on may 21, 1832, a small raiding party made up of some independent minded braves from keokuk's village or the fox village at dubuque's mines carried out a raid on the settlement at present-day savanna, illinois on the plum river. the party originated west of the mississippi river and were probably motivated by a desire to collect needed supplies. when the small raiding party arrived at the settlement they found it practically deserted: only three men were present. of the six men originally at the settlement, three had left when the raiding party arrived: blundell was away, upton was hunting nearby, and davidson had left the area in search of a horse. of the three men left at the settlement, hays and goss were trying to round up livestock, while only pierce remained at the blockhouse. pierce heard a dog barking outside and looked up to see a small band of native americans creeping along the river's edge. he immediately sounded the alarm and hays and goss sprinted for the blockhouse. gunshots started to explode behind the men as they approached the protection of their makeshift fortification.