Learn about the Black Hawk War

ELIZABETH, IL - The Black Hawk War, a significant episode in American history, will be the subject of a community education class offered September 17 through October 22 at Highland College - West in Elizabeth, Illinois.

The class will be taught by Allen Reed, a Black Hawk War era re-enactor and active volunteer at Apple River Fort State Historic Site in Elizabeth, the site of a key 1832 Black Hawk War engagement. He will be joined by a guest expert during each class session. The registration fee is $36 and those interested may visit www.highland.edu or call (815) 599-3612 to register. The class meets every Wednesday evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. beginning September 17.

Sessions during the six-week course include:
• "The Beginning," history of the conflict between the Sauk and settlers before April 1832, with Black Hawk State Historic Site's Beth Carvey-Stewart.
• "Who Were the Sauk?" The culture of the Sauk and related tribes before the war, with Preston Duncan.
• "The War Starts," the crossing of the Mississippi River to the Battle of Stillman's Run, with Ben McLaughlin.
• "The Life of the Settlers" with Daryl Watson.
• "Battle at Apple River," the battle at Apple River Fort and other nearby skirmishes, with Apple River Fort Historical Foundation President Skip Schwerdtfeger.
• "Final Battles and the Aftermath," the Battles of Wisconsin Heights and Bad Axe and the year of captivity for Black Hawk, with Pete Shrake.

Apple River Fort State Historic Site in Elizabeth and Black Hawk State Historic Site in Rock Island are both administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.