Staff ride brings ASC senior leaders together

By Capt. Lonnie Collier, ASC Public AffairsDecember 15, 2015

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1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – George Eaton (front, foreground), ASC historian, talks to ASC senior leaders about the Battle of Wisconsin Heights during the ASC Senior Leader staff ride in Wisconsin, Dec. 12-13. The staff ride brought senior leaders from ASC together to discuss th... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Kevin G. O'Connell (right), commanding general, ASC, talks to senior leaders before the beginning of the ASC Senior Leader staff ride in Wisconsin, Dec. 12-13. The staff ride brought senior leaders from ASC together to discuss the Black Haw... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – George Eaton (right, mid-ground), ASC historian, talks to ASC senior leaders about the Battle of Stillman's Run during the ASC Senior Leader staff ride in Wisconsin, Dec. 12-13. The staff ride brought senior leaders from ASC together to discuss the B... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – ASC senior leaders pause for a group photo at the site of the Battle of Wisconsin Heights during the ASC Senior Leader staff ride in Wisconsin, Dec. 12-13. The staff ride brought senior leaders from ASC together to discuss the Black Hawk War and to b... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – ASC senior leaders pause for a group photo at the site of the Battle of Wisconsin Heights during the ASC Senior Leader staff ride in Wisconsin, Dec. 12-13. The staff ride brought senior leaders from ASC together to discuss the Black Hawk War and to b... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- Senior leaders from U.S. Army Sustainment Command shared leadership lessons and bonded during a staff ride where they learned about the Black Hawk War of 1832 near Sparta, Wisconsin, Dec. 12-13.

Staff rides are Army-approved training sessions where senior leaders visit historical military sites, learn lessons applicable to current operations about military strategies, tactics, logistics and structure while also conducting their own research into past leaders' thought processes.

This staff ride also marked the first time that nearly all of ASC's brigade commanders and senior staff came together and participated, so the event was not only about history, but building camaraderie. ASC is the largest two-star command in the Army with units spread over four continents.

"I want everyone to take this time to get to know one another and work together as a team," said Maj. Gen. Kevin O'Connell, commanding general, ASC.

The event started with a class overviewing the time before the Black Hawk War and the relationship between settlers and their Native American counterparts, which was contentious after several unfair treaties and land claims by settlers. In 1804, the land treaty between the U.S. government and the Sauk and the Fox tribes took large swaths of land from the Native Americans, to include the home of Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The incursion of settlers forced the Native Americans out of their land and caused problems for the Sauk and Fox tribes.

Hostilities began on May 15, 1832, between Black Hawk, commanding a group of approximately 1,200 Native Americans from the Sauk and the Fox tribes, and American regular and militia forces under the command of Gen. Henry Atkinson.

The war consisted of three main battles which were the Battle of Stillman's Run, the Battle of Wisconsin Heights and the Battle of Bad Axe.

According to George Eaton, ASC historian, the conflict began after a Native American peace delegation, from Black Hawk's forces, was attacked by U.S. militia forces, who erroneously believed that the Native Americans meant to attack them.

After the initial attack, Black Hawk and members of his party engaged and defeated pursuing U.S. militia at the Battle of Stillman's Run, May 14, 1832.

After the battle, the Sauk and Fox forces retreated back toward southern Wisconsin, while Atkinson and his militia forces pursued them. Col. Henry Dodge, under Atkinson's command, caught up to Black Hawk on July 21, 1832, and defeated his forces at the Battle of Wisconsin Heights.

Sauk and Fox forces took heavy losses but managed to temporarily escape from pursuing U.S. forces and moved toward the Mississippi River where they hoped to cross and seek refuge.

This was not to be, however, as the war finally came to a close on Aug. 2, 1832, when U.S. forces attacked the Sauk and Fox forces at the Battle of Bad Axe, along the river's shore.

The Native Americans were heavily outnumbered by militia forces and regular Army forces that joined the battle near the end.

U.S. forces also had use of a gunboat named, "The Warrior", moving up the river which used a 6-pound gun to deliver punishing canister shots against the Native Americans.

While most of Black Hawk's forces were killed or captured, Black Hawk himself managed to escape, but was later captured by a tribe loyal to the U.S. He was held captive for a year before being released. He spent the rest of his life as a regional hero, eventually honored by local settlers as a principled warrior defending his home.

The staff ride visited the war's key locations to include the sites of its three primary battles. The participants traveled together during the two-day trip, forming a closer relationship among leaders within a global organization who may not meet with one another on a regular basis.

"An overnight staff ride gives special ability to build camaraderie between commanders," said Eaton. "Everyone eats together, spends time together [which builds that bond between leaders]."

Several of ASC's senior leaders, to include its brigade commanders, taught classes about the war. Senior ASC staff, to include the G-2 (Intelligence) and G-6 (Information Management), spoke about how intelligence was gathered by Sauk and U.S. forces and how the two sides communicated with one another.

Brigade commanders at the event commented that this type of training is educational, but spending time together as staff and as fellow commanders is an important part of having a cohesive unit and allows senior leaders to openly discuss issues about the constrained fiscal climate and the importance of logistics in the future.

"This event obviously brings us closer and allows us to have that relationship as we discuss really difficult issues across the board," said Col. Michael Siegl, commander, 403rd Army Field Support Brigade. "Having that level of trust and relationships allows us to talk deeper issues and come up with mitigation solutions."

The event began the weeklong commander's conference hosted by ASC which will provide the opportunity for staff and leaders to discuss important issues throughout the command.