The Battle of Stillman's Run, also known as the Battle of Sycamore Creek or the Battle of Old Man's Creek, was named for Major Isaiah Stillman and his detachment of Illinois militia which fled in a panic from Sauk warriors. According to witness statements, the militia may have been outnumbered two to one.
The engagement was the first battle of the Black Hawk War which had ignited after Black Hawk crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois with his "British Band" of Sauk and Fox. Following a failed attempt at truce negotiations by emissaries sent by Black Hawk, and probable deception by Warriors under his command, the militia pursued a group of Sauk scouts back to the main British Band camp. During the engagement 12 militia men were killed while making a stand on a small hill. The rest of the militia fled back to Dixon's Ferry where they spread news of a terrible slaughter at Stillman's Run.
The army at Dixon's Ferry, marched to the battlefield 2000 strong. Captain Abraham Lincoln was among the soldiers. It was here he learned his first lessons in warfare. He described the horror of the carnage to a reporter as grotesque. "The day was painted red", was how he was quoted. Lincoln assisted in the burial of the dead at Stillman's Run. The service was performed in the early evening, a trench first having been dug 16 feet long and nearly four feet deep and into this hastily improvised grave, Illinois soldiers, whose blood was the first shed in the Black Hawk war, were tenderly wrapped in their blankets by their comrades and with military honors given a soldiers' burial, the firing of a salute being their only eulogy. What a haunting image.
At the first stage you will see a plaque. To find the final stage you need to to look at numbers and do some math.
For the North coordinates of the final look at the first year inscribed on the plaque, find the last 2 digits making them AB. Multiple AB by 5, then add it to the north coordinates of the first stage.
AB x 5=___ + 402 = FGH
To get the West coordinates find the number of militia men noted on the plaque making that CDE. Subtract 62 from CDE then add the total to the west coordinates at the first stage.
CDE - 62 =___ + 580 = IJK The final coordinates are N 42 06. FGH W 089 10. IJK Good luck.