The Black Hawk War Including a Review of Black Hawk's Life
by Frank Everett Stevens · English · Gutenberg #49402 · 986,032 chars · public domain (US)
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Title: The Black Hawk War Including a Review of Black Hawk's Life
Author: Frank Everett Stevens
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[Illustration: Yours faithfully Frank E. Stevens]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE
BLACK HAWK WAR
INCLUDING A REVIEW OF
BLACK HAWK’S LIFE
_Illustrated with upward of three hundred rare and interesting
portraits and views_
BY
FRANK E. STEVENS
FRANK E. STEVENS
1205 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BLDG.
CHICAGO . . ILLINOIS
1903
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1903, by
FRANK E. STEVENS
in the office of the Librarian of Congress at
Washington, D.C.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEAR MOTHER–
This book represents long years
of patient toil from which a
corresponding return is not
expected; it has been a labor of
love. To whom, then, should it be
dedicated but yourself, who spent
so many toilsome years to rear
its author, who may never repay a
fraction of the debt he owes you.
F.E.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: Line of March]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTRODUCTION
In the autumn of 1871, I began the collection of materials for the book
which is just completed; at a time when many original sources existed
from which to draw. Since that time, no opportunity wherein I might see
and talk with persons who were in the Black Hawk campaigns has been
lost, and from those interviews I have been able to gather information,
old letters, commissions, muster rolls and papers obtainable by no
possible system of correspondence.
I have endeavored to be thorough, and to be thorough has required space.
I deplore the necessity which forbids an expression of thanks to each
individual by name who has contributed documents, valuable portraits and
information from which this work has been constructed. I thank them all
as generously as I have borrowed, which has been much. Especially must I
thank Mrs. Catherine Buckmaster Curran, of Alton, Illinois, who
furnished me with a complete set of papers, without which I could never
have finished my work as it should be finished.
Mrs. Colonel William Preston Johnston, of New Orleans, who, at great
inconvenience and sacrifice of time, secured a copy of the journal kept
by Lieut. Albert Sidney Johnston during his service in those campaigns.
Dr. J.F. Snyder, Virginia, Illinois, President State Historical
Society.
Prof. B.F. Shambaugh, Iowa City, Iowa.
Mr. R.G. Thwaites, Madison, Wisconsin.
Charles Aldrich, Des Moines, Iowa.
Miss Caroline M. McIlvaine, Librarian Chicago Historical Society,
Chicago.
CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER I.–Birth, Personal Description and Character of
Black Hawk. Not a Chief. Made a Brave. Expeditions
against the Osages. Death of Py-e-sa. Period of Mourning.
Expedition against the Osages. Expedition against the
Cherokees. Expedition against the Chippewas, Osages and
Kickapoos. The first Appearance of the Americans 17
CHAPTER II.–British Intrigue against the Frontiers. Hatred
of the Americans. Treaty of 1804 25
CHAPTER III.–Treaty of 1804 and Black Hawk’s Version 31
CHAPTER IV.–Treaty of 1804 34
CHAPTER V.–Erection of Fort Madison. Rumors of Indian
Attack. Black Hawk joins Tecumseh. Returns to his Village.
Attacks Fort Madison. The Siege 37
CHAPTER VI.–Black Hawk enlists with the British in the War
of 1812. Deserts. Foster Son story. Keokuk made Chief 41
CHAPTER VII.–Expedition of Governor Clark to Prairie du
Chien. Lieut. Campbell’s Battle 46
CHAPTER VIII.–Major Taylor’s Battle. Battle of the Sink
Hole. Various Murders. British Agents withdrawn from Rock
River Country 52
CHAPTER IX.–Treaty of Portage des Sioux, 1815. Treaty of St.
Louis, 1816 60
CHAPTER X.–Fort Armstrong built. Black Hawk as a Fault
Finder. Annihilation of the Iowas 66
CHAPTER XI.–Treaties of 1822-4-5. Winnebago Outbreak. Attack
on the Boats. Arrest and Discharge 71
CHAPTER XII.–The Military Tract. Perils of Frontier Life.
Gathering Settlements about Black Hawk’s village.
Friction. Attempted Compromise. Complaints. Gov. Reynolds
calls out Militia. Notifies Clark and Gaines.
Correspondence. Gaines at Fort Armstrong 77
CHAPTER XIII.–Council. Militia Organized. March to Black
Hawk’s Village. Flight. Village Burned. Treaty of 1831 92
CHAPTER XIV.–Unrest. Messengers and War Parties sent out.
Attack on the Sioux. They Retaliate. Attack on the
Menominees. A Council 100
CHAPTER XV.–Ne-a-pope’s Mission. Keokuk’s Village. Council.
Black Hawk Moves down Iowa River and up the Mississippi to
Rock River. Atkinson Moves up to Ft. Armstrong 109
CHAPTER XVI.–Council. Atkinson calls for Troops. Reynolds’
Proclamation. Black Hawk Defiant. Gratiot’s Journey 112
CHAPTER XVII.–The Militia Moves to Rock River 116
CHAPTER XVIII.–Roster. Movement up Rock River Begun. The
Prophet’s Village Burned. Forced March to Dixon’s Ferry 122
CHAPTER XIX.–Dixon’s Ferry. Plight of Reynolds’ Messengers.
Stillman’s Defeat 129
CHAPTER XX.–Call for Additional Troops. Burial of the Dead.
Arrival of Atkinson. Lead Mines Militia. Erection of
Forts. Dodge’s March to the Four Lakes Country 139
CHAPTER XXI.–Atkinson Moves up Rock River. Indian Creek
Massacre. Narratives 145
CHAPTER XXII.–General Panic. Independent Companies Raised.
Atkinson’s March Continued. Insubordination. Army
Disbanded. Interim Regiment Raised 159
CHAPTER XXIII.–Various Illinois Murders, including those of
Sample, Payne and the St. Vrain Party 165
CHAPTER XXIV.–Atkinson’s March to Mouth of Fox River.
Dodge’s March to Meet Him. Capt. Iles’ March 172
CHAPTER XXV.–Capt. Snyder’s Battle. Murders in the Lead
Mines Country. Battle of Pecatonica. Capt. Stephenson’s
Battle 176
CHAPTER XXVI.–Attack on Apple River Fort 185
CHAPTER XXVII.–Organization of Forces at Ft. Wilbourn and
Disposition of Same. Murder of Phillips. March to Dixon’s
Ferry 188
CHAPTER XXVIII.– March to Dixon’s Ferry. Dement’s Battle 197
CHAPTER XXIX.–Murders near Ottawa. Posey’s Division Ordered
Forward. Alexander’s Division Ordered to Plum River.
Henry’s Division, with Regulars, Moved 202
CHAPTER XXX.–Consolidation of the Divisions. Capt. Dunn
Shot. Henry, Alexander and Dodge Detached to Move to Ft.
Winnebago. Posey sent to Ft. Hamilton. Disintegration of
Army. Alexander’s Return 208
CHAPTER XXXI.–Ft. Winnebago Reached. Stampede. Henry’s
Treatment of Disobedient Officers. Black Hawk’s Trail to
Westward Discovered. Forced March. Battle of the
Wisconsin. At Blue Mounds 213
CHAPTER XXXII.–Pursuit Resumed. Battle of the Bad Axe 221
CHAPTER XXXIII.–Throckmorton’s Narrative. Atkinson’s Report.
Black Hawk’s Flight. Capture. Delivery to Gen. Street.
Council 226
CHAPTER XXXIV.–Stambaugh’s Expedition 234
CHAPTER XXXV.–Examination of the Indians. Black Hawk a
Prisoner 238
CHAPTER XXXVI.–Scott’s Expedition. Treaty 242
CHAPTER XXXVII.–Movements of the Michigan Militia 243
CHAPTER XXXVIII.–Prison Life. Eastern Trip. Return. Council
at Ft. Armstrong. Black Hawk’s Apology. Black Hawk
Released 259
CHAPTER XXXIX.–Second Trip East. A Quiet Life. July Fourth
Toast at Ft. Madison. Interview with Iowas. Death. Burial.
His Grave Robbed. Bones Recovered. Consumed by Fire. Death
of Madam Black Hawk 268
APPENDIX: Abraham Lincoln in the Black Hawk War 277
APPENDIX: Jefferson Davis in the Black Hawk War 290
LIST OF PORTRAITS AND OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
ABERCROMBIE, LIEUT. J.J. From photograph deposited
by Hon. A.J. Turner, of Portage, Wis., in the
Wisconsin Historical Collections. 293
ALEXANDER, GEN. M.K. From daguerreotype owned by
his daughter, Mrs. J.A. Judson, of Paris, Ill. 192
ANDERSON, LIEUT. ROBERT. From ivory miniature
owned by his daughter, Mrs. E.M.C.A. Lawton,
Washington, D.C.; by her copyrighted in 1901,
and now first published. 293
ARCHER, COL. WILLIAM B. From a steel plate owned
by F.J. Bartlett, Marshall, Ill. 225
ARENZ, FRANCIS. From an oil painting owned by his
son, Albert W. Arenz, of Jacksonville, Ill. 93
ATKINSON, GEN. HENRY. From oil painting owned by
his grandson, Captain B.W. Atkinson, U.S.A Now
first published. 112
BAD AXE BATTLEFIELD. From oil painting owned by
Wisconsin Historical Society. 224
BAILEY, MAJOR DAVID. From oil painting owned by
his son, D.G. Bailey, of Delavan, Ill. Now first
published. 133
BAKER, LIEUT. E.D. U.S. Senator, Hero of Ball’s
Bluff. From rare plate in sketch of his life, by
Joseph Wallace, published in 1870. 130
BAKER, MRS. E.B. From photograph by Chiverton,
Dixon, Ill. She still lives at Dixon, Ill. 137
BALL, CAPT. JAPHET A. From old photograph owned by
John M. Ball, of Chatham, Ill. 130
BARNES, CAPT. ROBERT. From oil painting owned by
R.M. Barnes, of Lacon, Ill. 159
BARNEY, CAPT. BENJAMIN. From photograph made in
1870. 119
BARNSBACK, CAPT. JULIUS L. From daguerreotype made
in 1845, owned by Mrs. Clara P. Jones, of
Edwardsville, Ill. 125
BEACH, MAJOR JOHN. From Fulton’s Red Men of Iowa. 37
BEALL, MAJOR ALEXANDER. From photograph made in
1862, owned by William A. Peak, of Exeter, Ill. 123
BEGGS, REV. STEPHEN R. From “Kirkland’s Chicago.” 167
BENSON, JAMES. Private in Captain McClure’s
Company. At Stillman’s battle. From photograph
owned by McLean County Historical Society. 136
BLACKBURN, COL. JAMES M. From his only portrait. 225
BLACK HAWK (1 and 2). From American Phrenological
Journal for November, 1838. Second number. (3)
From portrait by George Catlin. (4) From
Patterson’s First Edition of Black Hawk’s
Autobiography. (5) From oil painting owned by
Wisconsin Historical Society at Madison by R.M.
Sully. (6) From McKenney and Hall’s Indians. 17
BLACK HAWK’S POWDER HORN. Owned by Iowa Historical
Society at Iowa City. Photographed by Prof. B.F.
Shambaugh. 272
BLACK HAWK’S PROMISSORY NOTE. From the original,
owned by Mrs. Fannie Anderson, of Louisiana, Mo.
Unpaid. 272
BLACK HAWK’S TOWER. As it appears to-day. 272
BLACKWELL, ROBERT. Paymaster. From daguerreotype
owned by Mrs. J.J. Brown, of Vandalia, Ill. 124
BLISS, MAJOR JOHN. From portrait in Minnesota
Historical Society’s rooms at St. Paul. 97
BOONE, CAPT. LEVI D. From an old photograph owned
by C.B. Rhodes, of Hillsboro, Ill. 126
BOONE, COL. NATHAN. Son of Daniel Boone. Only
picture. From daguerreotype loaned by his
grandson, N.B. Craig, of Hanover, Ill. 293
BOUCHARD, EDWARD D. From a tintype made in 1875,
owned by his son, Dr. William L. Bouchard, of
Chicago. Only portrait and now first published. 143
BOYD, JAMES M. Second Lieutenant. From photograph
owned by Dr. H.B. Tanner, of South Kaukauna,
Wis. 235
BRACKEN, LIEUT. CHARLES. From daguerreotype owned
by Thomas Bracken, of Mineral Point, Wis. 175
BRADY, GEN. HUGH. From oil painting owned by
George N. Brady, of Detroit, Mich. Now first
published. 120
BREESE, LIEUT.-COL. SIDNEY. U.S. Senator, Chief
Justice, etc. From his first portrait, an oil,
owned by his son, Sidney S. Breese, Springfield,
Ill., and now first published. 197
BRISTOL, JOHN E. Still alive. From photograph
owned by author. 135
BROWNING, O.H. U.S. Senator, Secretary Interior,
etc. From the engraving published with his life. 119
BUCKMASTER, MAJOR NATHANIEL. From his first
picture, a daguerreotype, owned by his daughter,
Mrs. Catherine Buckmaster Curran, of Alton,
Ill., and now first published. 97
BURNS, CAPT. JAMES. From daguerreotype furnished
by Hon. George Vernor, of Nashville, Ill. 193
BUTLER, CAPT. PETER. From daguerreotype owned by
R.O. Butler, of Monmouth, Ill. 195
CALHOUN, JOHN, of Capt. Goodan’s Company. The
County Surveyor who furnished Abraham Lincoln
with instruments and employment as deputy. He
was president of the Lecompton Constitutional
Convention. From three-fourths length oil
painting owned by Kansas Historical Society,
Topeka. 280
CARLIN, GOV. THOMAS. Then Captain. From oil
portrait in Executive Mansion at Springfield,
Ill. 94
CARPENTER, WILLIAM. Paymaster. From a steel plate. 124
CARTWRIGHT, REV. PETER. Private in Captain Reuben
Brown’s Company. From the plate in his
autobiography. 281
CASEY, ZADOCK. Paymaster. Later Lieut.-Gov. Member
of Congress, etc. From oil painting owned by his
son, Dr. John R. Casey, of Joliet, Ill. 179
CASSELL, ADJUTANT HENRY K. From photograph made in
1863, owned by Mrs. Richard Curphy, of Scranton,
Iowa. 160
CASS, LEWIS. Secretary of War in 1832. From the
engraving made by the U.S. Bureau of Printing
and Engraving. 100
CHETLAIN, A.L. From photograph owned by author. 142
CHETLAIN, LOUIS. Father of last above. Both in
Dodge’s Squadron. From old photograph owned by
the son. 142
CHRISTY, COL. SAMUEL C. From oil portrait owned by
his daughter, Mary F. Scanlan, of St. Louis, Mo. 93
CHOUTEAU, COL. AUGUSTE. From fine plate owned by
grandson, J. Gilman Chouteau, of St. Louis. 32
CHOUTEAU, COL. PIERRE. From oil painting owned by
Pierre Chouteau, of St. Louis. 32
CLARK, LIEUT. MERIWETHER LEWIS. Of Gen. Atkinson’s
Staff. From oil painting owned by Mrs.
Meriwether Lewis Clark, of Louisville, Ky., made
in 1832. 113
CLARK, GOV. WILLIAM. From engraving owned by
grandson, John O’Fallon Clark, of St. Louis. 54
COFFEY, CAPT. ACHILLES. From frontispiece of his
book, entitled, “History of the Regular Baptist
Church,” published in 1877. 190
COPES, WILLIAM. Private in Capt. Covell’s Company.
Still alive. Present at dedication of monument
at Stillman’s battlefield in 1892. From life. 138
COWEN, LIEUT.-COL. WILLIAM. From old portrait
owned by his son, Robert A. Cowen, of Chicago. 159
CRAIG, CAPT. JAMES. From the original, owned by
his son, N.B. Craig, of Hanover, Ill. 141
DANLEY, LEVI. Corporal in Captain McClure’s
Company. At Stillman’s battle. From plate owned
by McLean Co. Hist. Soc. 136
DAVENPORT, GEORGE. An assistant quartermaster of
militia. First settler on Rock Island. From oil
painting in Supervisors’ room at Rock Island. 113
DAVIS, LIEUT. JEFFERSON. From an ivory miniature
owned by Mrs. Davis and copied by her for this
work. 290
DEMENT, MAJOR JOHN. From portrait owned by author. 179
DICKSON, CAPT. JOSEPH. From daguerreotype owned by
his son, Joseph P. Dickson, of Platteville, Wis. 216
DIMMETT, WILLIAM. Private in Capt. Covell’s
Company. At Stillman’s battle. From photograph
owned by McLean Co. Hist. Society. 136
DIXON, ELISHA. Private in Capt. McClure’s Company.
At Stillman’s battle. From photograph owned by
McLean Co. Hist. Society. 136
DIXON’S FERRY. From oil painting owned by Miss F.
Louise Dixon, of Dixon, Ill. 129
DIXON, JOHN. From photograph owned by author. 129
DODGE, A.C. U.S. Senator, Minister to Spain, etc.
From photograph owned by his son, W.W. Dodge, of
Burlington, Iowa. 299
DODGE, COL. HENRY. Governor, U.S. Senator, etc.
From portrait owned by his grandson, W.W. Dodge,
Burlington, Iowa. 141
DODGE, COL. HENRY. In uniform as a U.S. Ranger, by
George Catlin. From the original, owned by W.W.
Dodge, of Burlington, Iowa. 141
DUNCAN, GEN. JOSEPH. Later Governor of Illinois.
From the oil painting in Executive Mansion, in
Springfield. 94
DUNLAP, ADJUTANT SAMUEL. From daguerreotype owned
by Mrs. J.M. Wagner, of Newman, Ill. 192
DUNN, CAPT. CHARLES. Chief Justice, etc. From the
oil painting in the rooms of the Supreme Court
of Wisconsin, at Madison. 191
EATON, LIEUT. NATHANIEL J. From daguerreotype made
in 1848, owned by his daughter, Mrs. Harriet
Eaton Root, of Alton, Ill. 113
EDDY, HENRY. Quartermaster-General. From
daguerreotype owned by his son (recently
deceased), John M. Eddy, of Shawneetown, Ill. 115
EDWARDS, LIEUT.-COL. ABRAHAM. President First
Legislative Council Mich. Ter. From portrait
owned by Mich. Pioneer and Hist. Soc., Lansing. 255
EDWARDS, CYRUS. From a steel plate owned by his
daughter, Mrs. George K. Hopkins, of Alton, Ill. 122
EDWARDS, NINIAN. First Governor of Illinois
Territory, U.S. Senator, etc. From portrait in
Executive Mansion, at Springfield. 54
ELKIN, CAPT. W.F. From an old picture owned by Lee
B. Elkin, of Springfield, Ill. 95
EWING, MAJOR W.L.D. U.S. Senator, etc. From
miniature made in 1835, owned by his daughter,
Mrs. Margaret M. Dale, of Kansas City, Mo. 224
FEAMAN, CAPT. JACOB. From photograph owned by
Elias Feaman, of Chester, Ill. 198
FLOOD, CAPT. WILLIAM G. From old photograph owned
by his daughter, Mrs. W.E. Boswell, of Carthage,
Ill. 123
FORD, THOMAS. Governor, Etc. Private in
Whiteside’s Battalion in campaign of 1831. From
painting in Executive Mansion, Springfield, Ill. 94
FORT ARMSTRONG. From an original etching by Mrs.
Alice C. Walker, of Moline, Ill., and loaned for
use in this work. 66
FORT CRAWFORD. From the oil painting made by
Arthur Brower. 121
FORT DEARBORN. From picture in rooms of Chicago
Historical Society. 167
FORT DIXON. From oil painting owned by author. 161
FORT MADISON. From a rare print in the “Annals of
Iowa,” furnished by Mr. Charles Aldrich, of Des
Moines. 37
FORT MADISON. Ground plan, from drawings in the
War Department, at Washington. 37
FORT SNELLING. From oil painting in collection of
Minn. Historical Society at St. Paul. 77
FORT WINNEBAGO. From painting owned by Hon. A.J.
Turner, of Portage, Wis. 308
FRY, COL. JACOB. From an old photograph owned by
his son, William M. Fry, of Carrollton, Ill. 95
GAINES, GEN. E.P. From engraving after the
portrait by J.W. Jarvis. 93
GEAR, CAPT. H.H. From photograph owned by Gen.
John C. Smith, Chicago. 299
GILLESPIE, ADJUTANT JOSEPH. From daguerreotype
owned by C.E. Gillespie, of Edwardsville, Ill. 96
GILLHAM, LIEUT.-COL. JAMES. From photograph owned
by his son, W.A. Gillham, of Riggston, Ill. 196
GIVENS, CAPT. WILLIAM T. From an old tintype owned
by his son, Robert S. Givens, of Waverly, Ill. 126
GRATIOT, LIEUT. CHARLES. Of Capt. Dowling’s
Company. From daguerreotype owned by his son,
Henry R. Gratiot, Gratiot, Wis. 142
GRATIOT, COL. HENRY. From oil painting owned by
Wisconsin Historical Society, at Madison.
Furnished by Hon. Hempstead Washburne, of
Chicago, a grandson. 115
GRATIOT, CAPT. J.R.B. From an ivory miniature
painted by the Swiss artist, Peter
Reinderpacker, owned by daughter of Captain G.,
Mrs. Ninette Hempstead, of De Soto, Mo. 141
GRIDLEY, LIEUT. ASAHEL. Of Capt. Covell’s Company.
At Stillman’s battle. From photograph owned by
McLean County Historical Society, of
Bloomington, Ill. 135
GRIGNON, AUGUSTIN. From oil painting in Wisconsin
Historical Collections. 235
HAACKE, DAVID. Of Capt. David W. Barnes’ Company.
Dressed in uniform of captain of militia of the
time, to which office he was appointed in 1833. 132
HAINES, ALFRED. Of Capt. John G. Adams’ Company.
From daguerreotype owned by his brother, James
Haines, of Pekin, Ill. 135
HAINES, JONATHAN. Of Capt. Adams’ Company. From
daguerreotype owned by his brother, James
Haines, of Pekin, Ill. At Stillman’s battle,
with his brother, next above. 135
HALL, OLIVER W. From tintype owned by his
daughter, Dr. Lucinda H. Corr, of Carlinville,
Ill. 133
HAMILTON, COL. WILLIAM S. From the original, owned
by the Wisconsin Historical Society, at Madison. 182
HARDIN, COL. JOHN J. From oil painting made of him
in 1832, owned by his son, Gen. M.D. Hardin, of
Chicago. 95
HARNEY, CAPT. W.S. From his first portrait done in
oil in 1825, owned by Mrs. John M. Harney, of
St. Louis, Mo., and now first published. 120
HARRISON, GOV. WILLIAM HENRY. From the oil
portrait owned by Betty Harrison Eaton, of North
Bend, Ohio. 32
HAWS, CAPT. WILLIAM. From photograph owned by J.W.
Thornton, of Magnolia, Ill. 159
HEADEN, WILLIAM. Surgeon. From oil painting owned
by Walter Headen, of Shelbyville, Ill. 124
HOGAN, LIEUT. JOHN S.C. Of Capt. Kercheval’s
Company. Second Postmaster of Chicago. From
“Kirkland’s Chicago.” 120
HOLLIDAY, CAPT. JOEL. From an old tintype owned by
his son, James H. Holliday, of Rileyville. 190
HORN, REV. REDDICK. From his only picture, owned
by H.M. Horn, of Republican City, Neb., and now
first published. 137
HORN, SYLVIA HALL. From photograph owned by her
granddaughter, Mrs. Samuel Dunavan, of Leland,
Ill. 154
HORNEY, SAMUEL. Quartermaster. From portrait
secured by John S. Bagby, of Rushville, Ill. 123
HUBBARD, LIEUT. GURDON S. Of Capt. Alex. Bailey’s
Company. From photograph by Mosher. 175
HUSSEY, NATHAN. Brigade Wagonmaster. From
beautiful daguerreotype owned by grandson, J.Y.
Hussey, of Williamsville, Ill. 195
HUSSEY, WILLIAM S. Fourth Sergeant of Capt.
Claywell’s Company. From old photograph owned by
J.Y. Hussey, of Williamsville, Ill. 198
ILES, CAPT. ELIJAH. In whose company Abraham
Lincoln was a private. From photograph made by
Anderson, of Springfield. 175
IRWIN, LIEUT. ALEXANDER J. From oil painting in
rooms of Wisconsin Historical Society, at
Madison. 235
JACKSON, ANDREW. President in 1832. From engraving
made from portrait by Earl. 54
JAMES, MAJOR THOMAS. From oil painting owned by
his son, Dr. Lewis James, of Racola, Mo. 143
JEFFERSON BARRACKS. From an old print–very rare. 100
JENKINS, CAPT. A.M. From oil painting owned by his
daughter-in-law, Mrs. M.E. Jenkins, of
Washington, D.C. 196
JONES, COL. GABRIEL. From an old tintype owned by
Adelia G. Gordon, of Chester, Ill. 217
JONES, GEORGE W. U.S. Senator, etc. From his first
picture, owned by his daughter, Mrs. J. Linn
Deuss, of Dubuque, Iowa. 299
JOHNSTON, LIEUT. ALBERT SIDNEY. From an ivory
miniature in the family of Mrs. William Preston
Johnston, of New Orleans. Published formerly by
the “Century Company.” 225
JOHNSTON, LIEUT. JOSEPH E. From the steel plate in
his “Narrative.” 246
KE-O-KUK. From the oil painting–the only one made
of him from life–secured by I.G. Baker, of St.
Louis. 27
LECLAIRE, ANTOINE. The Interpreter. From oil
painting in Court House, at Davenport, Iowa. 27
LEE, WILLIAM H. Of Capt. Samuel Huston’s Company.
Still alive. Remembers distinctly that Gen.
Atkinson swore in the Illinois troops at the
mouth of Rock River, including the company of
Lincoln. The author is under many obligations to
him for valuable information. 281
LETTER OF MAJOR NATHANIEL BUCKMASTER determining
what officer swore Capt. Abraham Lincoln into
the U.S. service. Owned by Mrs. Catherine
Buckmaster Curran, of Alton, Ill. 284
LINCOLN, CAPT. ABRAHAM. From his first picture, a
daguerreotype, owned by Hon. Robert T. Lincoln,
of Chicago. Copyrighted 1895-6 by S.S. McClure
Company. Use permitted here. 277
LINCOLN, CAPT. ABRAHAM. Discharge signed by him.
From the collection of Mr. Oldroyd, of
Washington. 281
LINCOLN, CAPT. ABRAHAM. Muster roll made by him
and in the possession of the author. 279
LOGAN, DR. JOHN B. Father of Gen. John A. Logan.
From oil painting owned by J.V. Logan, of
Menard, Ill. 196
LONG, MAJOR THOMAS. From oil painting owned by his
son, T.W. Long, of Taylorville, Ill. 119
LOWE, CAPT. GIDEON. From oil painting owned by his
granddaughter, Mrs. E.S. Purdy, of Portage, Wis. 128
MACOMB, GEN. ALEXANDER. Major-General commanding
U.S.A in 1832. From engraving after the painting
by T. Sully. 308
MADDING, CAPT. CHAMPION S. From daguerreotype
owned by his son, L.B. Madding, of Woodstock,
Wis. 194
MAP OF ILLINOIS. Showing marches, forts, etc. Made Facing
by author. Introduction.
MAP OF ILLINOIS. Showing “Military Tract.” Made in
1822, after LeSage’s Atlas. 77
MAP OF THE LEAD MINES DISTRICT. Made in 1832. From
Tanner’s Guide. 140
MARSAC, CAPT. JOSEPH. From oil painting owned by
Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society,
Lansing. Capt. Marsac was also interpreter at
the making of the Cass Treaty. 255
MASON, CAPT. R.B. From miniature made in 1846,
owned by his daughter, Miss Nannie Mason, of
Louisville, Ky. 225
MASON, GOV. S.T. From oil portrait which hangs in
the State House at Lansing, Mich. 255
MATHEWS, CAPT. CYRUS. From photograph owned by
Mrs. James R. Mathews, of Jacksonville, Ill. 160
MAUGHS, CAPT. MILTON M. From a tintype made in
1850, owned by W.B. Langley, of Chicago. Captain
Maughs was founder of Mauston, Wis. 139
MAYO, CAPT. JONATHAN. From old photograph
furnished by LeRoy Wiley, of Paris, Ill. 193
MAYO, WALTER L. 194
MENARD, CAPT. PETER or PIERRE. From daguerreotype
owned by A.H. Menard, of Tremont, Ill. 160
MOFFETT, CAPT. THOMAS. From photograph owned by
George M. Brinkerhoff, of Springfield, Ill. 198
MONUMENT AT INDIAN CREEK MASSACRE. From photograph
owned by Mrs. Samuel Dunavan, of Leland, Ill. 154
MONUMENT AT KELLOGG’S GROVE. From photograph owned
by J.B. Timms. 175
MONUMENT AT STILLMAN’S BATTLEFIELD. From
photograph owned by author. 132
MORRISON, LIEUT. JOHN. Father of Hon. William R.
Morrison. From photograph owned by latter. Of
Capt. J.S. Briggs’ Company. 197
MUNSON, RACHEL HALL. From a photograph made by
W.E. Bowman, of Ottawa, in 1865, and now owned
by author. 154
MCCLERNAND, JOHN A. Assistant Brigade
Quartermaster. From daguerreotype made in 1843,
when he was in Congress. Owned by his son, Col.
E.J. McClernand, U.S.A Never before published. 190
MCCONNEL, MAJOR MURRAY. From oil painting owned by
his daughter, Mrs. Lilla M. Boothby. 217
MCCULLOUGH, WILLIAM. Of Capt. Covell’s Company. At
Stillman’s battle. From plate owned by McLean
County His. Soc., at Bloomington. 138
MCKEE, WILLIAM. Private of the company of Capt.
Ralls. Same regiment as Capt. Lincoln. 138
MCMURTRY, CAPT. WILLIAM. From an old
daguerreotype. 195
NAPER, CAPT. JOSEPH. From daguerreotype owned by
C.A. Naper, of Naperville, Ill. 167
NEWHALL, DR. HORATIO. From photograph owned by
Mrs. William C. Barrett, of Galena, Ill. 140
ONSTOTT, CAPT. JOHN. From daguerreotype owned by
J.H. Songer, of Xenia, Ill. 191
ORDER of May 22, to Whiteside. Special No. 11. 162
ORDER of May 25, to cause injury. 132
ORDER to forbid firing of arms. 280
OREAR, GEORGE. From photograph owned by his son,
T.B. Orear, of Jacksonville, Ill. 123
ORENDORF, JAMES K. Private in the company of Capt.
Covell. At Stillman’s battle. From daguerreotype
owned by McLean County Hist. Soc., Bloomington
Ill. 138
OTTAWA. At the time of the Black Hawk War. From an
old sketch owned by W.E. Bowman, of Ottawa, and
now first published. 130
PARKER, LEONARD B. Quartermaster. From rare old
silhouette owned by his son, George W. Parker,
of St. Louis, and now first published. 193
PARKINSON, CAPT. D.M. From oil painting owned by
granddaughter, Miss M.L. Parkinson, of Mineral
Point, Wis., and now first published. 217
PARKINSON, NATHANIEL T. Of Dodge’s Squadron. From
tintype owned by Miss M.L. Parkinson, of Mineral
Point, Wis. 142
PARMENTER, ISAAC. Adjutant. From daguerreotype
furnished by H.T. Goddard, of Mt. Carmel, Ill. 194
PA-SHE-PA-HO, CHIEF. From “McKenney and Hall’s
Indians.” 27
PATTERSON, J.B. From photograph owned by his
daughter, Miss Tina Patterson, of Peoria, Ill. 27
PECATONICA BATTLEFIELD. From oil painting owned by
Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison. 182
PECATONICA–Plan of battlefield. From History of
Henry Dodge, by William Salter. 182
PIKE, LIEUT. ZEBULON M. From the engraving by
Edwin, in a “History of the War of 1812.“ 32
POINTER, WILLIAM, of the company of Capt. Seth
Pratt. Still alive. He was an old acquaintance
of Capt. Lincoln. 280
POWELL, CAPT. DANIEL. From an old photograph owned
by H.B. Trafton, of Norris City, Ill., a
grandson. 195
POWELL, LIEUT. STARKEY R., of the company of Capt.
William B. Smith. From daguerreotype owned by
his daughter, Mrs. Mary Catherine Peffer, of
Rochester, N.Y. 125
PREUITT, CAPT. SOLOMON–later Lieut. Col. in
campaign of 1832. From the “History of Madison
County.” 97
PRICE, CAPT. DANIEL. 127
PRICKETT, COL. DAVID. From oil painting owned by
daughter, Miss Christiana G. Prickett, of
Springfield, Ill. 122
PUGH, CAPT. ISAAC C. From old photograph owned by
Mrs. Mira H. Marks, of Decatur, Ill. 127
RAUM, MAJOR JOHN. From daguerreotype owned by his
son, Gen. Green B. Raum, of Chicago. 190
REMANN, MAJOR FREDERICK. From photograph owned by
Mrs. Fred G. Remann, of Vandalia, Ill. 224
REYNOLDS, GOV. JOHN. From the plate in his “My Own
Times.” 93
RICE, MATTHEW, of Capt. Solomon Hunter’s Company.
From photograph owned by his daughter, Mrs. M.E.
Smith. 198
RICHARDSON, W.A. Ass’t Quartermaster Maj. James
Odd Battalion. Lieut.-Col. Mexican War, Member
of Congress, Gov. of Nebraska, and U.S. Senator
to succeed Stephen A. Douglas. From photograph
owned by his son, W.A. Richardson, of Quincy,
Ill. 127
ROBINSON, ALEXANDER, Chief of the Pottowatomies.
From “Kirkland’s Chicago.” 166
ROBISON, JOHN K., of Capt. Gear’s Company. From
photograph owned by his daughter, Mrs. Amelia
McFarland, of Mendota, Ill. 299
ROMAN, RICHARD, Surgeon. From photograph owned by
Richard Roman, of Washington, D.C. 96
ROSS, FIRST SERGEANT LEWIS W., of Capt. John
Sain’s Company. From photograph owned by his
son, P.C. Ross, of Lewiston, Ill. 137
ROSS, CAPT. THOMAS B. From oil painting owned by
grandson, Robert W. Ross, of Vandalia, Ill. 192
ROSS, COL. WILLIAM. From picture owned by Hon.
A.C. Matthews, of Pittsfield, Ill. 119
ROUNDTREE, CAPT. HIRAM. From photograph owned by
his daughter, Mrs. Etta Roundtree Stubblefield,
of Hillsboro, Ill. 143
ROUNDTREE, CAPT. JOHN H. From photograph owned by
Miss Lilly M. Roundtree, of Platteville, Wis. 143
RUTLEDGE, THOMAS O., of Capt. Covell’s Company. At
Stillman’s battle. From old photograph owned by
McLean Co. Hist. Soc., Bloomington, Ill. 137
SANDFORD, CAPT. ISAAC. From oil painting owned by
O.S. Sandford, Tuscola, Ill. 191
SCALES, CAPT. S.H. From photograph owned by Samuel
Scales, of Shullsburg, Wis. 140
SCOTT, MAJ. GEN. WINFIELD. From his autobiography.
Made of him about the time of the Black Hawk
War. 246
SCOTT, MAJ.-GEN. WINFIELD. Headquarters at Ft.
Armstrong. 246
SEMPLE, JAMES. Later U.S. Senator, etc. From
“History of Edwards County.” 96
SHA-BO-NA, or SHAB-BO-NA. Spelled both ways in
this work, as both are used by the best
authorities. One “b” should, however, be
considered preferable. From an old tintype owned
by Hon. George M. Hollenback, of Aurora, Ill.
The last picture made of the old Chief, during
the first week of July, 1859, just prior to his
death. 166
SHELLEDY, COL. STEPHEN B. From old photograph
owned by Margaret I. Vance, of Cresco, Iowa. 192
SHULL, JESSE W. One of the oldest traders of
Northern Illinois. Went to the lead mines in
1819. From old photograph owned by Col. E.C.
Townsend, of Shullsburg, Wis., of which city
Shull was founder. He was a private in Capt.
Enoch Duncan’s Company. 140
SIMPSON, CAPT. GIDEON. From oil portrait owned by
Mrs. J.H. King, a granddaughter, of
Collinsville, Ill. 125
SMITH, CAPT. HENRY, U.S.A From old portrait, made
in 1831, owned by his sister, Katharine Smith
Sewall, of Watertown, N.Y. 113
SMITH, COL. T.W. From the oil painting in the
rooms of the Chicago Historical Society. 196
SNELLING, COL. JOSIAH. From Appleton’s Cyclopedia
of American Biography. Used by permission. 77
SNYDER, CAPT. ADAM W. From a rare ivory miniature
owned by his son, Dr. J.F. Snyder, of Virginia,
Ill. 179
STAHL, SERGEANT FREDERICK. From “History of Jo
Daviess County.” 139
STAPP, COL. JAMES T.B. From photograph owned by
Mr. Guy Stapp, of Chicago. 122
STAPP, WYATT B. From oil painting furnished for
this book by Mr. Guy Stapp, of Chicago. 133
STEPHENSON, MAJOR JAMES W. From oil painting owned
by Mrs. William Hempstead, of St. Louis. 179
STEPHENSON, CAPT. WILLIAM J. From photograph owned
by Alexander H. Brown, of Ashley, Ill. 191
STEVENS, FRANK E. From a photograph by Waters,
Chicago. Frontispiece
STEWART, COL. HART L. From “Kirkland’s Chicago.” 235
STILLMAN’S BATTLEFIELD. From recent photograph of
old cut, by Oliver W. Hall, who was upon the
scene the following day. Done in colors for this
work by Mrs. Chas. C. Dunlap, of Chicago. 134
STILLMAN, COL. ISAIAH. From his only portrait, a
daguerreotype, owned by his daughter, Mrs. Mary
E. Barber, of Libertyville, Iowa, and now first
published. 133
STRAWN, JEREMIAH. From photograph owned by Susan
S. Dent, his daughter, Chicago. 160
STRAWN, COL. JOHN. From photograph furnished by
Mr. J.S. Thompson, of Lacon, Ill. 159
STREET, GEN. JOSEPH M. From the “Annals of Iowa,”
furnished by Mr. Chas. Aldrich, of Des Moines,
Iowa. 100
STRODE, COL. JAMES M. From a rare ivory miniature,
owned by his daughter, Mrs. Luella Strode Howe,
of London, Eng. Copied especially for this work,
and now first published. 139
STUART, MAJ. JOHN T. From the first daguerreotype
brought to Illinois, owned by his widow–now
deceased–and loaned by her to the author. 94
TAYLOR, MAJOR ZACHARY. From the engraving made by
the Bureau of Printing and Engraving at
Washington. 54
TAYLOR, LIEUT. COL. His headquarters at Fort
Crawford. 128
CC
THOMAS, COL. JOHN. From steel plate in “History of
St. Clair County.” 122
THOMAS, CAPT. WILLIAM. From daguerreotype owned by
his daughter, Mrs. Belle Flynn, of Carmi, Ill. 194
THOMAS, COL. WILLIAM. From photograph owned by
H.E. Rusk, of Jacksonville, Ill. 95
THOMPSON, CAPT. JAMES. From an old photograph
owned by a son in Chester, Ill. 197
TOWNSEND FAMILY. Early settlers in the lead mines,
and all of them, brothers, served in the Black
Hawk War in Dodge’s squadron. Three of them
served in the Winnebago war of 1827. H.S.
Townsend, only recently deceased, was at the
battle of the Pecatonica. 144
TWIGGS, MAJ. D.E. From a photograph obtained from
Hon. A.J. Turner, of Portage, Wis., and now
owned by the Wis. Hist. Society, at Madison. 120
VAUGHAN, JAMES W. From photograph owned by his
son, G.W. Vaughan, of Sullivan, Ill. 125
VERNOR, Z.H. In the campaign of 1831, under Capt.
William Moore. From oil painting owned by his
son, Hon. George Vernor, of Nashville, Ill. 96
WA-BO-KI-E-SHIEK, the PROPHET. From oil painting
from life by R.M. Sully while imprisoned at
Fortress Monroe. Now owned by the Wisconsin
Historical Society, at Madison. 115
WAKEFIELD, JOHN A. Distinguished for services in
the war and for writing in 1834 (published at
Jacksonville, Ill., the same year), the first
history of the same. From his only portrait,
owned by his daughter, Mrs. Emily Terry, of St.
Paul, Minn., and now first published. 139
WALKER, CAPT. GEORGE E. First Sheriff of La Salle
County. From photograph made by W.E. Bowman, of
Ottawa, and now first published. 166
WA-PEL-LO, or WAU-PE-LA, CHIEF. From “McKenney and
Hall’s Indians.” 308
WESTBROOK, REV. SAMUEL, of Capt. Holliday’s
Company. Still alive, and who has furnished much
information for this book. 193
WARREN, CAPT. PETER. From a very rare tintype,
owned by a grandson, W.W. Warren, of Windsor,
Ill. 126
WAU-BAN-SE, or WAU-BAN-SEE. From “McKenney and
Hall’s Indians.” 166
WHEELER, CAPT. ERASTUS. From old tintype owned by
his daughter, Mrs. W.W. Erwin, of Minneapolis,
Minn. 97
WHISTLER, MAJOR WILLIAM. From “Kirkland’s
Chicago.” 246
WHITESIDE, GEN. SAMUEL. From the only picture ever
made of him–a very rare tintype–owned by his
daughter, Mrs. J.A. Henderson, of Mt. Auburn,
and now first published. 115
WHITLOCK, MAJOR JAMES. From a beautiful ivory
miniature owned by Mrs. Eliza A. Greenough, of
Marshall, Ill. 124
WILLIAMS, ARCHIBALD, of Capt. Flood’s Company. One
of Illinois’ most distinguished men. From old
portrait owned by his son, John H. Williams, of
Quincy, Ill. 127
WILLIAMS, GEN. JOHN R. From oil painting in rooms
of Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, at
Lansing. 255
WILSON, LIEUT. GEORGE, chum of Lieut. Jefferson
Davis, who carried the note from Lieut. Davis to
Miss Taylor which arranged for their marriage.
From portrait owned by son, Capt. George Wilson,
of Lexington, Mo. 293
WINTERS, CAPT. NATHAN. From photograph owned by
grandson, G.L. Winters, of Trenton, Mo. 126
WISCONSIN HEIGHTS, BATTLEFIELD. From the picture
owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, at
Madison. 216
WISCONSIN HEIGHTS–Plan of the battlefield. From
the “Life of Henry Dodge,” by William Salter. 216
WOOD, JOHN. Later Governor of Illinois. Private in
Capt. Flood’s Company. From photograph owned by
D.C. Wood, of Quincy, Ill. 217
WOOD, MAJ. JOHN D. From photograph furnished by
Hon. George Vernor, of Nashville, Ill. 197
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: BLACK HAWK.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER I.
BIRTH–PERSONAL DESCRIPTION AND CHARACTER OF BLACK HAWK–NOT A CHIEF–MADE
A BRAVE–EXPEDITIONS AGAINST THE OSAGES–DEATH OF PY-E-SA–PERIOD OF
MOURNING–EXPEDITION AGAINST THE OSAGES–EXPEDITION AGAINST THE
CHEROKEES–EXPEDITION AGAINST THE CHIPPEWAS, OSAGES AND
KICKAPOOS–THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE AMERICANS.
Black Hawk’s name, as given in his autobiography, was
Ma-ka-tai-she-kia-kiak[1], and, without reference to the many renditions
of it by various writers, is the version that will be adopted in this
work as nearest authentic. He was born in the year 1767 at the Sac or
Sauk village, located on the north bank of Rock River in the State of
Illinois, about three miles above its confluence with the Mississippi.
His father, Py-e-sa, a grandson of Na-na-ma-kee or Thunder (a descendant
of other Thunders), was born near Montreal, Canada, where the Great
Spirit was reputed in Indian lore to have first placed the great Sac
nation. Black Hawk was a full blood Sac, five feet eleven inches tall in
his moccasins; of broad but meager build[2] and capable of great
endurance. His features were pinched and drawn, giving unusual
prominence to the cheek bones and a Roman nose, itself pronounced. The
chin was sharp. The mouth was full and inclined to remain open in
repose. His eyes were bright, black and restless, glistening as they
roamed during a conversation. Above these rested no eyebrows. The
forehead was given the appearance of unusual fullness and height from
the fact that all hair was plucked from the scalp, with the single
exception of the scalp lock, to which, on occasions of state, was
fastened a bunch of eagle feathers. In his later years it was his boast
that he had worn the lock with such prominence to tempt an enemy to
fight for it and to facilitate its removal should he be slain in the
encounter. This statement, however, must be received as a boast and
nothing more, because among the Sacs the custom of plucking from the
scalp all hairs save the scalp lock was general and not confined to
Black Hawk’s redoubtable person, as he would have us believe. J.C.
Beltrami, the Italian traveler, who ascended the Mississippi in 1823,
stopping at all the Indian villages, particularly Black Hawk’s upon Rock
River, which he reached May 10th, has this to say, which is interesting:
“The faces of the Saukees, although exhibiting features characteristic
of their savage state, are not disagreeable, and they are rather well
made than otherwise. Their size and structure, which are of the middle
kind, indicate neither peculiar strength nor weakness. Their heads are
rather small; that part called by French anatomists _voute orbitaire_
has in general no hair except a small tuft upon the pineal gland, like
that of the Turks; this gives the forehead an appearance of great
elevation. Their eyes are small and their eyebrows thin; the cornea
approaches rather to yellow, the pupil to red; they are the link between
those of the orang-outang and ours. Their ears are sufficiently large to
bear all the jewels, etc., with which they are adorned; two foxes’ tails
dangled from those of the Great Eagle. I have seen others to which were
hung bells, heads of birds and dozens of buckles, which penetrated the
whole cartilaginous part from top to bottom. Their noses are large and
flat, like those of the nations of eastern Asia; their nostrils are
pierced and ornamented like their ears. The maxillary bones, or
pommettes, are very prominent. The under jaw extends outwards on both
sides. Their mouths are rather large; their teeth close set, and of the
finest enamel; their lips a little inverted. Their necks are regularly
formed; they have large bellies and narrow chests, so that their bodies
are generally larger below than above. Their feet and hands are well
proportioned. Except the tuft on the head, which we have already
remarked, they have no hair on any part of the body. Books which deal
greatly in the marvelous convert this into an extraordinary phenomenon,
but the fact is that, from a superstition common to all savages, they
pluck it out, and, as they begin at an early age and use the most
perservering means for its extirpation, nothing is left but a soft
down.”
With this personal description of Black Hawk, it may be well to add the
following, published in the “Annals of Iowa,” 3rd series, Vol. 4, page
195: “Bones of Black Hawk.–These bones, which were stolen from the grave
about a year since, have been recovered and are now in the Governor’s
office. The wampum, hat,[4] etc., which were buried with the old chief,
have been returned with the bones. It appears that they were taken to
St. Louis and there cleaned; they were then sent to Quincy to a dentist
to be put up and wired previous to being sent to the East. The dentist
was cautioned not to deliver them to anyone until a requisition should
be made by Governor Lucas. Governor Lucas made the necessary requisition
and they were sent up a few days since by the Mayor of Quincy and are
now in the possession of the Governor. He has sent word to
Na-she-as-kuk, Black Hawk’s son, or to the family, and some of them will
probably call for them in a few days. Mr. Edgerton, the phrenologist,
has taken an exact drawing of the skull, which looks very natural, and
has also engraved it on a reduced scale, which will shortly appear on
his new chart. Destructiveness, combativeness, firmness and
philoprogenitiveness are, phrenologically speaking, very strongly
developed. Burlington Hawk Eye, Dec. 10, 1840.”[3]
An intimate knowledge of Black Hawk is denied us. The little known of
him prior to 1832 is derived from less than a dozen sources, the most
important being his autobiography;[5] the others, nearly all military,
are to be found in treaties and the records of the war department. A few
settlers only knew him, because settlers about his haunts in those days
were exceedingly scarce. And so it has come to pass that his character
has been universally judged by the contact with him during the last five
or six years of his long life, while he was in a sense a captive,
brooding over his fallen estate, while the drapery of an eternal evening
was fast falling about him. At such an age, shorn of power, chafing
under restrictions, disgruntled at the supremacy of his ancient enemy
Keokuk, who had answered for his good behavior, the old man’s ambitions
crushed, he was naturally a distressing object, evoking that pity which
so universally appeals to an American and is so surely allowed to cover
a multitude of sins. Those few last years have been thus carelessly
permitted to become the monument to the man, and those who drove him
from power have been harshly judged or jocularly denominated “carpet
soldiers,” as much as to say the pioneers had never suffered hardships
nor endured wrongs. Justice to those whose wives and children had been
butchered, whose fathers and brothers had been burned at the stake,
demands that all the truth be told and the reason given why those
settlers, infuriated at the loss of two successive crops from Black
Hawk’s perfidy, finally drove his band into the Mississippi River at the
mouth of the Bad Axe and almost annihilated it.
It has been written that he possessed a mind of unusual strength, but
slow and plodding, with little genius and few talents to manage a great
enterprise in war.[6] The influence to sustain such a paradox, as well
as kindred irregularities and disorders of the man’s mind, may be
attributed to the fact that he was a confirmed hypochondriac, morbidly
regarding as frivolous everything save war. He was discontented and
reckless, envious of others with greater influence or name, and in
meeting questions in or out of the council with such men as Keokuk he
was churlish to a degree unless his individual will ruled. While it must
candidly be owned that the whites have been guilty of the most revolting
injustices to other Indians, notably Shabona, the same cannot be pleaded
for Black Hawk. He was found making and breaking engagements and
treaties[7] the greater part of his very long life, and then, when
retribution was imminent, he hoisted flags of truce down to August 2d,
1832, when his power for further mischief was forever crushed.
The reputation which he has established in Indian annals comes not from
any sacrifice he made for his people, for never in his life did he make
one. Neither comes it from his struggles for an oppressed race, for he
never conceived a solitary scheme for its amelioration. He had never a
lofty aspiration for his nation. His every venture was made for personal
aggrandizement or popularity. Tecumseh dreamed of a great confederation;
not to become a leader. Cornstalk, Logan and Pontiac were ambitious for
their people, but Black Hawk never. Black Hawk said of Keokuk that the
latter was a groveling sycophant, but Keokuk was the most powerful
orator of his race, and, penetrating the inevitable destiny of the
whites, he conformed to it and used his great genius to gain for his
people the greatest good. While Black Hawk was stolidly plotting for
war, Keokuk was planning to secure for his people good homes and larger
annuities, and these he secured, to their very great benefit. Black
Hawk’s prominence comes from notoriety alone.
In his various conflicts with the whites he was invariably the
aggressor. The unfortunate affair which resulted in the death of his
so-called adopted son cannot be, by any conceivable logic, tortured into
an exception, as we shall presently see. After the treaty of 1804 he and
his band were permitted to remain unmolested upon the ceded lands year
after year and decade after decade, a license rarely allowed and, as it
proved, a thoroughly mistaken policy. He received his yearly annuities
and retained the lands for which the annuities were given, literally
eating his cake and keeping it. His passions were many, but the
consuming passion of his life was hatred of the Americans, a hatred
without cause and as unjustifiable and unreasonable as man’s baser
passions are always found to be. Yet this may not be surprising, fed as
he was by his devouring gloom and restless, war-like spirit. The mantle
of charity has many a time before and since covered graver faults; so
let it be with Black Hawk’s, for it is said of him that in his domestic
life he was a kind husband and father, and in his transactions with his
people he was upright and honest,[8] if he was not ambitious for their
elevation.
Black Hawk was not a chief of the Sac nation.[9] He was simply a brave.
His father was the tribal medicine man, and whatever standing Black Hawk
may have secured was derived from his personal bravery and daring as a
warrior, which have never been questioned. Possessed, as we have seen,
of a martial spirit, he was ever ready and eager to lead war parties of
young companions to battle, and one or two engagements alone were
sufficient firmly to establish him in that leadership which bravery
fitted him to hold over his followers in war.
At fifteen, having distinguished himself by wounding an enemy, he was
permitted to paint and wear feathers and join the rank of the
Braves.[10] About the year 1783 he united in an expedition against the
Osages and had the fortune to kill and scalp one of the enemy, for which
youthful act of valor he was for the first time permitted to mingle in
the scalp-dance. As one exploit followed another his desire for blood
became insatiable, and from his own account, the number of the enemy
slain by him staggers credulity.
A short time after the ’83 tragedy–“a few moons,” as he puts it–Black
Hawk was leader of a party of seven which attacked a band of one hundred
Osages, killed one of their number and retreated without loss, Black
Hawk taking the credit for this fatality to his personal valor. His
taste for war, coupled with his prowess, attracted notice from others,
and very presently he was found marching at the head of one hundred and
eighty braves against the Osage village on the Missouri. Finding it
deserted, the greater number of his young followers became dissatisfied,
abandoned the enterprise and returned home, but Black Hawk continued,
and, with but five followers, came upon the Osages, killed and scalped
one man and a boy and then returned home. In consequence of this mutiny
he has told us he was not again able to raise sufficient force to move
against the Osages until his nineteenth year, during which interim, it
was claimed, the Osages committed many outrages on his nation.
In 1786 his restless spirit had planned another attack of a retaliatory
nature against the Osages. Setting out with two hundred followers, he
met a party of the enemy about equal in strength, which for a time
stubbornly resisted Black Hawk’s attack, but, unable to maintain an
unequal contest with the fierce Sac fighters, the Osages were finally
routed and the band almost annihilated. One hundred of them were killed
outright and the remnant which remained was left to be scalped while
helplessly wounded, or driven from the country, while, on the other
hand, Black Hawk’s loss was but nineteen men. Six of the enemy were
killed by Black Hawk–five men and one squaw–and in alluding to this he
adds these words: “I had the good fortune to take all their scalps.” In
recording his glorious enterprise his interpreter doubtless insisted
that the murder of a female by a great warrior was not creditable, for,
once the enormity of his offense is cited, he pleads in extenuation that
the squaw was accidentally killed; yet he scalped her.
The severe cost to the Osages of this battle brought about a treaty of
peace between the belligerents which lasted for a considerable period,
as peaceful times between Indian nations seem then to have been
reckoned.
The stormiest periods of Black Hawk’s life were all born of tranquil
times, and this interval of peace served to incubate a plan of campaign
against his ancient and inveterate enemy, the Cherokees, which was to be
fraught with consequences more serious than all his former campaigns
together.
Py-e-sa, Black Hawk’s father, the hereditary medicine man of his tribe,
had held the medicine bag for many years and his ability as a discreet,
fearless and upright man cannot be controverted. Regarding a campaign by
the young men so far from home as hazardous in the extreme, he joined
this expedition, and with his people paddled his canoe night and day
down the Mississippi River until the enemy was reached upon the Merameg
River, south of St. Louis, in vastly superior forces. The battle which
followed was stubbornly waged, but in it, as in so many others, the
ferocity of the attack put the Cherokees to flight, leaving twenty-eight
of their number dead upon the field, while the Sacs lost but seven
braves. But one of those seven was Py-e-sa, whose loss was never
thereafter supplied to the great Sac nation. Had he been spared to treat
of subsequent questions with the whites, his moderation had
unquestionably sustained Keokuk’s position and the campaigns of 1831 and
1832, with their trains of slaughter, would have been averted. In this
engagement Black Hawk himself killed three outright and wounded many
more.
By the death of Py-e-sa, Black Hawk fell heir to the medicine bag, with
its attendant responsibility. He immediately returned to his village,
blackened his face and remained tranquil for the succeeding five years
of his life, with no more stimulating employment than hunting, fishing
and meditation. During this period of inaction, Black Hawk maintains,
the Osages were constantly harassing his people by incursions into his
country, carrying with each invasion a predatory warfare extremely
distressing and galling. These became so frequent and offensive that, as
Black Hawk has told us, “the Great Spirit took pity on them” (the Sacs),
upon which event he took to the field. Here, at the head of a small
party, he overtook a few struggling Osages, so feeble that he simply
made them prisoners and handed them over to the Spanish father at St.
Louis. With this famous act of clemency he continued his plan of total
destruction of the offending Osages.
About the year 1800, the Iowa nation, having accumulated many grievances
against the Osages, made common cause with the Sacs for the purpose of
waging a war of extermination. Raising a force of about one hundred,
which joined the Sac forces, numbering now about five hundred more, the
two allies marched upon the unsuspecting Osages, who were unarmed and
wholly unprepared for defense. They valiantly defended their homes and
families and fought with the desperation known only to those who have
waged such defenses against overpowering odds. One by one and dozen by
dozen and score by score fell dead before the terrific attacks of the
most terrible of Indian fighters, until there was none left to fill the
gaps made in their ranks by the tomahawk and spear. Forty lodges were
destroyed and every inhabitant save two squaws was put to death. Then,
returning home, a great feast was made, at which Black Hawk exploited
his personal valor to his friends. In this engagement he killed seven
men and two boys with his own hand.
During those five years of meditation following his father’s death
resentment had but slumbered. They killed his father, ’tis true, but it
had been done defending themselves. The Sacs as a nation had no quarrel
with the Cherokees. But immediately he returned from his war upon the
unsuspecting Osages, Black Hawk collected another party and moved down
the river against them. In due season the enemy’s country was reached
and invaded, but, roam as they would, no more than five unknown people
could be found, four men and one squaw. The men, after a short
detention, were released, and the squaw was taken back to Black Hawk’s
village on Rock River.
The futility of this campaign rankled in Black Hawk’s heart for a time,
and to recoup his lost, or at least suspended reputation, he planned, in
the year 1803, about the ninth moon, the most extensive campaign of his
life against the combined forces of the Chippewas, Osages and
Kaskaskias. No just reason existed for this war; none of the tribes of
these nations had trespassed on Sac territory or rights, and none had
offended in any other particular. Black Hawk was piqued at his last
miscarriage and he simply made war against these people for the sake of
war, and bloody indeed it proved to be. During its continuance seven
pitched battles were fought, together with numerous skirmishes, in all
which more than one hundred of the enemy perished. Here again Black Hawk
boasts of personally killing with his own hands thirteen of the bravest
warriors in the enemy’s ranks. His ferocity in these engagements is the
best evidence for the statement that the glory of Black Hawk was placed
above every other consideration.
In 1763 France ceded Louisiana to Spain, though Senor Rious, the Spanish
agent, did not formally take possession of St. Louis and the upper
Louisiana country until 1768, and even then St. Ange, the French
Governor, continued to perform official acts until 1770. In 1800
Napoleon took it away again, retaining it until 1803, when it was
purchased by the United States.[11] During the Spanish domination Black
Hawk had been a periodical visitor to St. Louis, accepting frequent
presents and forming what might be termed a devotion to the Governor,
whom he designated as his “Spanish Father.”
After the conclusion of his last war, he paid this Spanish father a
friendly visit at St. Louis. Spanish and French domination had ended and
the Americans were just then taking possession of the country, much to
his regret and, as might be imagined, disgust. Here are his comments:
“Soon after the Americans arrived I took my band and went to take leave
for the last time of our father. The Americans came to see him also.
Seeing them approach, we passed out of one door as they entered another
and immediately started in our canoes for our village on Rock River, not
liking the change any more than our friends appeared to at St. Louis. On
arriving at St. Louis, we were given the news that strange people had
taken St. Louis and that we should never see our Spanish father again.
This information made all our people sorry.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER II.
BRITISH INTRIGUE AGAINST THE FRONTIERS–HATRED OF THE AMERICANS–TREATY OF
1804.
By the treaty of Paris, Sept. 3, 1783, Great Britain covenanted to
surrender certain western forts which were of great strategic importance
to the Americans in protecting the frontier from Indian incursions and
also in dealing with such as were disposed to treat honorably with the
Government. The compact was solemnly made and signed, but, disgruntled
from the loss of her colonies, the British government sent secret
instructions to its garrisons to retain these forts, and in consequence
not one of them was surrendered. Nor was this the only violation by the
British of their engagements. Agents were set to work over our vast
frontier to foment insubordination among the Indians against American
domination. These Indians were supplied with provisions and arms and
incited openly to war against the whites and drive them back east of the
mountains, and year after year they continued until the sickening
horrors of the stake and scalping knife were sweeping the feeble
settlements of the West from end to end.
France and Spain, both with colonial possessions to the west, while
gratified to see England stripped of her possessions, were suspected of
aiding the design of the British to restrict American settlements to the
shores of the Atlantic. Spain claimed exclusive ownership of the
Mississippi and commerce upon her waters by Americans was prohibited.
The “dark and bloody ground” of Kentucky, long the scene of carnage, was
made the first scene of British intrigue, where the atrocities of the
Indians were the most frightful in history. The tribes of Ohio and
Indiana, which were in the league, penetrated the settlements of the
whites, deluging the land with the blood of innocent women and children.
The Government, hopelessly involved with debt and graver questions of
state, could offer the struggling settlers no relief, and thus alone
they were forced to stand in hourly fear of butchery. They grew to look
for no help save in their own resources, and yearly meeting with
defiance, a pioneer community of militant husbandmen gradually grew and
moved westward; instinctively taught to rush to arms upon the breaking
of a twig or the rustle of a leaf in defense of their defenseless loved
ones in the cabin. When, therefore, Black Hawk lent a willing ear to the
British agent, accepted his presents and performed his murderous
behests, which he did, he should have expected the awful consequences of
defeat and annihilation which followed his years of hypocrisy, and
accepted the Government’s final requital with gratitude, or at least
Indian stolidity, instead of snarling at his fate and constantly
bewailing the elevation of others over him who had loyally stood by the
Americans and their Government in perilous times. He invited destruction
and was destroyed. The attention of the student is directed to this
phase of Black Hawk’s character as it develops in these pages down to
his defeat, August 2d, 1832.
The Sacs were originally British Indians, domiciled near Montreal. By
constant quarrels and wars with their neighbors their tribes, once
numerous and powerful, were reduced to a remnant and finally driven from
the country altogether. They settled in Wisconsin, where they met the
Foxes, similarly driven from Canada, and the two tribes immediately
combined, ever after being considered as a confederated nation. They
again grew powerful and arrogant and became involved in wars with their
neighbors. At the time of the last French and English war they took
sides with the English and received from that source presents for many
years. This British sympathy was born in Black Hawk, and continued with
him, growing in intensity as the Americans expanded and defeated the
English, until it became positive hatred[12]. When, therefore, he
repeats the statement that he heard bad accounts of the Americans in
1803, and then asserts that all his differences with the Americans date
from the signing of the treaty of 1804, he states that which cannot be
received with confidence. Prior to 1803 he never had found himself in
contact with the Americans to an extent worthy of note, and no cause,
real or imaginary, had been given him for a difference, yet on leaving
the Spanish father, mentioned in the last chapter, he catches a rumor,
adopts a prejudice and dictates for his autobiography the following
ill-natured words, false to begin with and as malignant as he was
generally found to be in speaking or writing of the Americans: “I
inquired the cause and was informed that the Americans were coming to
take possession of the town and country, and that we should lose our
Spanish father. This news made myself and band sad, because we had
always heard _bad accounts_ of the Americans from Indians who had lived
near them.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: KE-O-KUK.]
[Illustration: PA-SHE-PA-HO.]
[Illustration: ANTOINE LE CLAIRE.]
[Illustration: J.B. PATTERSON.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
During the years 1803 and 1804, Gov. William Henry Harrison of Indiana
concluded treaties with the Kaskaskias and the Wabash tribes, obtaining
thereby title to a large extent of country south of the Illinois River.
Having an immense stretch of country unserviceable for fishing and
hunting, many of the Sacs and Foxes considered it desirable to receive
annuities,[13] after the manner of the Wabash tribes. A bad hunt could
thus be recouped in a certain money stipend. Accordingly, slight
overtures were thrown out to this effect. The Sacs and Foxes roamed
north of the Illinois River, like the fugitive buffalo or lonesome bird
of passage. Those broad prairies afforded them no subsistence in hunting
or fishing. The bare claim to possession was their sole exercise of it,
and that frail tenure had been wrenched by conquest from others without
compensation in the smallest degree. Along the streams a few harmless,
nondescript Indians and tribal remnants lived, or rather remained, as
dependent vassals of the mighty Sacs and Foxes, but these were so
inconspicuous and weak as to be ignored by both the whites and Indians
in treaties.
There can be no doubt of a knowledge by the Government of this desire
for annuities by the Sacs and Foxes. President Jefferson was not the man
to simulate the existence of any unfair postulate in treating with the
Indians, who were at all times objects of his especial solicitude.
Accordingly, on the 27th day of June, 1804, he directed Governor
Harrison to treat with the Sacs and Foxes and obtain cessions of lands
on both sides the Illinois River, granting as a consideration therefor
an annual compensation. Agreeably with his instructions, Governor
Harrison called the head chiefs of the consolidated tribes to meet him
at St. Louis, which Pashepaho, head chief of the Sacs, Layowvois,
Quashquame, Outchequaha and Hashequarhiqua did. Here, on November 3d,
the following treaty was solemnly made and signed:
Articles of a Treaty, made at St. Louis, in the district of Louisiana,
between William Henry Harrison, Governor of the Indiana Territory and
the District of Louisiana, Superintendent of Indian affairs for the said
Territory and district and Commissioner plenipotentiary of the United
States, for concluding any treaty or treaties, which may be found
necessary with any of the Northwestern tribes of Indians, of the one
part; and the Chiefs and head men of the united Sac and Fox tribes of
the other part.
Article 1. The United States receive the united Sac and Fox tribes into
their friendship and protection and the said tribes agree to consider
themselves under the protection of the United States, and no other power
whatsoever.
Art. 2. The General boundary line between the land of the United States
and the said Indian tribes shall be as follows, to wit: Beginning at a
point on the Missouri River opposite to the mouth of the Gasconade
River; thence, in a direct course so as to strike the River Jeffreon, at
the distance of 30 miles from its mouth and down the said Jeffreon to
the Mississippi; thence, up the Mississippi to the mouth of the
Ouisconsing River, and up the same to a point which shall be 36 miles in
a direct line from the mouth of the said river, thence, by a direct line
to the point where the Fox River (a branch of the Illinois) leaves the
small Lake called Sakaegan; thence, down the Fox River to the Illinois
River, and down the same to the Mississippi. And the said tribes, for
and in consideration of the friendship and protection of the United
States, which is now extended to them, of the goods (to the value of two
thousand two hundred and thirty-four dollars and fifty cents) which are
now delivered, and of the annuity hereinafter stipulated to be paid, do
hereby cede and relinquish forever, to the United States, all the lands
included within the above described boundary.
Art. 3. In consideration of the cession and relinquishment of land made
in the preceding article, the United States will deliver to the said
tribes, at the town of St. Louis, or some other convenient place on the
Mississippi, yearly and every year, goods suited to the circumstances of
the Indians of the value of one thousand dollars (six hundred of which
are intended for the Sacs and four hundred for the Foxes), reckoning
that value at the first cost of the goods in the City or place in the
United States, where they shall be procured. And if the said tribes
shall hereafter at an annual delivery of the goods aforesaid, desire
that a part of their annuity should be furnished in domestic animals,
implements of husbandry, and other utensils, convenient for them, or in
compensation to useful artificers, who may reside with or near them, and
be employed for their benefit, the same shall, at the subsequent annual
delivery, be furnished accordingly.
Art. 4. The United States will never interrupt the said tribes in the
possession of the lands, which they rightfully claim, but will, on the
contrary, protect them in the quiet enjoyment of the same against their
own citizens and against all other white persons, who may intrude upon
them. And the said tribes do hereby engage that they will never sell
their lands, or any part thereof, to any sovereign power but the United
States, nor to the citizens or subjects of any other sovereign power,
nor to the citizens of the United States.
Art. 5. Lest the friendship, which is now established between the United
States and the said Indian Tribes should be interrupted by the
misconduct of individuals, it is hereby agreed that for injuries done by
individuals no private revenge or retaliation shall take place, but
instead thereof, complaint shall be made by the party injured to the
other by the said tribe, or either of them, to the superintendent of
Indian affairs, or one of his deputies; and by the superintendent, or
other person appointed by the President, to the Chiefs of the said
tribes. And it shall be the duty of the said chiefs, upon complaint
being made, as aforesaid, to deliver up the person, or persons, against
whom the complaint is made, to the end that he or they may be punished
agreeably to the laws of the state or territory where the offence may
have been committed. And, in like manner, if any robbery, violence or
murder shall be committed on any Indian, or Indians, belonging to the
said tribes, or either of them, the person or persons so offending shall
be tried, and, if found guilty, punished in the like manner as if the
injury had been done to a white man. And, it is farther agreed, that the
chiefs of the said tribes shall, to the utmost of their power, exert
themselves to recover horses or other property which may be stolen from
any citizen or citizens of the United States by any individual or
individuals of their tribes. And the property so recovered shall be
forthwith delivered to the superintendent or other person authorized to
receive it that it may be restored to the proper owner. And in cases
where the exertions of the chiefs shall be ineffectual in recovering the
property stolen, as aforesaid, if sufficient proof can be obtained, that
such property was actually stolen by any Indian or Indians belonging to
the said tribes, or either of them, the United States may deduct from
the annuity of the said tribes, a sum equal to the value of the property
which has been stolen, And the United States hereby guarantee to any
Indian or Indians of the said tribes a full indemnification for any
horses, or other property which may be stolen from them, by any of their
citizens; Provided that the property so stolen cannot be recovered, and
that sufficient proof is produced that it was actually stolen by a
citizen of the United States.
Art. 6. If any citizen of the United States, or any other white person,
should form a settlement, upon the lands which are the property of the
Sac and Fox tribes, upon complaint being made thereof, to the
superintendent, or other person having charge of the affairs of the
Indians, such intruders shall forthwith be removed.
Art. 7. As long as the lands which are now ceded to the United States
remain their property, the Indians belonging to the said tribes shall
enjoy the privilege of living and hunting upon them.
Art. 8. As the laws of the United States regulating trade and
intercourse with the Indian tribes are already extended to the country
inhabited by the Sauks and Foxes, and as it is provided by those laws,
that no person shall reside as a trader, in the Indian country, without
a license, under the hand and seal of the Superintendent of Indian
Affairs, or other person appointed for the purpose by the President, the
said tribes do promise and agree that they will not suffer any trader to
reside amongst them without such license, and that they will, from time
to time, give notice to the Superintendent, or to the Agent, for their
tribes, of all the traders that may be in their country.
Art 9. In order to put a stop to the abuses and impositions, which are
practiced upon the said tribes by the private traders, the United
States, will, at a convenient time, establish a trading house, or
factory, where the individuals of the said tribes can be supplied with
goods at a more reasonable rate than they have been accustomed to
procure them.
Art. 10. In order to evince the sincerity of their friendship and
affection for the United States, and a respectful deference for their
advice, by an act which will not only be acceptable to them, but by the
Common Father of all the nations of the Earth, the said tribes do,
hereby solemnly promise and agree that they will put an end to the
bloody war which has heretofore raged between their tribes and those of
the great and little Osages. And for the purpose of burying the tomahawk
and renewing the friendly intercourse between themselves and the Osages,
a meeting of their respective Chiefs shall take place, at which, under
the direction of the above named Commissioner, or the Agent of Indian
affairs residing at St. Louis, an adjustment of all their differences
shall be made and peace established, upon a firm and lasting basis.
Art. 11. As it is probable that the Government of the United States will
establish a Military Post at, or near the mouth, of the Ouisconsing
River, and as the land on the lower side of the River may not be
suitable for that purpose, the said tribes hereby agree, that a Fort may
be built, either on the upper side of the Ouisconsing, or on the right
bank of the Mississippi, as the one or the other may be found most
convenient; and a tract of land not exceeding two miles square, shall be
given for that purpose. And the said tribes do further agree, that they
will at all times, allow to traders and other persons traveling through
their country, under the authority of the United States, a free and safe
passage for themselves and their property of every description. And that
for such passage, they shall at no time, and on no account whatever, be
subject to any toll or exaction.
Art. 12. This Treaty shall take effect and be obligatory on the
contracting parties, as soon as the same shall have been ratified by the
President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the
United States.
In testimony whereof, the said William Henry Harrison, and the Chiefs
and headmen of the said Sac and Fox tribes, have hereunto set their
hands and affixed their seals. Done at Saint Louis, in the district of
Louisiana, on the third day of November, One Thousand Eight Hundred and
Four, and of the independence of the United States the Twenty-Ninth.
ADDITIONAL ARTICLE.
It is agreed that nothing in this treaty contained shall affect the
claim of any individual or individuals, who may have obtained grants of
Land from the Spanish Government and which are not included within the
general boundary line laid down in this treaty: PROVIDED, that such
grant have at any time been made known to the said tribes and recognized
by them.
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, [L.S.]
LAYOWVOIS, _or_ LAIYUVA, [L.S.]
_His_ (X) _Mark._
PASHEPAHO, _or_ THE STABBER, [L.S.]
_His_ (X) _Mark._
QUASHQUAME, _or_ JUMPING FISH, [L.S.]
_His_ (X) _Mark._
OUTCHEQUAHA, _or_ SUN FISH, [L.S.]
_His_ (X) _Mark._
HASHEQUARHIQUA, _or_ THE BEAR, [L.S.]
_His_ (X) _Mark._
In presence of
WM. PRINCE, _Sec’y to the Commissioner_.
JOHN GRIFFIN, _one of the judges of the
Indiana Territory_.
J. BRUFF, _Maj. Art’ry, U.S._
AMOS STODDARD, _Capt. Corps of
Artillerists_.
P. CHOUTEAU, _Agent de la haute Louisiana
pour le department Sauvage_.
CH. GRATIOT.
AUG. CHOUTEAU.
VIGO S. WARREL, _Lieut. U.S. Artillery_.
D. DELAUNEY.
Sworn Interpreters: JOS. BARRON.
HYPOLITE BOLEN,
_His_ (X) _Mark._
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER III.
TREATY OF 1804, AND BLACK HAWK’S VERSION.
On December 31st, 1804, the President submitted this treaty to the
Senate, which ratified it immediately.
In justice to Black Hawk, his relation of all incidents leading up to
this treaty, from the departure of French rule to its ratification,
which he always insisted was the bone of contention between himself and
the whites, will be given, and in justice to the Americans, his
inaccuracies, their logical deductions and the manner in which he played
the same against the facts will also be given.
In the first edition of his autobiography, published in Boston in 1834,
page 25, after concluding his sorrow at the advent of the Americans, he
stated:
“Some time afterwards, a boat came up the river, with a young American
chief (Lieutenant, afterwards General, Zebulon M. Pike), and a small
party of soldiers. We heard of him (by runners) soon after he had
passed Salt River. Some of our young braves watched him every day, to
see what sort of people he had on board. The boat at length arrived at
Rock River, and the young chief came on shore with his interpreter,
made a speech, and gave us some presents. We, in return, presented him
with meat and such provisions as we could spare.
“We were all well pleased with the speech of the young chief. He gave
us good advice; said our American father would treat us well. He
presented us an American flag, which was hoisted. He then requested us
to pull down our British flags, and give him our British medals,
promising to send us others on his return to St. Louis. This we
declined, as we wished to have _two fathers_.”
“* * * We did not see any Americans again for some time, being
supplied with goods by British traders.”
“Some moons after this young chief descended the Mississippi, one of
our people killed an American and was confined in the prison at St.
Louis for the offense. We held a council at our village to see what
could be done for him, which determined that Quash-qua-me,
Pa-she-pa-ho, Ou-che-qua-ka and Ha-she-quar-hi-qua should go down to
St. Louis, see our American father, and do all they could to have our
friend released by paying for the person killed; thus covering the
blood, and satisfying the relations of the man murdered; that being
the only means with us of saving a person who had killed another, and
we then thought it was the same way with the whites.
“The party started with the good wishes of the whole nation, hoping
they would accomplish the object of their mission. The relatives of
the prisoner blacked their faces and fasted–hoping the Great Spirit
would take pity on them, and return the husband and father to his wife
and children. Quash-qua-me and party remained a long time absent. They
at length returned, and encamped a short distance below the village,
but did not come up that day, nor did any person approach their camp.
They appeared to be dressed in _fine coats_, and had _medals_! From
these circumstances we were in hopes that they had brought good news.
Early the next morning the Council Lodge was crowded. Quash-qua-me and
party came up, and gave us the following account of their mission: ‘On
their arrival at St. Louis they met their American father, and
explained to him their business, and urged the release of their
friend. The American chief told them he wanted land, and they agreed
to give him some on the west side of the Mississippi, and some on the
Illinois side, opposite the Jeffreon. When the business was all
arranged, they expected to have their friend released to come home
with them. But about the time they were ready to start, their friend
was let out of prison, who ran a short distance, and was shot dead.
This was all they could recollect of what was said and done. They had
been drunk the greater part of the time they were in St. Louis.’
“This was all myself or nation knew of the treaty of 1804. It has been
explained to me since. I find by that treaty all our country east of
the Mississippi, and south of the Jeffreon, was ceded to the United
States for one thousand dollars a year! I leave it to the people of
the United States to say whether our nation was properly represented
in this treaty, or whether we received a fair compensation for the
extent of country ceded by those four individuals. I could say much
about this treaty, but I will not at this time. It has been the origin
of all our difficulties.”[14]
During the years 1803 and 1804, the British were in their ugliest humor
toward the Americans, and no effort to aggravate, yea murder, the
frontier was spared. In the face of those atrocities and in face of the
further fact that on January 9th, 1789, a solemn treaty of friendship
was made between the United States and the Sacs, at Fort Harmar, signed
by Te-pa-kee and Kesh-e-yi-va, the 14th article of which is as follows:
“The United States of America do also receive into their friendship and
protection the nations of the Pottiwatimas and Sacs, and do hereby
establish a league of peace and amity between them respectively; and all
the articles of this treaty, so far as they apply to these nations, are
to be considered as made and concluded in all, and every part, expressly
with them and each of them,”[15] it would seem in extreme bad taste for
Black Hawk to desire a continuance of British paternity and British
provisions, and flout British authority in the faces of those Americans
who were the sufferers. A sane man would expect something to happen.
Black Hawk stated and emphasized the fact that Pike went up the
Mississippi and returned before the treaty of 1804 was made, when as a
matter of fact he went up the river in 1805 and returned in 1807. Now if
he committed such glaring errors in matters of passing importance, what
can be expected in matters of graver importance? And where can the
intelligent student draw the line between fact and fabrication?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: GOV. WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.]
[Illustration: LIEUT. ZEBULON M. PIKE.]
[Illustration: COL. AUGUSTE CHOUTEAU.]
[Illustration: COL. PIERRE CHOUTEAU.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Much else that Black Hawk has said is altogether incorrect as well as
preposterous. There can be no excuse for his untruthful statement that
but four chiefs signed the treaty, because there were five, as the
record itself discloses, and Pash-e-pa-ho, the then principal chief of
the Sac nation, was one of them. Nor can it be seen that he strengthened
his standing with the public to charge William Henry Harrison, the most
upright of men, with giving the Indian emissaries fine clothes and
medals as part consideration for their signatures, and with stupefying
them with liquor and finally murdering outright the prisoner, and it is
certainly regrettable to find in his narrative no mention of the
sorrowing wife and weeping children of the murdered American who never
returned to his hearthstone.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER IV.
TREATY OF 1804.
That the Indian had many wrongs must not be denied, but that such wrongs
should be transferred from those who suffered them to the personal
account of Black Hawk, either entire or to any great extent, is a
proposition too monstrous for sober consideration. The simpering casuist
has strenuously endeavored to effect that transfer, even to the extent
of adopting his statements about the liquor and the murder. As needless,
yea repugnant, to all sense of propriety and truth as the task may be to
shore up the reputation of Governor Harrison against Black Hawk’s
aspersions, it has been thought best to quote the only historical record
at hand on the subject of the murder, and dissipate for all time the
maudlin sympathy which his contention has raised:
“Some time about the middle of the year 1804, three American citizens,
who had settled above the Missouri, were murdered by a party of Sack
Indians; and the Governor having learnt this circumstance, as well as
the hostile dispositions of the Sacks and Foxes toward the United
States, sent them a message by Captain Stoddart, in the month of
October, requiring their chiefs to meet him in St. Louis; and on his
arrival at that place he learnt the circumstance of the murder, as
well as the exertions which were making by some of the old chiefs
among them to give up the perpetrators of it, but who were opposed by
a majority of the nation, who declared their satisfaction at what had
been done, and their determination to protect the murderers at all
risk. The Governor dispatched another messenger to the Sack chiefs, to
inform them of his arrival at St. Louis, and urge them to make every
possible exertion to apprehend, and bring with them, the murderers;
but if that could not be effected, he requested that they would come
to him at any rate, assuring them of their being permitted to return
in safety.
“The Governor, conceiving that if they could be prevailed upon to come
to a conference it would be easy to convince them of the necessity of
preserving the friendship of the United States, had no doubt that he
would prevail upon some of them to remain with him as hostages for the
delivery of the murderers. But before his messenger had arrived, the
petty chief who headed the war party had surrendered himself to the
sachems or head men of the nation, and declared his willingness to
suffer for the injury he had done. On the arrival of the chiefs at St.
Louis, he was delivered up to the Governor, and a positive assurance
given that the whole nation were sorry for the injury which had been
done, and that they would never in future lift the tomahawk against
the United States.”[16]
At this same meeting, the treaty was made which has already been set out
at length, and while the same authority mentions the fact without
comment, it will be quoted, and following it some reasons may be noted
why the bargain was not one of particular rigor. At least Black Hawk’s
argument may be shown to be specious:
“At this meeting with the chiefs of the Sac and Fox Indians, the
Government negotiated a treaty by which the Indian title was
extinguished to the largest tract of land ever ceded in one treaty by
the Indians since the settlement of North America, as it includes all
the country from the mouth of the Illinois River to the mouth of the
Ouisconsing, on the one side, and from the mouth of the Illinois to
near the head of the Fox River on the other side; and from the head of
the latter a line is drawn to a point 36 miles above the mouth of the
Ouisconsing, which forms the northern boundary, and contains upwards
of 51 millions of acres.”
Black Hawk offers to leave the question of bargain to the people of the
United States. From present day standpoints it might be considered a
hard bargain, but from the facts in the case, the reply might be made
with an inquiry if the Wisconsin farmer got much of a bargain when he
bought from a sharper the Masonic Temple of Chicago for $2,000.
Two-thirds or more of the land ceded was claimed and occupied by the
Winnebagoes and Pottowattomies at the time, and Black Hawk knew the fact
and admitted it times without number on subsequent occasions. Even down
so close to him as the Prophet’s village, in the present county of
Whiteside, the country was Winnebago territory; the same at Dixon’s
Ferry, while over on the Illinois River the Pottowattomies had for a
great length of time held dominion, and this had never been controverted
by the Sacs and Foxes. The fact is that the United States acquired but
very little territory by that treaty, when the magnificent proportions
are mentioned without regard to the facts.
With his usual carelessness of fact, Black Hawk omitted to mention the
payments down in money and trade which were made and which in those days
were not regarded as trifling. He made no mention of subsequent and
additional payments and annuities, neither did he credit the Government
for the use and occupation of those same lands for over a quarter of a
century after they had been ceded. He omitted entirely that he had never
kept a treaty in his life until he was finally crushed and driven from
power at the point of the bayonet, and he forgot to omit the further
fact that all the Sac and Fox Indians, save Black Hawk and his immediate
followers, recognized that treaty as just in 1808, when a delegation
visited Fort Madison to ascertain if its erection was in violation of
it. Schoolcraft, Vol. VI, page 393, made a very sensible observation
regarding the sales by Indians of their lands: “But while any section of
their territories abounded in game, the Indians elected to retire
thither, and bestowed but little attention on either grazing or
agriculture. There was, therefore, a singular concurrence in the desire
of the emigrants to buy and in the willingness of the Indians to sell
their lands.”
At no time had the Illinois lands been valuable to the Sacs for hunting,
the streams and forests of Iowa having always been sought for their
annual hunts. There can be no doubt that this feature had its influence
exactly as Schoolcraft, the friend always to the Indian, has stated.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: FORT MADISON.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: GROUND PLAN OF FORT MADISON.]
[Illustration: MAJ. JOHN BEACH.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER V.
ERECTION OF FORT MADISON–RUMORS OF INDIAN ATTACK–BLACK HAWK JOINS
TECUMSEH–RETURNS TO HIS VILLAGE–ATTACKS FORT MADISON–THE SIEGE.
The object of the expedition of Lieutenant Pike, in 1805-6-7, was, among
other things, to select suitable locations for military reservations,
Indian posts and forts. One of the last named he located at the head of
the Des Moines Rapids, immediately above the mouth of the river of that
name, on the west bank of the Mississippi.
In 1808, First Lieutenant Alpha Kingsley, with Captain Ninian Pinckney’s
company, was sent there from below to construct the fort and garrison
it. His work attracted the attention of passing Sacs and excited the
suspicion that the act might be a possible infraction of the 1804
treaty. To determine the matter, a party, including Black Hawk, traveled
down the river to the scene, where a council or talk was immediately
held, at which the intention of the Government was fully discussed. The
explanations were satisfactory in every particular to the respective
chiefs, who, every one, cheerfully ratified the action of the
Government, commending the act as one of prevision for both parties, and
with assurances of good feeling returned to their respective homes. Even
Drake, the especial champion of Black Hawk, is forced to state, on page
79: “Some of the Indians went down the river, and, after an interview
with the officers in charge of the troops constructing it, returned
home, satisfied that there was no infraction.”
Not so with Black Hawk. He came to the spot bent on mischief, and while
the others entered and were engaged in the council, he remained aloof,
that no obligation might rest upon him if the talk should result
adversely to his wishes, his favorite trick for avoiding the meshes of
engagements which might conflict with the arrangements he had made with
his British friends, who were furnishing him supplies, as we have seen.
Thus was the construction of Fort Madison permitted to continue, and
thus was it in due time completed and garrisoned by seventy-five men;
but Black Hawk had studied well its plans and marked it for his
vengeance at such a time as stealth should permit him to ambush it and
butcher its garrison, lulled into a supine security[17].
During the winter of 1808-9, British agents, taking advantage of the
suppositious dissatisfaction of the Indians, moved industriously among
the tribes, and, through Black Hawk, were able to create among his
followers a desire to annoy the Americans. Reports of impending attacks
reached the garrison of Fort Madison from time to time. “Upon receiving
this information,” Lieutenant Kingsley wrote, “I made every exertion to
erect the blockhouses and plant my pickets; this we did in two weeks
(lying on our arms during the night), and took quarters in the new fort
the 14th inst. (April, 1809). Being tolerably secure against an attack,
we have been able to get a little rest, and are now making the best
preparations for the safety and defense of this establishment.”
This letter is dated, “Fort Madison, near River Le Moin, 19th April,
1809.” In the same letter Lieutenant Kingsley reported that rumors of an
Indian alliance are reaching him frequently, and that any coming trouble
may be traced directly to British influence. “The sooner the British
traders are shut out of the river,” he added, “the better for our
Government.” Thus was Black Hawk allied, preparing for his part in the
war of 1812 with England.
Governor Harrison, in a letter to the Secretary of War, dated Vincennes,
July 15th, 1810 (Drake, p. 62), said: “A considerable number of the Sacs
went some time since to see the British superintendent, and on the first
instant more passed Chicago for the same destination.”
General Clark, under date St. Louis, July 20th, 1810, stated in writing
to the same department: “One hundred and fifty Sacs are on a visit to
the island of St. Joseph, in Lake Huron.” John Johnson, the Indian agent
at Fort Wayne, under date of August 7th, 1810, said to the Secretary of
War: “About one hundred Saukees have returned from the British agent,
who supplied them liberally with everything they stood in need of. The
party received forty-seven rifles and a number of fusils, with plenty of
powder and lead.”
In 1811 Black Hawk eagerly accepted British counsel to join the Prophet
at Tippecanoe[18] for the purpose of annihilating Governor Harrison.
Failing in that effort, he turned westward with a party of Winnebagoes
to attack Fort Madison, but the long march homeward must have exhausted
his martial spirit, because that attack was not made by him until
September 5th, 1812, at 5:30 P.M. However that may be, he considered it
unwise to precipitate his contemplated attack without preparation and
care. Therefore, he had the ground thoroughly reconnoitered by his
spies, who reported that every morning it was customary for the troops
to march out for exercise, leaving no defense behind, and this was the
hour finally fixed for his attack.
His British band and about 200 Winnebagoes stealthily marched to the
neighborhood, where, after a consultation, the plan of attack was
changed into one of assault, which was immediately begun and continued
until darkness compelled the Indians to retire. The following morning it
was not resumed, as contemplated by the garrison, which lulled it into
negligence, for a soldier was permitted to leave the gate. He returned
safely, and John Cox, another private, was permitted to go out with less
show of caution. This poor fellow was instantly shot and scalped and the
Indians, with yells, then recommenced their assault. During the
engagement the boat of a Mr. Graham, who had arrived on the 4th, was
burned, as were two others belonging to the Government. Soon after fire
was thrown upon the blockhouses that stood near the bank of the river,
but syringes made from gun barrels were used with such effectiveness
that the blaze was confined to little damage. One detachment of the
enemy killed the live stock, plundered and burned the house of a Mr.
Julian and destroyed the corn. On the 7th the battle was renewed and
raged with greater fury, the Indians again throwing fire upon the
blockhouses and shooting flaming arrows into the roofs, but the garrison
repulsed every attack. In the evening the house of a Mr. Nabb was burned
and the blacksmith shop and factory of the garrison threatened. Had
these been fired in the prevailing wind, every man of the garrison had
been burned alive, but commanding officer Thomas Hamilton, by the most
heroic measures, forced the fire away until the wind veered, when he
dispatched a soldier to fire the factory, which he successfully did, and
in three hours it was consumed without danger to the garrison. During
the day, several Indians crept into a stable, and there, harbored from
musket balls, shot deadly arrows into the roofs, but a shot from the
cannon by Lieutenant Burony Vasquez finally drove them out. On the 8th
the attack diminished in ferocity, and on the 9th not an Indian remained
to be seen.
Inside the fort only one man was wounded, but the casualties of the
Indians were reported as upwards of forty.
Fort Madison, for the purposes of trading, was favorably located, but
for purposes of defense it was hopelessly inadequate. Timber, ravines
and the bank of the river afforded the enemy positions from which he
could not be driven. At the same time a small party could harass the
garrison with no great danger to itself unless some of the number became
imprudent. During the siege there were but first and second lieutenants
Hamilton and Vasquez, two sergeants, two corporals and a few more than
thirty privates to defend a fort–a force totally inadequate against a
horde of bloodthirsty savages.
After the 9th Black Hawk permitted several days to elapse before
resuming hostilities, during which he formed another plan to capture and
massacre the garrison. To all appearances they had retired to their
homes. Immediately so-called friendly Indians came to trade, including
Quash-qua-me and Pash-e-pa-ho, who, while professing friendship under
that treaty, could not resist British and Black Hawk intrigue, and were
then leagued with Black Hawk to destroy the fort by stratagem. These two
were readily admitted to the fort, retired and called again and again,
offering finally to entertain the fatigued garrison with a dance. The
officers, to oblige the men, signified a willingness to witness the
ceremony. Quash-qua-me was to signal Black Hawk, who was to be near by,
to rush in upon the men and murder every one while the dance progressed.
Early in the day a young woman, who had formed a strong attachment for
one of the garrison, appeared before Lieutenant Hamilton as though in
great distress. She was taken inside the stockade, and, when free from
observation, disclosed the plot of the would-be assassins. Her simple
story touched the heart of every man, and, though their long seige had
worn them down well nigh to despair, her love and devotion inspired a
strength and courage which would only falter when the spirit had fled
and left the useless body a clod upon the field.[19] Lieutenant Hamilton
caused a six-pounder, loaded with grapeshot, to be masked and ranged
full upon the stockade entrance. Sentinels were posted with orders to
allow no more than one Indian to enter at a time. Quash-qua-me and his
companions duly appeared and were admitted singly. The warriors within,
to a considerable number, gathered about the entrance, the designated
place, and began their dance, raising with their whoops and yells a din
to heaven. Suddenly the dance was suspended by the warriors making a
furious rush for the gate, which conveniently opened. Confident that the
plot had been successfully carried out by those inside, the others
outside madly charged the angle. A lighted fuse, flashed above the
unmasked cannon, brought those in front to a sudden halt, while those
behind, by reason of it, were plunged headlong into a confused and
confounded mass. Aghast at their miserable miscarriage, a general
retreat was attempted, but this was not accomplished by Quash-qua-me and
his immediate followers, who were made prisoners.
Finding himself in disgrace and fearing condign punishment, Quash-qua-me
renounced hostilities against the Americans, was released, and, with
slight exception, remained thereafter their faithful friend. His
followers, who were imprisoned, finally confessed the plot in its every
detail, and when released, as they immediately were, maintained a
lasting penitence.
In this episode Black Hawk was at a convenient distance in the bushes,
leaving all the danger and obloquy to fall upon Quash-qua-me.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER VI.
BLACK HAWK ENLISTS WITH THE BRITISH IN THE WAR OF 1812–DESERTS–FOSTER
SON STORY–KEOKUK MADE CHIEF.
It was not enough that British intrigue had maintained a reign of terror
upon the frontier where the sturdy pioneer was slowly and painfully
conquering a few roods of timberland to provide a home for his family.
It was not enough that his life, the only protection of that family,
should be daily menaced with ambush. British arrogance now menaced the
nascent Republic by extending its infamous tactics to the high seas,
bullying our infant commerce by exacting the right of search from feebly
manned vessels and cruelly impressing into British service American
seamen to fight their friends and relatives in case of war. On June 18,
1812, the declaration of war followed; then the fall of Mackinaw, July
17; the Fort Dearborn massacre, August 15, and, finally, the mortifying
and distressing surrender of Hull on August 16th.
These disasters opened wide the gates for British influence to promote
war upon the feeble frontiersmen, with such allies as Black Hawk, and to
him they were buds of mighty promise. The first act of the English
trader, Robert Dickson, who had headquarters at Prairie du Chien, was to
send La Gouthrie, the trader, by boat to Black Hawk’s village on Rock
River with presents, money and ammunition for this Indian and his band
of mercenaries who did his bidding. The Fort Madison affair followed,
after which Black Hawk and 200 of his followers immediately went to
Green Bay, Wisconsin, and joined the British expedition fitted out
there, and where the commander made him a speech, dubbed him “General
Black Hawk” and assigned him the responsible and distinguished position
of Aid to the great Tecumseh.[20]
In spite of these calamities, the pioneer hardened his heart, consigned
his family to the nearest fort, then, molding his bullets, he shouldered
his trusty rifle and marched with his brother settler to defend his
country, as he had defended his fireside so often before.
To have been assigned to the staff of Tecumseh should have exalted Black
Hawk to deeds worthy his renowned superior, but his peevish nature and
lack of capacity prevented a comprehension of his just duties. Colonel
Dickson admonished him to honest warfare, which was so distasteful to
Black Hawk that he wrote: “I told him (Col. Dickson) that I was very
much disappointed, as I wanted to descend the Mississippi and make war
upon the settlements.” This sentiment was, according to his own
statement, promptly rebuked by Dickson, as Black Hawk himself recited:
“He said he had been ordered to lay the country waste around St. Louis;
that he had been a trader on the Mississippi many years; had always been
kindly treated and could not consent to send brave men to murder women
and children. That there were no soldiers there to fight, but where he
was going to send us there were a number of soldiers, and if we defeated
them the Mississippi country should be ours!” Here Black Hawk displays
his besetting weakness–incapacity to comprehend the ethics of a cause or
situation.
Leaving Green Bay immediately, the troops marched past Chicago and
without event joined the British forces at Detroit. His first experience
in an open fight with the Americans caused surprise, as he stated: “The
Americans fought well and drove us with considerable loss. I was
surprised at this, as I had been told that the Americans could not
fight.” He followed the British army until the conclusion of the Battle
of the Thames, October 5th, 1813, with its disastrous consequences,
when, in the face of defeat to his friends, he, with twenty of his
braves, deserted in the night time for home, assigning for his reason:
“I was now tired of being with them, our success being bad and having
got no plunder.”[21] Not a patriotic declaration, to be sure! He arrived
home in the spring of 1814, and instead of settling down to peaceful
pursuits, endeavoring to make slight amends for his unjustifiable
warfare against the Americans, whose country he then occupied, he began
a long and bloody series of diabolical raids, inciting others to do the
same, until the remotest settlement mourned its dead.
In after years, when conquered, instead of expressing any contrition for
his acts, he invented for his autobiography a sympathetic sort of story,
but neither fact nor tradition comes to the rescue when it is analyzed.
Black Hawk claimed that he had one friend bound closer to him than was
usual, and in consideration of this unusual affinity he adopted the
friend’s only son. When departing to join the British, Black Hawk urged
the father to send the son to the war. To this proposition the father
protested his declining years, the favor with which the whites had
always treated him, the need of the boy’s assistance at home, and
refused to allow him to leave.
Returning from the war, Black Hawk said, as he was approaching his
village he saw a column of smoke curling over a hilltop near by, which
so excited his curiosity that he visited the spot alone (fortunate
intuition). There he found his old friend sitting in sorrow upon the
ground. Being revived by some water, the old man related to Black Hawk
the story of the murder of his son near Fort Madison, whither they had
gone to pass the winter and hunt under permission of the commandant. The
story continues that the young man started one day, as usual, for a
day’s hunting. At nightfall he had not returned and the father passed a
sleepless night. The following morning the boy had not come back and the
father sent the mother to rouse the neighborhood. (Why was she not then
present to minister to him?) Footsteps upon the snow soon brought the
party to the spot where the boy was found to have shot and skinned a
deer and hung it upon a branch. Here tracks indicated the presence of
white men who had come upon and taken him prisoner. Following their
trail, the body of the boy was soon found, the face shot, the body
pierced with dagger thrusts and the scalp removed, while his arms had
been pinioned at his sides. As the old man related this story, a great
storm rose which lasted for a long time, as though the heavens were
angered at the offense and threatening revenge. The old man died, and as
the storm subsided Black Hawk wrapped his blanket around the body, and,
kindling a fire, sat by it during the night. Were this story true, the
act were too dastard to find any explanation, but, as already stated,
neither contemporaneous history nor tradition from the many who love to
tell such tales confirms this weird invention. On the contrary, Fort
Madison had been finally besieged by Indians during the preceding year
(1813), the garrison starved to shadows, and only by stratagem were the
officers and men enabled to escape, which was accomplished by digging a
trench to the river, when, after firing the buildings, they descended
the river in boats.[22] Therefore, if the winter just passed, which is
the only inference deducible from Black Hawk’s account, was the winter
referred to, the father and son got no permission from the commandant,
because there was no fort remaining and no commandant, and, in view of
the hostility of the Indians, no settlers remained about the locality,
unprotected as they would have been. If by any juggling of dates the
winter referred to had been the one of ’12-’13, the peaceful Indians had
by their own request been removed far to the southwest, the garrison had
just gone through the first long siege before mentioned and only escaped
butchery by the plot which the Indian maiden had exposed.
None but hostile Indians were about the fort, and if the young man was
unknown and killed as related, he was certainly considered an enemy. If
known as the adopted son of Black Hawk, then openly fighting the
Americans, it was a fair presumption that he got no permission to hunt
and was considered as taken red-handed. The community inside Fort
Madison was in a serious mood those days and in no condition to receive
Indians with rifles on advantageous terms. Black Hawk arrived at his
village filled with indignation, as he has said. He was met by the
chiefs and braves and conducted to the lodge prepared for him. After
eating, he gave an account of himself and his travels, crediting the
Americans with some valor and marksmanship. In turn, the village chief
replied that with the absence of Black Hawk and his following, they
would have been unable to defend themselves had the Americans attacked
them. Not only had they been unmolested, but when Quash-qua-me, the
Lance and other chiefs, with their old men, women and children,
descended the Mississippi to St. Louis for protection, the Americans
received them with every evidence of friendship, sent them up the
Missouri River and there abundantly provided for them.
Black Hawk found on his return that Keokuk, during his absence, had been
made principal war chief of the Sac nation, which so enraged him that I
am forced to believe his attack upon that chief, which followed, was
unwarranted, though he magnanimously concluded his philippic with the
statement that he was satisfied.
Keokuk, chief of the Sacs, who was above Black Hawk in civil affairs,
had, from reasons of polity or preference, maintained close and constant
relations of friendship with the Americans and had prospered in the
estimation of the latter. His rising fortune created friction from the
first, then envy and finally implacable hatred on the part of Black
Hawk, who found himself unable to combat the influence of Keokuk, either
overtly or covertly, by reason of his incapacity. Instead of meeting
Keokuk on terms as nearly equal as his intellect would permit, he
invariably grew angry, allowed his baser nature to master him, and left
the scene vowing vengeance on the victor. Had he been able to throw off
his anger after a brief season, as many impulsive men can do, he might
yet have accomplished much, but a yellow streak in his nature forbade
it, and, I honestly believe, impelled the man onward to ruinous
decisions in spite of himself. His melancholy made him churlish and
revengeful, and consequently dissatisfied, unless punishing some real or
imaginary wrong.
British agents could not influence Keokuk, whose temper was naturally
amiable and gentle, and, if one wishes to adopt Black Hawk’s sarcasm,
politic, too. He favored peace always. In a sense he was luxurious for
an Indian, fond of pomp, and those attributes might in a measure have
superinduced his love of peace; but peaceful he was after the fire of
youth had somewhat succumbed to the influence of the whites, and so he
continued unto his dying day. His oratory was so perfect, his logic so
convincing, his person so magnetic and his pleas so engaging, that poor
Black Hawk made a sorry figure against him, and, after a few attempts,
dared never again appeal to the reason of his people against the
invincible Keokuk.[23] As an orator, Keokuk had no equal among the red
men, and the influence it acquired for him so rankled in the heart of
Black Hawk that the latter could never overcome his hatred of Keokuk.
Even down to the very last speech he ever made, at Fort Madison, he
could not repress an unfortunate fling at his rival; and too bad it was
that he allowed his passion to sway him from a plain and simple talk
upon past or present events. The words and sentiments of that little
talk were truly beautiful and had reflected much credit had he resisted
the temptation to speak ill of Keokuk. His life was then ebbing away,
and had that offensive portion of his talk been omitted, very many of
his evil acts could have been pardoned and forgotten. His melancholy and
his temper were his undoing.
-----
Footnote 1:
Occasionally rendered in early life “Black Sparrow Hawk.”
Footnote 2:
His weight is commonly placed at 140 pounds.
Footnote 3:
This statement, written at the time, would seem to warrant the
assertion by friends that Black Hawk’s old and disfigured “plug” hat
was buried with him, instead of a military cap, as contended by a few
claiming knowledge.
Footnote 4:
Much has been written of the perfection of Black Hawk’s head; so much
that it may not be inappropriate to refer to an article to be found in
the American Phrenological Journal for November, 1838, Vol. I, No. 2,
page 51 et seq. On page 60: “We are much pleased with the following
extract from the pen of the editor of the U.S. Literary Gazette,
Philadelphia: ‘We found time yesterday to visit Black Hawk and the
Indian chiefs at the Congress Hall Hotel. We went into their chamber,
and found most of them sitting or lying on their beds. Black Hawk was
sitting on a chair and apparently depressed in spirits. He is about
sixty-five, of middling size, with a head that would excite the envy
of a phrenologist–one of the finest that Heaven ever let fall on the
shoulders of an Indian.’
1. Amativeness, large. 20. Constructiveness, small.
2. Philoprogenitiveness, large. 21. Ideality, moderate.
3. Adhesiveness, large. 22. Imitation, small.
4. Inhabitiveness, large. 23. Mirthfulness, full.
5. Concentrativeness, large. 24. Individuality, very large.
6. Combativeness, very large. 25. Form, very large.
7. Destructiveness, very large. 26. Size, very large.
8. Alimentativeness, average. 27. Weight, large.
9. Acquisitiveness, large. 28. Color, large.
10. Secretiveness, very large. 29. Order, large.
11. Cautiousness, full. 30. Calculation, large.
12. Approbativeness, very large. 31. Locality, very large.
13. Self-esteem, very large. 32. Eventuality, very large.
14. Firmness, very large. 33. Time, uncertain.
15. Conscientiousness, moderate. 34. Tune, uncertain.
16. Hope, small. 35. Language, large.
17. Marvelousness, large. 36. Comparison, large.
18. Veneration, very large. 37. Causality, average.
19. Benevolence, moderate.
Measurements from his bust:
Circumference of the head, around 23 inches
philoprogenitiveness, secretiveness and
eventuality
From ear to ear, over firmness 14 6·8 ”
” ” veneration 14 6·8 ”
From the meatus auditoris to firmness 6½ ”
” ” veneration 6⅓ ”
” ” benevolence 6⅛ ”
” ” comparison 6⅛ ”
” ” individuality 5½ ”
” ” 5⅛ ”
philoprogenitiveness
” ” self-esteem 6⅝ ”
From destructiveness to destructiveness 6⅝ ”
From secretiveness to secretiveness 6⅝ ”
From combativeness to combativeness 5⅝ ”
From cautiousness to cautiousness 5⅞ ”
From ideality to ideality 5 ”
“These measurements are taken with callipers, from the bust of Black
Hawk, which was taken in plaster of Paris from the living head and
face, by the Messrs. Fowler, in 1837, at New York. As his head was
mostly shaved, they are probably as perfect and accurate, by making
allowance of about half an inch for integuments, as though measured
directly on the skull itself.”
Footnote 5:
That book was dictated by Black Hawk in 1833, interpreted by Antoine
Le Claire to J.B. Patterson, who wrote it down in English and assisted
materially in securing its publication the following year. Mr.
Patterson was a private in Captain Maughs’ company of Jo Daviess
County volunteers.
Footnote 6:
Reynolds, “My Own Times,” p. 320; Perkins and Peck, Annals of the
West; Hist. Des Moines Co., Iowa. Brown’s Hist. of Illinois, p. 377:
“Black Hawk compared with Philip of Pokanoket, Pontiac, Little Turtle
or Tecumseh, was but an ordinary man–inferior vastly to either. That
he was brave is probable. Mere bravery is but a common virtue in the
savage. That he was politic beyond others can scarcely be pretended.
He evinced no particular talents in any of his plans, nor did he
exhibit extraordinary skill in their accomplishment.”
Footnote 7:
Hist. of Des Moines County, p. 345.
Footnote 8:
Reynolds, “My Own Times;” Hist. of Des Moines County, p. 339.
Footnote 9:
Perkins and Peck, “Annals of the West,” p. 795, Ed. of 1850; Thwaite’s
“Story of Black Hawk;” Hist. of Des Moines County, Iowa; Fulton’s “Red
Men of Iowa,” and letters from Agents Forsythe and St. Vrain.
Footnote 10:
Drake.
Footnote 11:
Treaty concluded April 30, 1803.
Footnote 12:
The Illinois country, to which the two tribes finally emigrated, was
transferred by the French to the English crown in 1765. Thus Black
Hawk was born under British rule.
Footnote 13:
Brown’s Hist. of Illinois, p. 381, is emphatic on this point.
Footnote 14:
When the French discovered and took possession of Illinois, neither
the Sacs nor Foxes had any claim or existence on the tract of country
mentioned in this treaty. Am. State Papers, V, 689, 690, 663. Dawson’s
Life of Harrison, 59. Perkins and Peck, Annals of the West, 546.
Footnote 15:
“Public Statutes at Large,” ed. 1848, p. 31.
Footnote 16:
Dawson’s “Life of Harrison.” (William Henry.)
Footnote 17:
The exact number employed on this construction was one first
lieutenant. Alpha Kingsley; one second lieutenant, Nathaniel Pryor;
one surgeon’s mate, three sergeants, three corporals, two musicians
and sixty privates of Captain Pinckney’s company of the First
Infantry.–Annals of Iowa, Vol. 3, No. 2. p. 103.
Footnote 18:
Reynolds, “My Own Times.”
Footnote 19:
Maj. John Beach, agent of Sacs and Foxes, substantiated the story.
Fulton and in Hist. Lee Co., Iowa, p. 358.
Footnote 20:
In 1811, there being a strong probability of war, a deputation of Sacs
and Foxes, said to have included Quash-qua-me, visited Washington to
tender the services of their tribes to the President; but the members
of it were thanked and requested to remain neutral and they returned.
Again in 1812, after war had been declared, the same tribes sent
deputations to the American agent at St. Louis, renewing their offer
of services to fight the British, but again they were urged to remain
neutral, which most of them did.
Footnote 21:
Black Hawk fought at the Battle of Frenchtown, January 22, 1813, and
participated in the massacre of the 23d which followed. He was also at
Ft. Meigs, April 28, 1813; Ft. Stephenson, July 31, and finally the
Battle of the Thames. October 5, 1813.
Footnote 22:
Fulton, p. 76. The Annals of Iowa.
Footnote 23:
Their final contest was in April, 1832.
-----
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER VII.
EXPEDITION OF GOVERNOR CLARK TO PRAIRIE DU CHIEN–LIEUTENANT CAMPBELL’S
BATTLE.
During the absence of Black Hawk, in 1812 and 1813, Fort Madison fell
and considerable trouble was encountered from Indians, but, whether Sacs
or others,[24] the Sacs were never molested by the Americans. That the
Sacs were unprepared to stand an attack was freely told him on his
arrival, and Wash-e-own, who paid him a visit, was warm in his praises
of American kindness, upon which Black Hawk scornfully commented: “I
made no reply to these remarks, as the speaker was old and talked like a
child.”
Such perverse assertions as this one, constantly recurring throughout
his autobiography, are irritating to one who desires candor, and in the
face of them it is difficult to deal justly in the premises without
appearing almost savage. He constantly asserts that he never fought the
Americans without being first attacked, yet who can say that the
Americans had attacked or disturbed him up to this point? And how had
the Americans disturbed him after his arrival home in 1814? His village
had never been molested, though on his account it might have been with
good cause. He was still enjoying the use and occupation of it, but,
notwithstanding that fact, he was no sooner back to it but he began an
organized campaign of bloodshed on the frontier. Like the torch applied
to the dried grass of the prairie, the Sacs and Winnebagoes, under him,
spread their ravages in 1814. British agents again had material to work
on, and their machinations produced results, as the journals of the day
recite.
Black Hawk stated that he, with thirty braves, _immediately_ on his
return in 1814, out of revenge for the murder of his supposed adopted
son, descended the Mississippi, and that the battle of the “sink hole”
followed. This would need to be early in 1814, whereas the fact is that
the battle of the “sink hole” was fought nearly a year and a quarter
after that time, and, what is more, after peace had been declared
between the United States and Great Britain. Now if we cannot believe
Black Hawk’s assertion in that important matter, which is refuted by the
record, then when can he be believed?
Indian depredations made necessary the rehabilitation of the fort at
Prairie du Chien[25], long since allowed to fall into a state of decay
by the British, and, by reason of the need of troops further to the
east, Dickson had removed the garrison to Green Bay. For the purpose of
capturing and repairing it, Governor Clark of St. Louis prepared an
expedition to ascend the river, which was duly chronicled in the prints
of the day:
“A military expedition, of about 200 men in five barges, under the
command of Gov. Clark, left St. Louis on the 1st of May, for Prairie
du Chien, supposedly with a view of building a fort there and making a
station to keep in check the Sioux, Winnebagoes and Falsavoine, lately
stirred up to hostility by the infamous British agent, Dickson. There
have been several murders by them.”[26]
Another dispatch showing the success of the venture is as follows:
“St. Louis, June 18.–On Monday evening last a barge arrived here from
Prairie du Chien, with Gov. Clark and a few gentlemen who accompanied
him on his expedition to that place. We are very happy in being able
to announce the fortunate result of that hazardous enterprise.
“Nothing worthy of remark attended the flotilla from the time they
left St. Louis until they reached Rock River. Such of the disaffected
Sacs and Foxes as appeared on the approach of the boats were fired on;
some canoes were taken with the arms of the affrighted savages, who
sued for peace on any terms. Peace was granted them on condition they
would join against the enemies of the United States and immediately
commence hostilities against the Winnebagoes. The Foxes, who lived
above Rock River at Deboque’s mines, were willing to come into the
same arrangement.
“Twenty days before the arrival of the Governor at Prairie du Chien,
Dickson left that place for Mackinaw with 85 Winnebagoes, 120
Falsavoine, and 100 Sioux, recruits for the British army on the lakes.
He had information of the approach of Gov. Clark, and had charged
Captain Deace, commanding a body of Mackinaw fencibles, with the
defense of the place; but Deace and his party ran off, the Sioux and
Renards having refused to oppose the Americans. As soon as the troops
landed at the town, notice was sent to the inhabitants (who had fled
into the country) to return. All came back, but a few scoundrels who
knew they deserved a halter.
“Every attention was then directed to the erection of a temporary
place calculated for defense. Sixty rank and file of Major Taylor’s
company of the Seventh Regiment, under command of Lieutenant Perkins,
took possession of the house formerly occupied by the old Mackinaw
company, and a new fort was progressing on a most commanding spot,
when the Governor left the Prairie.
* * * * *
“Two of the largest armed boats were left, under the command of
Aid-de-Camp Kennedy and Captains Sullivan and Yeizer, whose united
force amounted to 125 dauntless young fellows from this county. The
regulars, under the command of Lieutenant Perkins, are stationed on
shore, and are assisted by the volunteers in the erection of the new
fort. * * *”[27]
During this celebrated voyage Black Hawk and his British Sacs were busy
to undo, at the first favorable moment, all the good work done by
Governor Clark, as may be seen by an article which appeared in the
Missouri Republican:
“St. Louis, July 16.–Platoff, the Hetman Cossack in the service of
Russia, offered 100,000 ducats and his daughter to any person who
would assassinate Bonaparte. Alexander discountenanced the affair as
infamous and dishonorable. How will the English Government and their
agent, Robert Dickson[28] (a native of Scotland), appear to the world
when it is announced that he suborned a Sac warrior to assassinate
Governor Clark while in council at Prairie du Chien? The affair rests
on the testimony of the Indians; the fellow left Rock Island for the
diabolical purpose, was admitted to the council, but found the
Americans armed at every point and all possibility of escape cut off;
he therefore prudently declined the attempt. A gentleman who was at
the Prairie and in the council informs us that this Indian rose and
occupied the attention of the assembly with a harangue of trifling
import; that his eyes were fixed on the Governor as if riveted to the
object. At that moment the Governor shifted his sword from an unhandy
position to one across his knees, when the savage retired to his seat.
* * *”[29]
It may be of interest, though not connected with Black Hawk, to note
here that one very strong reason for the subsequent surrender of the
fort was the decimation of its garrison:
“St. Louis, July 2.–On Sunday last, an armed boat arrived from Prairie
du Chien, under the command of Capt. John Sullivan, with his company
of militia and 32 men from the gunboat Governor Clark, their time of
service (60 days) having expired. Captain Yeizer, who commands on
board the Governor Clark, off Prairie du Chien, reports that his
vessel is completely manned, that the fort is finished, christened
Fort Selby, and occupied by the regulars. * * *”[30]
But Fort Selby could not spare the withdrawal of the militia mentioned,
and on July 21, 1814, the fort surrendered to Colonel McKay after a four
days’ siege.
Weakened as the garrison was by the withdrawal of the militia, General
Howard, on his return from Kentucky, advised that immediate steps be
taken to reinforce it. He quickly perceived the danger from an attack
and the inability of the small force to defend the post, and he as
quickly brought into the field a relief expedition.
Following is the best account extant upon the subject, repeated
verbatim:
From the Missouri Gazette, July 30, 1814.
DISASTER.
“As soon as Gov. Clark returned from his successful expedition to
Prairie du Chien, it was thought proper by Brigadier-General Howard,
commanding in this district (who had in the interim returned to this
place from Kentucky), to send a force to relieve the volunteers, and
preserve the acquisition so important to the welfare of our country.
For this purpose, Lieut. John Campbell of the first regulars, acting
as brigade major, was entrusted with the command of 42 regulars and 65
rangers, in three keel boats, the contractor’s and sutler’s boats in
company. The whole party, including boatmen and women, amounting to
about 133, reached Rock River, within 180 or 200 miles of the Prairie,
without any accident. As soon as they entered the rapids they were
visited by hundreds of Sacs and Foxes, some of the latter bearing
letters from the garrison above to St. Louis. The officers, being
unacquainted with Indian manners, imagined the savages to be friendly;
to this fatal security may be attributed the catastrophe which
followed. It appears that the contractor’s and sutler’s boat had
arrived near the head of the rapids and proceeded on, having on board
the ammunition, with a sergeant’s guard; the rangers, in two barges,
followed, and had proceeded two miles in advance of the commander’s
barge; the latter inclined to the east side in search of the main
channel, and being now on a lee shore, proceeded with much difficulty,
and as the gale increased were drifted into shoal water within a few
yards of a high bank covered with grass, waist high; a few steps from
the bow and stern an umbrage of willows set out from shore.
“In this position the commanding officer thought proper to remain
until the wind abated; sentries were placed at proper intervals, and
the men were occupied in cooking, when the report of several guns
announced an attack. At the first fire all the sentries were killed,
and before those on shore could reach the barge, 10 or 15 out of 30
were killed and wounded. At this time the force and intentions of the
Indians were fully developed. On each shore the savages were observed
in quick motion; some in canoes crossing to the battleground; others
were observed running from above and below to the scene of attack; in
a few minutes from five to seven hundred were assembled on the bank
and among the willows within a few yards of the bow and stern of the
barge; the Indians gave the whoop, and commenced a tremendous fire;
the brave men in the barge cheered, and returned the fire from a
swivel and small arms. At this critical juncture, Lieuts. Riggs and
Rector of the rangers, who commanded the two barges ahead, did not
hear the guns, but saw the smoke, and, concluding an attack was made,
dropped down. Riggs’ boat stranded about 100 yards below Campbell’s,
and Rector, to avoid a like misfortune and preserve himself from a
raking fire, anchored above; both barges opened a brisk fire on the
Indians, but as the enemy fired from coverts, it is thought little
execution was done.
“About one hour was spent in this unequal contest, when Campbell’s
barge was discovered on fire, to relieve which Rector cut his cable
and fell to windward of him, and took out the survivors. Finding he
could not assist Riggs, having a number of wounded on board, and in
danger of running on a lee shore, he made the best of his way to this
place, where he arrived on Sunday evening last.
KILLED AND WOUNDED.
“There were 3 regulars killed and 14 wounded; 2 died on their passage
to this place; 1 ranger killed and 4 wounded on board Lieut. Rector’s
barge. Brig.-Maj. Campbell and Dr. Stewart are severely wounded. Two
women and a child were severely wounded–one of the women and the child
are since dead. Just as we had finished detailing the above
unfortunate affair, we received the glad tidings of the arrival of
Lieut. Riggs at Cap au Gray; he lost 3 men killed and 4 wounded. Would
to Heaven we could account for the remaining 2 barges.
CONSOLATORY.
“As we were preparing the foregoing for press, gunboat Gov. Clark,
commanded by Capt. Yeizer, arrived here, in nine days from Prairie du
Chien, with the contractor’s and sutler’s barges, which were
fortunately relieved at the moment the Indians were about to board
them. From the officers of the Gov. Clark we have received the
following very important news from the Prairie: On the 17th inst. the
long-expected British force appeared in view. Marching from the
Ouisconsing toward the village, the line of the regular troops,
militia and Indians extended about 2 miles, with 24 flags flying. A
British officer arrived at the fort, demanding its surrender. Lieut.
Perkins returned for an answer that he was able and prepared to defend
the post entrusted to his charge. Before the return of the flag, the
British commenced a fire upon the Gov. Clark from a small battery of 1
or 2 three-pounders, which was immediately answered from a six-pounder
from the boat. Soon after firing commenced, a large body of Indians
and white troops crossed to the island which fronts the village, and
enabled them to fire on the boat at pistol-shot distance, and screen
themselves behind trees from the grape which incessantly poured from
the boat. In this manner the contest continued for two hours, until
the gunboat received several shot between wind and water, when it was
concluded to move down the river; by this movement down the narrow
channel they had to run the gauntlet through a line of musketry nearly
nine miles. On approaching the rapids, Capt. Yeizer sent his skiff
with nine men down to reconnoiter, who discovered Riggs’ boat engaged
with the Indians and Campbell’s barge on fire. These appearances
induced the boat’s crew to return, and the Indians to call to them to
come on shore, raising to their view the English flag, believing them
to be Mackinaw voyageurs. Before dispatching the reconnoitering boat,
the Gov. Clark joined the contractor’s and sutler’s boats. Those on
board were ignorant of the fate of the boats below, and would, within
half an hour, have been in the power of the savages, if they had not
thus been providentially snatched from destruction.
“Seven were wounded on board the Gov. Clark, namely, Lieut. Henderson
and Ensign St. Pierre, severely. Five privates were wounded; one died
on the way down the day after his leg was amputated.
“Every account of the attack on Campbell’s detachment reflects highest
encomium on the skill and undaunted bravery of Lieuts. Rector and
Riggs of the rangers. The former, after a contest of two hours and
twenty minutes, withdrew to a favorable position, which enabled him to
save the few regular troops as well from the flames which surrounded
them as the fury of the savages. The high wind which then prevailed,
and the loss of his anchors, prevented his rendering a like assistance
to Lieut. Riggs. The latter, though stranded and in a hopeless
situation, kept up an incessant fire on the Indians, and by a rusé de
guerre afforded his party an opportunity of making the savages feel
some of the consequences of their perfidy. He ordered his men to cease
firing for about ten minutes, and at the same time ordered howitzers
to be well loaded with grape, and the small arms to be in readiness.
The Indians, believing the rangers to be all killed, or that they had
surrendered, rushed down the bank to extinguish the fire on board
Lieut. Campbell’s barge and to board Riggs’. Our hero then opened upon
them a well-directed fire, which drove them in all directions, leaving
several of their dead behind.”
When Campbell reached Rock River he called upon Black Hawk with a
handful of men as an escort–so ridiculously small that Black Hawk
repeatedly stated he could have captured and put them all to death with
little or no effort. Campbell made the Indians presents, and in return
received from Black Hawk a solemn promise that no effort to assist the
British or disturb him in his ascent would be made by the Indians, but
during the night some powder arrived from the British, who had in the
meantime driven the Americans from Fort Selby, and sent it to Black Hawk
with instructions to use the same in case any Americans attempted to
pass his village to succor the garrison at Prairie du Chien.
Black Hawk had a very facetious way of putting that request into his
biography. He stated on page 56 that Campbell and his aids, after
holding a council with him, remained all day, and then after receiving
word during the night (along with the powder), that Prairie du Chien had
fallen, and that the British wished him to join them again: “I
immediately started with my party by land in pursuit, thinking that some
of their boats might get aground, or that the Great Spirit would put
them in our power if he wished them taken and their people killed.”
It is astonishing to note how frequently he confused the behests of the
British with those supposed to emanate from the Great Spirit!
While the men were helplessly floundering in the mud to extricate their
boat, which had run aground, Black Hawk was pouring a murderous fire
into their exposed ranks, and that, too, after promising the day
previous to be friendly. To reduce the hapless wretches still more, fire
was thrown by arrows into the sails, and the boat, likely to be
consumed, was abandoned; then the Indians plunged into the water and
drew it ashore. At this stage Black Hawk virtuously knocked in the heads
of all the kegs of whisky which he found in the hold, yet when he
retired down the river to the Fox village, opposite the mouth of Rock
River, he hoisted the British flag and when, immediately after, the
British came along with a keg of rum, Black Hawk and his band had a
great feast and dance,[31] ending the scene in a protracted and
hilarious spree. A refinement of the ethics of liquor-drinking quite
abstruse–this difference between whisky and rum!
Those British brought the Indians a gun which was used on the
defenseless Americans under Zachary Taylor a little later as Black Hawk
stated: “We were pleased to see that almost every shot took effect.”
-----
Footnote 24:
The moment Black Hawk returned, the Sacs of his village became
unusually active in their depredations.
Footnote 25:
This was one of the posts the British solemnly stipulated in the
treaty of Paris to turn over to the U.S.. but which they retained.
Footnote 26:
Niles Register, Vol. 6, p. 242.–June 11, 1814.
Footnote 27:
Niles Register, Vol. 6, p. 242.–June 11, 1814.
Footnote 28:
History generally records Dickson as a trader of good parts and not-
so savage as pictured during this war.
Footnote 29:
Niles Register, Vol. 6, p. 426.–Aug. 20, 1814.
Footnote 30:
Niles Register, Vol. 6, p. 390.–Aug. 6, 1814.
Footnote 31:
His autobiography.
-----
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER VIII.
MAJOR TAYLOR’S BATTLE–BATTLE OF THE SINK HOLE–VARIOUS MURDERS–BRITISH
AGENTS WITHDRAWN FROM ROCK RIVER COUNTRY.
Disturbances by the Sacs now followed so frequently that Major Zachary
Taylor, with a detachment of troops, was sent against that one
disturbing and bandit element of Indian population located near the
mouth of Rock River, Black Hawk’s village.
Black Hawk attacked and repulsed Major Taylor in a manner which made the
pulse of every settler throb with fear for the safety of his family. He
had, without the least provocation, been constantly and successfully
engaged in warfare the most stubborn and unrelenting, and backed by his
British friends, the safety of the country, after Taylor’s defeat, hung
in the balance. Major Taylor’s report, a temperate and dignified
document, is as follows:
“Sir:–In obedience to your orders, I left Fort Independence on the 2d
ult. and reached Rock River, our place of destination, on the evening
of the 4th inst., without meeting a single Indian or any occurrence
worthy of relation.
“On my arrival at the mouth of Rock River, the Indians began to make
their appearance in considerable numbers; running up the Mississippi
to the upper village and crossing the river below us. After passing
Rock River, which is very small at the mouth, from an attentive and
careful examination, as I proceeded up the Mississippi, I was
confident it was impossible for us to enter its mouth with our large
boats. Immediately opposite its mouth a large island commences, which,
together with the western shore of the Mississippi, was covered with a
considerable number of horses, which were doubtless placed in those
situations in order to draw small detachments on shore; but in this
they were disappointed, and I determined to alter the plan which you
had suggested, which was to pass the different villages as if the
object of the expedition was Prairie du Chien, for several reasons.
First, that I might have an opportunity of viewing the situation of
the ground to enable me to select such a landing as would bring our
artillery to bear on the villages with the greatest advantage. I was
likewise in hopes a party would approach us with a flag, from which I
expected to learn the situation of affairs at the Prairie, and
ascertain in some measure their numbers and perhaps bring them to a
council, when I should have been able to have retaliated on them for
their repeated acts of treachery; or, if they were determined to
attack us, I was in hopes to draw them some distance from their towns
towards the rapids, run down in the night and destroy them before they
could return to their defense. But in this I was disappointed. The
wind, which had been in our favor, began to shift about at the time we
passed the mouth of Rock River, and by the time we reached the head of
the island, which is about a mile and a half long, it blew a perfect
hurricane, quarterly down the river, and it was with great difficulty
we made land at a small island, containing six or eight acres, covered
with willows, near the middle of the river, and about sixty yards from
the upper end of the island. In this situation I determined to remain
during the night if the storm continued, as I knew the anchors of
several of the boats in that event would not hold them, and there was
a great probability of their being drifted on sandbars, of which the
river is full in this place, which would have exposed the men very
much in getting them off, even if they could have prevented their
filling with water.
“It was about 4 o’clock in the evening when we were compelled to land,
and large parties of Indians were on each side of the river, as well
as crossing in different directions in canoes; but not a gun was fired
from either side. The wind continued to blow the whole night with
violence, accompanied with some rain, which induced me to order the
sentinels to be brought in and placed in the bow of each boat. About
daylight, Capt. Whiteside’s boat was fired on at the distance of about
fifteen paces, and a corporal, who was on the outside of the boat, was
mortally wounded. My orders were, if a boat was fired on, to return
it; but not a man to leave the boat without positive orders from
myself. So soon as it got perfectly light, as the enemy continued
about the boat, I determined to drive them from the island, let their
numbers be what they might, provided we were able to do so. I then
assigned each boat a proper guard, formed the troops for action and
pushed through the willows to the opposite shore; but those fellows
who had the boldness to fire on the boats cleared themselves as soon
as the troops were formed by wading from the island we were encamped
on to the one just below us. Capt. Whiteside, who was on the left, was
able to give them a warm fire as they reached the island they had
retreated to. They returned the fire for a few moments, when they
retreated. In this affair we had two men badly wounded. When Capt.
Whiteside commenced the fire, I ordered Capt. Rector to drop down with
his boat to ground and to rake the island below with artillery, and to
fire on every canoe he should discover passing from one shore to the
other which should come within reach. In this situation he remained
about one hour, and no Indians making their appearance, he determined
to drop down the island about sixty yards and destroy several canoes
that were laying to shore. This he effected, and just on setting his
men on board, the British commenced a fire on our boats with a six, a
four and two swivels, from behind a knoll that completely covered
them. The boats were entirely exposed to the artillery, which was
distant three hundred and fifty paces from us. So soon as the first
gun fired, I ordered a six-pounder to be brought out and placed, but,
on recollecting a moment, I found the boat would be sunk before any
impression could be made on them by our cannon, as they were
completely under cover; and had already brought their guns to bear on
our boats, for the round shot from their six passed through Lieut.
Hempstead’s boat and shattered her considerably. I then ordered the
boats to drop down, which was done in order, and conducted with the
greatest coolness by every officer, although exposed to a constant
fire from their artillery for more than half a mile.
“So soon as they commenced firing from their artillery, the Indians
raised a yell and commenced firing on us from every direction, whether
they were able to do us any damage or not. From each side of the
river, Capt. Rector, who was laying to the shore of the island, was
attacked the instant the first gun was fired, by a very large party,
and in a close and well contested action of about fifteen minutes,
they drove them, after giving three rounds of grape from his
three-pounder.
“Capt. Whiteside, who was nearest to Capt. Rector, dropped down and
anchored nigh him, and gave the enemy several fires with his swivel;
but the wind was so hard down stream as to drift his anchor. Capt.
Rector at that moment got his boat off, and we were then exposed to
the fire of the Indians for two miles, which we returned with interest
from our small arms and small pieces of artillery whenever we could
get them to bear. I was compelled to drop down about three miles
before a proper place presented itself for landing, as but few of the
boats had anchors sufficient to stop them in the river. Here I halted
for the purpose of having the wounded attended and some of the boats
repaired, as some of them had been injured by the enemy’s artillery.
They followed us in their boats until we halted on a small prairie and
prepared for action, when they returned in as great a hurry as they
followed us.
“I then collected the officers together and put the following question
to them: ‘Are we able, 334 effective men, officers, non-commissioned
officers and privates, to fight the enemy with any prospect of success
and effect, which is to destroy their villages and corn?’ They were of
opinion the enemy was at least three men to one, and that it was not
practicable to effect either object. I then determined to drop down
the river to the Lemoine without delay, as some of the ranging
officers informed me their men were short of provisions, and execute
the principal object of the expedition, in erecting a fort to command
the river. This shall be effected as soon as practicable with the
means in my power, and should the enemy attempt to descend the river
in force before the fort can be completed, every foot of the way from
the fort to the settlements shall be contested.
“In the affair at Rock River, I had eleven men badly wounded, three
mortally, of whom one has since died. I am much indebted to the
officers for their prompt obedience to orders, nor do I believe a
braver set of men could have been collected than those who compose
this detachment. But, sir, I conceive it would have been madness in
me, as well as a direct violation of my orders, to have risked the
detachment without a prospect of success. I believe I should have been
fully able to have accomplished your views if the enemy had not been
supplied with artillery and so advantageously posted as to render it
impossible for us to have dislodged him without imminent danger of the
loss of the whole detachment.
“I am, sir, yours, etc.,
“ZA. TAYLOR, _Brev. Maj._,
“_Com. Detachment_.”[32]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: MAJ. ZACHARY TAYLOR.]
[Illustration: GEN. ANDREW JACKSON.]
[Illustration: GOV. NINIAN EDWARDS.]
[Illustration: GEN. (OR GOV.) WILLIAM CLARK.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emboldened by his successes, Black Hawk continued his warfare, and in
the murder of inoffensive settlers there was no abatement. Through the
year 1814 they continued, and notwithstanding the treaty made between
the two nations, we find the English agents and Black Hawk still
pursuing their depredations in the spring of 1815.
“Traitors.–The undernamed gentry were residents within this and the
neighboring territories previous to the war, and always claimed the
rights of citizens of the United States; but as soon as war was
declared they, to a man, took part against us, and were active agents
in the British interest in different parts of the Indian country:
“Robert Dickson, James Aird, Duncan Graham, Francois Boutillier,
Edward La Gouthrie, Brishois, of the Prairie du Chien, Jacob Franks,
the brothers Grigneaus of Green Bay, Joseph La Croix and Lassaillier
of Milwaukee, Joseph Bailly and his cousin Barrott of St. Josephs,
Mitchell La Croix, Louis Buisson, Louis Benett, formerly of Peoria.
“It is ascertained that in the unsuccessful attack made by the
unfortunate Lieut. M’Nair, four men were killed. M’Nair was wounded
and taken prisoner and conveyed two days on his march to Rock River;
but, being unable to travel, was tomahawked. A man taken up from the
river at Carondelet a few days ago was recognized to be one of the
four missing of the name of Best.
“By late news from Rock River, we learn that the Kickapoos have
abandoned the British and demanded peace, agreeably to the treaty. It
is further said that the Sacs, Winnebagoes and Fallsavoine are
determined to prosecute the war.”[33]
Here, long after the treaty of Ghent, signed December 24th, 1814, Black
Hawk formulated and made his dastard attack on Fort Howard, known as the
“sink hole affair.” Note how puerile, yea, preposterous, his adopted son
fiction appears in the light of contemporaneous reports and his
continued war upon the Americans! This affair, unprovoked and mean,
occurred in May, 1815, and I take the liberty to copy the account of it
as published immediately after its occurrence.
“St. Louis, May 20 (1815).–Every day affords a new proof that the Rock
River Sacks intend to continue the war. They have been notified of the
pacification by the military commander of this district, as well as by
Governors Clark and Edwards; yet they still continue their war parties
on the frontiers of St. Charles, and murder all those who are so
unfortunate as to come within their reach.
“On Wednesday, the 10th inst., at Cap aux Gre, a party of rangers were
detached to procure wood. Whilst proceeding on this duty, a man by the
name of Bernard, who was in advance of the squad, was fired on and
mortally wounded. Lieut. Massey, with a reinforcement from the fort,
attacked the Indians, and, after a rapid exchange of several shot, the
savages precipitately retreated.
“On the Friday following, a young man, an inhabitant of Portage des
Sioux, was pursued by four Indians. He was returning from the village
of St. Charles on horseback, and had reached the Portage fields, when
he discovered the Indians in full speed after him. Being well mounted,
he escaped.
“An express arrived here on Wednesday last from Capt. Musick of the
rangers stationed near Cuivre, informing him that a number of the
rangers’ horses are stolen by the Indians, who are becoming very
troublesome. The extraordinary rise of the waters of the Mississippi,
overflowing its banks in many places, and filling up the lakes and
rivulets in the neighborhood, enables the Indians to attack and to
baffle pursuit.”
Extract of a letter from Lieut Drakeford, of the United States Rangers,
to Col. Russell, dated Fort Howard, May 25, 1815.
“Sir:–Yesterday, about 12 o’clock, five of our men went to some cabins
on the bluff, about one-quarter of a mile below the fort, to bring a
grindstone. The backwater of the Mississippi rendered it so that they
went in a canoe. On their return they were attacked by a party of
Indians, supposed to be about fifty in number. They killed and
tomahawked three and wounded one mortally. While about this mischief,
we gave them as good a fire from a little below the fort as the
breadth of the breakwater would permit of. Captain Craig and myself,
with about forty men, waded across the water and pursued them. In
going about half a mile we came on them and commenced a fire, which
continued about one hour, part of which time at a distance of about
forty steps, and no part of the time further than one hundred and
fifty steps. Shortly after the commencement of the battle, we were
reinforced by Capt. Musick and twenty of his men. The enemy now ran;
some made their escape, and others made to a sinkhole that is in the
battleground, and from there they returned a most rapid fire. It being
very dangerous to approach nearer than fifty steps of the sink, we at
length erected a breastwork on the two wheels of a wagon, and resolved
on moving it up to the edge of the sink to fire from behind, down into
the sink, and preserve us from theirs.
“We got the moving battery finished about sunset and moved it up with
a sufficient number of men behind it, whilst all other posts round
were sufficiently guarded in case they should be put to the rout.
“We had not moved to within less than ten steps of the sink before
they commenced a fire from the sink, which we returned at every
opportunity and all possible advantages. Night came on and we were
obliged to leave the ground and decline the expectation of taking them
out without risking man for man, which we thought not a good exchange
on our side. During the time of the battle, another party of Indians
commenced a brisk fire on the fort. Captain Craig[34] was killed in
the commencement of the battle; Lieutenant Edward Spears at the moving
of the breastwork to the sink. The morning of the 25th we returned to
the ground and found five Indians killed and the sign of a great many
wounded that had been taken off in the night. The aggregate number of
killed on our part is one captain, one third lieutenant; five privates
killed, three wounded, one missing; one citizen killed and two wounded
mortally.”[35]
Concerning the same affair, Captain David Musick, of the St. Louis
county rangers, in a letter or report to Col. William Russell, commander
of that district, dated Lower Cuivre Ferry, May 25, 1815, had this to
say:
“About 11 o’clock yesterday we were alarmed by the firing of guns in
the direction of Fort Howard, and immediately mounted such horses as
were within reach and proceeded in full speed to the assistance of
Captain Craig, whom we found closely engaged with the Indians and
pretty equally matched with respect to number.
“Having arrived in good season, just on the rear of the Indians, who
immediately broke and ran, a part of them retreated into a sinkhole
and baffled every art to get them out, as they had a better chance to
kill than be killed.”[36]
To which battle a Mr. Archambeau added the finishing touches:
“St. Louis, Missouri, June 3.–The Indians must have suffered
considerably in their late attack on the rangers near Fort Howard. Two
more dead Indians have been discovered some distance from the
battleground, and a vast quantity of blood marked their retreat to
their canoes. Indeed, I think the rangers behaved extremely well in
this affair; only their ardor to get at the enemy exposed them too
much, which was the cause of our loss. Craig and Spears would have
done better in combat with regular troops; they evinced such a
contempt of danger and death that they despised the devious mode of
Indian warfare. I am informed Lieutenant Spear’s family are by no
means opulent. His widow should receive his pay without delay. I am
informed from good authority that the Indians of Rock River have
declared they are willing to bury the tomahawk if _their friends_, the
English, will only say the word. The last war parties sent to our
frontiers were mustered by the _British_ and sent to murder our women
and children _since_ they received an official account of the
ratification of the late treaty. The bulk of the Kickapoo nation have
separated from the hostile bands, and I am at a loss to imagine how
the redoubtable Duncan Graham can subsist so many of his Majesty’s
allies at this time. The village at Rock River and the straggling
camps on this side, above and below the Lemoine, must amount to 1,200
or 1,500 warriors–Sacks, Foxes, Ioways, Winnebagoes and
Fallsavoins.”[37]
The most atrocious of his murders may be found in the following:
“The house of Mr. Robert Ramsay of St. Charles County, Missouri
Territory, about 50 miles from St. Louis, was recently attacked by the
_British allies_. Three of his children were horribly butchered, his
wife so mangled as to leave no hope of her recovery, and he himself
dangerously wounded. Hard the necessity that may compel the
extermination of these miserable beings excited to murder by the
nation that has been impudently called the ‘bulwark of religion.’ We
trust decisive measures will be taken to give security to our
frontiers. It is probable that, as in 1794, many _Englishmen_ are
among the savages, exciting them to these horrid deeds. If any such
are found, they ought to be capitally punished on the spot without
mercy.”[38]
In a later communication, this same revolting crime is more particularly
related:
“A letter received at St. Louis, Missouri, has the paragraphs below.
Why does British influence lead the deluded savages to extermination?
In the South as well as the West, it appears that the war in which the
Indians were involved on British account is not yet closed. Is the
alliance to be dissolved only by the destruction of one of the
parties? What murders has the ‘bulwark of religion’ to account for!
Merciless Englishmen, let the wretched Indians have peace!
“You have no doubt heard of the butchery of Robert Ramsey and his
family by the savages.
“Mrs. Ramsey was attending the milking of her cow and their pretty
little children were amusing themselves feeding the poultry and
assisting their mother. Mr. Ramsey, who, you know, has but one leg,
was near his wife at the moment the first shot was fired. He saw his
wife fall and proceeded to lead her into the house; but as he reached
the door he received a wound which prevented him going to the relief
of his children, who were caught by the Indians and cut to pieces in
the yard. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey are dead; both were shot through the
abdomen. Mrs. R. was far advanced in pregnancy.”[39]
Matters in the West had assumed such a tragic phase that heroic measures
were projected at the seat of government, and Gen. Jackson was given
command of the military district which embraced the seat of hostilities.
He at once assigned Brig.-Gen. Smith to command the post at Prairie du
Chien and Gen. Scott to the command of military districts 8 and 9, being
Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri, while Jackson himself was
placed under orders to conduct a western campaign. Col. Miller with 500
men was encamped at Portage des Sioux and the regiment of riflemen under
Lieut.-Col. Hamilton was directed by Jackson to immediately organize and
march to Prairie du Chien. The fact that Jackson was to settle with
Black Hawk and his braves at once stimulated the people with new hope,
as will be seen by the following:
“It is determined to scourge the _allies_ of our late enemy in the
Missouri Territory, etc., into a respect for the lives and property of
our frontier fellow citizens. Their depredations are constant and
distressing. The commissioners to settle a peace with them have
effected nothing. The deputations from most of the tribes were
‘insufficient,’ and from those most desirable to have met there were
no representatives at all. The detail of proceedings is interesting
and shall be preserved; but at present the flood of news from France
bears down everything. It appears that General Jackson will open a new
_negotiation_ with them upon the ‘last resort of reason.’ We
understand he will soon proceed from Nashville to St. Louis, where a
handsome body of regulars will be collected, and that he will be
accompanied by a militia force from Kentucky and Tennessee. In
obedience to his request, Governor Clark of the Missouri Territory
has, in general orders, directed the militia of that state to hold
itself in readiness to march at a moment’s notice; and we have every
prospect that British influence among the northern will receive the
same reward that befell it among the southern Indians. _It must be
eradicated._”[40]
Doubtless British influence recollected a little adventure with Jackson
the preceding 8th of January, for immediately the expedition by him was
to become a reality, overtures for peace were made and commissioners to
make a treaty were substituted for the person of Jackson, as will be
seen by the following from the Missouri Gazette of June 17th, 1815.
The following letters were received by Governor Clark on Wednesday last:
“It appears that Messrs. Turcot and Lagoterie (who were employed by
the commissioners to proceed to Rock River and announce to the Indians
the object of the treaty to be held at Portage des Sioux) were
fortunate in reaching Little Mascoutille, some distance below their
place of destination, without any accident. At this place they met
with a party of Fox Indians, bearing letters from the British
commandant of Prairie du Chien to Governor Clark, who informed them of
the departure of Captain Duncan Graham, deputy scalping master
general, from Rock River, after bestowing on his worthy comrades, the
Sacks, 10 barrels of gunpowder and 20 fuses as a reward for their
services in butchering the helpless women and children on the
frontiers.
“As usual, the Sacks received the news of peace with ‘unbounded joy,’
and even sent a British flag to protect our messengers on their
return. They acknowledged they had 200 warriors on the frontiers, but
could not tell the number of their killed and wounded. They said they
would attend the treaty and bury the tomahawk.”[41]
A treaty of peace was finally in sight–the treaty of Portage des Sioux!
And now up to this time, it must be owned by the impartial mind that
rather than receiving any wrong from the Americans, Black Hawk, without
any provocation and contrary to his promises, had waged a merciless war
on the feeble settlements simply because he hated the Americans–the
enemy of his friends, the British. Drake, to condone those atrocities,
has stated on page 90 of his “Life of Black Hawk:” “Some palliation for
these outrages may be found in the fact that the British on the
northwest frontier, long after they were officially notified of the
peace, continued to excite the Indians to acts of violence against the
United States, and, indeed, participated in them likewise.” This
statement, from a man snugly ensconced in an upholstered chair, must be
regarded as magnanimous! We have found here Black Hawk the cold-blooded
aggressor and murderer, and when he subsequently stated that the treaty
signed by him in 1816 was not made known to him, can he be believed?
Armstrong, another apologist for the “poor Indian,” stated that Black
Hawk was a truthful Indian, though he “withheld facts that were
material.”[42] The frightful plight of the settlers can never be
realized by the present generation; neither can the actions of the
British be justly comprehended in the face of present amity. Plotting
destruction, Black Hawk was invariably found to the front, and while
successful, he found no fault with the defense of the Americans. That
remained for the time when he felt the heel of the conqueror, resenting
his years of blood-shedding. Where one man is invariably the offender,
it is safe to pronounce him an incorrigible quarreler. Black Hawk was
this and more–he was a British mercenary.
-----
Footnote 32:
Copy of letter to Gen. Howard, Niles Reg., Sup. to Vol. 7, p. 137.
Footnote 33:
Niles Reg., Vol. 8, p. 311.–June 10, 1815.
Footnote 34:
Black Hawk claimed the credit of being in the sink and also of killing
Capt. Craig, “the leader,” which, of course, could not be true.
Footnote 35:
Niles Reg., Vol. 8, p. 311.–July 1, 1815.
Footnote 36:
Niles Reg., Vol. 8, p. 312.–July 1, 1815.
Footnote 37:
Niles, Vol. 8, p. 312.–July 1, 1815.
Footnote 38:
Niles, Vol. 8, p. 271.–June 17, 1815.
Footnote 39:
Niles, Vol. 8, p. 348.–July 15, 1815.
Footnote 40:
Niles, Vol. 8, p. 436.–Aug. 19, 1815.
Footnote 41:
All these Indian troubles dated from Black Hawk’s return, it must be
noted. Prior to it, no record is to be found of hostile Sacs.
Footnote 42:
Armstrong’s “The Sauks, etc.,” p. 126.
-----
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER IX.
TREATY OF PORTAGE DES SIOUX, 1815–TREATY OF ST. LOUIS, 1816.
At the close of hostilities with England, a quietus to the horrors of
Black Hawk’s raids was demanded. The treaty with that power provided for
it. As shown in the preceding pages, all efforts had failed to get the
Indians together for that purpose until it was learned that Jackson was
on their trail. Then Duncan Graham fled from Rock River and the Indians
generally became suddenly impatient at the delay of the few days
necessary for notifications to meet the commissioners, William Clark,
Ninian Edwards and Auguste Chouteau, at Portage des Sioux, the place
designated for treaty negotiations. Promptly on the day, all the
principal Sacs and Foxes met and participated in this council save Black
Hawk and a few of his immediate followers. This Indian, dissatisfied,
sullen, malignant, declined to participate, and, lurking in the woods
near by, where he might spy upon his neighbors, sulked, claiming to be
an English citizen and subject, and notwithstanding the peremptory
nature of the provision in the treaty of Ghent for just such a council
as the present, he neither appeared in council nor signed the treaty
which followed.
Separate treaties were made, one with the Sacs and another with the
Foxes. That with the Sacs was signed on the 13th day of September, 1815,
and that with the Foxes the following day, and to forever silence all
objection and cavil to the treaty of 1804, an article was inserted in
each emphasizing and expressly ratifying it.
That with the Sacs was as follows:
“A Treaty of Peace and Friendship, made and concluded between William
Clark, Ninian Edwards and Auguste Chouteau, Commissioners
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, on the part and
behalf of the said States, of the one part; and the undersigned Chiefs
and Warriors of that portion of the Sac Nation of Indians now residing
on the Missouri River, of the other part:
“Whereas, The undersigned, chiefs and warriors, as well as that
portion of the nation which they represent, have at all times been
desirous of fulfilling their treaty with the United States, with
perfect faith; and for that purpose found themselves compelled, since
the commencement of the late war, to separate themselves from the rest
of their nation, and remove to the Missouri River, where they have
continued to give proofs of their friendship and fidelity; and,
“Whereas, The United States, justly appreciating the conduct of said
Indians, are disposed to do them the most ample justice that is
practicable; the said parties have agreed to the following articles:
“Article 1. The undersigned chiefs and warriors, for themselves and
that portion of the Sacs which they represent, do hereby assent to the
treaty between the United States of America and the united tribes of
Sacs and Foxes, which was concluded at St. Louis, on the third day of
November, one thousand eight hundred and four; and they, moreover,
promise to do all in their power to re-establish and enforce the same.
“Art. 2. The said chiefs and warriors, for themselves and those they
represent, do further promise to remain distinct and separate from the
Sacs of Rock River, giving them no aid or assistance whatever, until
peace shall also be concluded between the United States and the said
Sacs of Rock River.
“Art. 3. The United States, on their part, promise to allow the said
Sacs of the Missouri River all the rights and privileges secured to
them by the treaty of St. Louis, before mentioned, and, also, as soon
as practicable, to furnish them with a just proportion of the
annuities stipulated to be paid by that treaty; provided they shall
continue to comply with this and their former treaty.
“In witness whereof, the said William Clark, Ninian Edwards and
Auguste Chouteau, Commissioners, as aforesaid, and the aforesaid
Chiefs and Warriors, have hereunto subscribed their names and affixed
their seals, this thirteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, and of the Independence of the
United States the fortieth.
Wm. Clark.
Ninian Edwards.
Auguste Chouteau.
Shamaga, the lance.
Weesaka, the Devil.
Catchemackeseo, the big eagle.
Chekaqua, he that stands by the
tree.
Kataka, or sturgeon.
Mecaitch, the eagle.
Neshota, the twin.
Quashquammee, the jumping fish.
Chagosort, the blues’ son.
Pocama, the plumb.
Namachewana Chaha, the Sioux.
Nanochaatasa, the brave by
hazard.
“Done at Portage des Sioux, in the presence of R. Wash, Secretary of
the Commission; Thomas Levers, Lieut-Col., commanding 1st reg’t. I.T.;
P. Chouteau, agent; T. Paul, C.C.T.; Jas. B. Moore, capt.; Samuel
Whiteside, capt.; John W. Johnson, U.S. factor and Indian agent;
Maurice Blondeaux, Samuel Solomon. Noel Mograine, Interpreters; Daniel
Converse, 3d lieut. To the Indian names are subjoined a mark and
seal.”[43]
This treaty was ratified December 26th, 1815.
The treaty with the Foxes, made on the following day by the same
commissioners, and ratified December 16, 1815, while not affecting Black
Hawk in particular, was so intimately connected with him that it may be
well to repeat it here. After the caption and the recital of a desire to
re-establish peace it ran as follows:
“Article 1. Every injury or act of hostility by one or either of the
contracting parties against the other shall be mutually forgiven and
forgot.
“Art. 2. There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between the
citizens of the United States of America and all the individuals
composing the said Fox tribe or nation.
“Art. 3. The contracting parties do hereby agree, promise, and oblige
themselves reciprocally, to deliver up all the prisoners now in their
hands (by what means soever the same may have come into their
possession), to the officer commanding at Fort Clark, on the Illinois
River, to be by him restored to their respective nations as soon as it
may be practicable.
“Art. 4. The said Fox tribe or nation do hereby assent to, recognize,
re-establish and confirm the treaty of St. Louis, which was concluded
on the third day of November, one thousand eight hundred and four, to
the full extent of their interest in the same, as well as all other
contracts and agreements between the parties; and the United States
promise to fulfill all the stipulations contained in the said treaty
in favor of the said Fox tribe or nation.”[44]
This document, with its trifling exactions, was signed by twenty-two Fox
chiefs and warriors without protest or comment, forcibly demonstrating
the anxiety of all for peace when removed from ulterior influences.
Everyone who participated therein appeared gratified that hostilities
were ended; but an insecurity was still sensible which nothing but the
signature of Black Hawk could quiet. In the face of the many murders so
lately committed by Black Hawk’s band and the English, the statement by
Black Hawk that he was still an English subject and his refusal to treat
brought an issue squarely between the United States and him, and the
authorities at Washington were in no humor to allow that dissembler to
dictate the policy of the Indians and continue his crusade of crime
against helpless settlers. He was urged to sign and when pressed,
preferring plunder to peace, declined and stalked to his canoe in
dudgeon. Was he to be peacefully subdued?
While the United States authorities were actively planning to bring him
to terms, the leading men from the other Sac tribes and from the Foxes
continued their persuasions, and on meeting constant refusal, finally,
with some of his personal followers, unitedly demanded that he sign a
treaty, and then, fearing the possible loss of his influence, he
reluctantly consented. Another convention was at once called to meet at
St. Louis May 13, 1816, which Black Hawk attended and there “touched the
goose quill,” as he has stated. This treaty, more important than the
other two, because it bound the leader of all the insurgent Indians, was
signed on the 13th day of May and ratified December 30 of the same year
and is as follows:
“_A TREATY OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP, made and concluded between William
Clark, Ninian Edwards and Auguste Chouteau, commissioners
plenipotentiary of the United States of America, on the part and
behalf of the said states, of the one part, and the undersigned chiefs
and warriors of the Sacs of Rock River and the adjacent country, of
the other part._
“Whereas, By the ninth article of the treaty of peace, which was
concluded on the twenty-fourth day of December, eighteen hundred and
fourteen, between the United States and Great Britain, at Ghent, and
which was ratified by the President, with the advice and consent of
the Senate, on the seventeenth day of February, eighteen hundred and
fifteen, it was stipulated that the said parties should severally put
an end to all hostilities with the Indian tribes, with whom they might
be at war, at the time of the ratification of said treaty, and to
place the said tribes inhabiting their respective territories, on the
same footing upon which they stood before the war; provided, they
should agree to desist from all hostilities against the said parties,
their citizens or subjects respectively, upon the ratification of the
said treaty being notified to them, and should so desist accordingly;
and,
“Whereas, The said United States being determined to execute every
article of treaty with perfect good faith, and wishing to be
particularly exact in the execution of the article above alluded to,
relating to the Indian tribes: The President, in consequence thereof,
for that purpose, on the eleventh day of March, eighteen hundred and
fifteen, appointed the undersigned William Clark, governor of Missouri
territory, Ninian Edwards, governor of Illinois territory, and Auguste
Chouteau, Esq., of the Missouri territory, commissioners, with full
power to conclude a treaty of peace and amity with all those tribes of
Indians, conformably to the stipulations contained in the said
article, on the part of the United States, in relation to such tribes;
and,
“Whereas, The commissioners, in conformity with their instructions in
the early part of last year, notified the Sacs of Rock River, and the
adjacent country, of the time of the ratification of said treaty; of
the stipulations it contained in relation to them; of the disposition
of the American government to fill those stipulations, by entering
into a treaty with them, conformably thereto; and invited the Sacs of
Rock River, and the adjacent country, to send forward a deputation of
their chiefs to meet the said commissioners at Portage des Sioux, for
the purpose of concluding such a treaty as aforesaid, between the
United States and the said Indians, and the said Sacs of Rock River,
and the adjacent country, having not only declined that friendly
overture, but having continued their hostilities, and committed many
depredations thereafter, which would have justified the infliction of
the severest chastisement upon them; but having earnestly repented of
their conduct, now imploring mercy, and being anxious to return to the
habits of peace and friendship with the United States; and the latter
being always disposed to pursue the most liberal and humane policy
towards the Indian tribes within their territory, preferring their
reclamation by peaceful measures, to their punishment by the
application of the military force of the nation; now,
“Therefore, The said William Clark, Ninian Edwards and Auguste
Chouteau, commissioners, as aforesaid, and the undersigned, chiefs and
warriors, as aforesaid, for the purpose of restoring peace and
friendship between the parties, do agree to the following articles:
“Article 1. The Sacs of Rock River, and the adjacent country, do
hereby unconditionally assent to recognize, re-establish, and confirm
the treaty between the United States of America, and the united tribes
of Sacs and Foxes, which was concluded at St. Louis, on the third day
of November, one thousand eight hundred and four; as well as all other
contracts and agreements heretofore made between the Sac tribe or
nation and the United States.
“Art. 2. The United States agree to place the aforesaid Sacs of Rock
River on the same footing upon which they stood before the war;
provided, they shall, on or before the first day of July next, deliver
up to the officer commanding at cantonment Davis, on the Mississippi,
all the property they or any part of their tribe, have plundered or
stolen from the citizens of the United States, since they were
notified, as aforesaid, of the time of the ratification of the late
treaty between the United States and Great Britain.
“Art. 3. If the said tribe shall fail or neglect to deliver up the
property aforesaid, or any part thereof, on or before the first day of
July aforesaid, they shall forfeit to the United States all right and
title to their proportion of the annuities which, by the treaty of St.
Louis, were covenanted to be paid to the Sac tribe; and the United
States shall forever afterwards be exonerated from the payment of so
much of said annuities as, upon a fair distribution, would fall to the
share of that portion of the Sacs who are represented by the
undersigned chiefs and warriors.
“Art. 4. This treaty shall take effect and be obligatory on the
contracting parties, unless the same shall be disapproved by the
President and Senate of the United States, or by the President only;
and in the meantime all hostilities shall cease from this date.
“In testimony whereof, the said William Clark, Ninian Edwards, and
Auguste Chouteau, commissioners as aforesaid, and the undersigned
chiefs and warriors as aforesaid, have hereunto set their hands and
affixed their seals this thirteenth day of May, one thousand eight
hundred and sixteen.”
“WM. CLARK,
“NINIAN EDWARDS,
“AUGUSTE CHOUTEAU.”
“ANOWART, _or, the one who speaks_,
“NAMAWENANE, _Sturgeon Man_,
“NASAWARKU, _the Fork_,
“NAMATCHESA, _the Jumping Sturgeon_,
“MATCHEQUAWA, _the Bad Axe_,
“MASHCO, _Young Eagle_,
“AQUAOSA, _a Lion coming out of the water_,
“MUCKETAMACHEKAKA, _Black Sparrow Hawk_,
“SAKEETOO, _the Thunder that frightens_,
“WARPALOKA, _the rumbling Thunder_,
“KEMEALOSHA, _the Swan that flies in the rain_,
“PASHEKOMACK, _the Swan that flies low_,
“KEOTASHEKA, _the Running Partridge_,
“WAPALAMO, _the White Wolf_,
“CASKUPWA, _the Swan whose wings crack when he
flies_,
“POINAKETA, _the Cloud that don’t stop_,
“MEALESETA, _Bad Weather_,
“ANAWASHQUETH, _the Bad Root_,
“WASSEKENEQUA, _Sharp-faced Bear_,
“NAPETAKA, _he who has a Swan’s throat around his
neck_,
“MASHASHE, _the Fox_,
“WAPAMUKQUA, _the White Bear_.”
“St. Louis, May 13th, 1816. Done in the presence of R. Wash, Secretary
to the Commission; R. Paul, C.T. of the C.J. Bt. Caron, Samuel
Solomon, Interpreters; Joshua Norvell, Judge Adv. M.M.; Joseph
Perkins, Joseph Charless, B.G. Tavar, Charles Wm. Hunter, Cerré, M. La
Croix, Guyol de Guirano, Boon Ingels, Moses Scott, James Sawyer.”
“To the Indian names are subjoined a mark and a seal.”[45]
After all the trouble given the Americans by Black Hawk, it is not to be
presumed that this treaty was lightly considered, or that the Americans
neglected to explain every line of it fully, thereby allowing
opportunity for future contention from one only too apt to contend; yet
Black Hawk later had the audacity to claim that he did not know his
village passed by that treaty when it became time for him to enjoy
another war with his ancient enemy, the Americans. Line upon line and
section upon section the treaty was carefully read and interpreted by
men whose names were above reproach, that no future claim of
misunderstanding could be alleged, and to that solemn treaty Black Hawk
placed his mark and declared and promised thereby that he would no
longer torment the whites with his aggressions. The preamble of the
document should forever have estopped Black Hawk from alleging ignorance
of its provisions; with respect to all the others who signed that
treaty, the facts recited in it were so truthfuly stated, and they were
so well satisfied with its provisions, that not one of them was ever
heard to complain.
-----
Footnote 43:
Vol. 7, Pub. Statutes at Large, U.S., p. 134, ed. 1848.
Footnote 44:
Vol. 7, Pub. Stat, at Large of U.S., p. 135.
Footnote 45:
Vol. 7, Pub. Stat. (U.S.) at Large, p. 141.
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CHAPTER X.
FORT ARMSTRONG BUILT–BLACK HAWK AS A FAULT-FINDER–ANNIHILATION OF THE
IOWAS.
Black Hawk’s intermittent promises of good behavior and declarations of
future tranquility were justly distrusted by the War Department, and
rather than remain open to future disadvantage, it resolved to erect
near his haunts a fort. Accordingly, on the 10th day of May, 1816, Gen.
Thomas A. Smith and Brev. Lieut. Col. W. Lawrence, with a detachment of
men, landed on Rock Island and soon thereafter, under the direction of
the latter, began the construction of Fort Armstrong[46]–so called in
honor of Gen. John Armstrong, then late Secretary of War.
Black Hawk witnessed these movements with dissatisfaction. The Indians
had a superstitious veneration for the island, claiming, as will be seen
from Black Hawk’s words:[47] “A good spirit had care of it, who lived in
a cave in the rocks immediately under the place where the fort now
stands, and has often been seen by our people. He was white, with large
wings like a swan’s, but ten times larger. We were particular not to
make much noise in that part of the island which he inhabited, for fear
of disturbing him. But the noise of the fort has since driven him away,
and no doubt a _bad spir
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