s mob retreated to Camp Rock (Split Rock) where they spent their frustrations on contractor Durgan’s employees. (Assuming the town to be secure, Lewis then spent the night recruiting additional men and arms.)
With the coming of the third day the Corkonians continued their retreat toward Ottawa, where at some point below Buffalo Rock they met Sheriff Woodruff’s posse of 80 man--settlers and town folks--coming down the line. Woodruff read them the riot act and demanded that they lay down their arms and surrender. To this the mob responded with a charge. Although Major D. F. Hitt and M. E. Hollister had attempted to organize the posse into a quasi-military group, the townsmen broke and ran, and by such the spirits of the malcontents were rejuvenated.
With the morning of that third day, Lewis’ forces were joined by a company of Americans and Far-Downs led by contractor William Byrne, and together they set off up the line in-pursuit of Sweeney’s Corkonians. Captain Ward B. Burnett had been appointed their military leader, but Lewis soon acceded him to that role. Upon nearing Buffalo Rock they certainly must have come upon remnants of Woodruff’s posse, where, after hearing of their defeat, Lewis determined his own future course of action.
The rioters were overtaken between Buffalo Rock and Ottawa, and Lewis repeated his superior’s demands. Again the Corkonians answered with defiance and hostile demonstrations, but instead of running in fear Lewis’ men poured a volley into their midst and followed it with a cavalry charge by those who were mounted. This time the Corkonians broke and ran, scattering in all directions. Those fleeing toward the north bluffs were pursued by men on horseback; those fleeing toward Buffalo Rock were followed by those afoot. Some jumped into the river and were shot while in the water.
In all, about ten to fifteen were killed, many wounded, and many more captured. Some sixty were marched off to Ottawa where they were held for a while and then released for bail on their own recognizance. Thus ended the " Irish Rebellion. "
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