Captain Throckmorton estimated that against the river’s strong current, they would arrive at the previous day’s location no sooner than 10:00 AM. At dawn, Jack’s regulars took the center and led Atkinson’s forces toward the Indians’ main camp and brushed the scouts aside. Black Hawk and many others had slipped away during the night to go north leaving a vacuum in leadership that soon turned a retreat into flight. Alexander and Posey were on Jack’s right with Henry’s brigade on the left. Henry came out of the woods, on the top of a bluff, above several hundred Sauk and Fox warriors, women and children. A fierce battle followed for about thirty minutes, until Jack ordered half his regulars to break contact and close with Henry’s force to cut off the enemy’s escape route. Some of the Indians took to the river, reaching a willow-covered island, but many, mostly women and children, drowned. At about 10:30 when Warrior reached the island, Holmes directed fire from the 6-pounder onto the island until all resistance vanished.
