Autobiography of Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, or Black Hawk
by Sauk chief Black Hawk · English · Gutenberg #7097 · 375,262 chars · public domain (US)
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Title: Autobiography of Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, or Black Hawk
Author: Sauk chief Black Hawk
Release date: December 1, 2004 [eBook #7097]
Most recently updated: March 23, 2009
Language: English
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MA-KA-TAI-ME-SHE-KIA-KIAK, OR BLACK HAWK,
By Black Hawk
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
MA-KA-TAI-ME-SHE-KIA-KIAK,
OR
BLACK HAWK,
EMBRACING THE TRADITIONS OF HIS NATION, VARIOUS WARS
IN WHICH HE HAS BEEN ENGAGED, AND HIS ACCOUNT
OF THE CAUSE AND GENERAL HISTORY OF THE
BLACK HAWK WAR OF 1832,
His Surrender, and Travels Through the United States.
DICTATED BY HIMSELF.
ANTOINE LECLAIR, U. S. INTERPRETER.
J.B. PATTERSON, EDITOR AND AMANUENSIS.
ROCK ISLAND. ILLINOIS, 1833.
ALSO
LIFE, DEATH AND BURIAL OF THE OLD CHIEF, TOGETHER WITH
A History of the Black Hawk War,
By J.B. PATTERSON, OQUAWKA, ILL, 1882.
Copyrighted by J.B. PATTERSON, 1882.
AS A TOKEN OF HIGH REGARD,
I DEDICATE THIS VOLUME
TO MY FRIEND,
HON. BAILEY DAVENPORT,
OF ROCK ISLAND, ILL.
AFFIDAVIT.
DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS, SS. Be it remembered, that on this sixteenth
day of November, Anno Domini eighteen hundred and thirty-three, J.B.
Patterson, of said district, hath deposited in this office the title of
a Book, the title of which is in the words following, to wit:
"Life of Makataimeshekiakiak, or Black Hawk, embracing the Traditions of
his Nation--Indian Wars in which he has been engaged--Cause of joining
the British in their late War with America, and its History--Description
of the Rock River Village--Manners and Customs--Encroachments by the
Whites contrary to Treaty--Removal from his village in 1831. With an
account of the Cause and General History of the Late War, his Surrender
and Confinement at Jefferson Barracks, and Travels through the United
States. Dictated by himself."
J.B. Patterson, of Rock Island, Illinois, Editor and Proprietor.
The right whereof he claims as author, in conformity with an act
of Congress, entitled "An act to amend the several acts respecting
copyrights." W.H. BROWN,
Clerk of the District of Illinois
INDIAN AGENCY, ROCK ISLAND, October 16, 1833.
I do hereby certify, that Makataimeshekiakiak, or Black Hawk, did call
upon me, on his return to his people in August last, and expressed a
great desire to have a History of his Life written and published, in
order (as he said) "that the people of the United States, (among whom he
had been traveling, and by whom he had been treated with great respect,
friendship and hospitality,) might know the _cause_ that had impelled
him to acts as he had done, and the _principles_ by which he was
governed."
In accordance with his request, I acted as Interpreter; and was
particularly cautious to understand distinctly the narrative of
Black Hawk throughout--and have examined the work carefully since its
completion, and have no hesitation in pronouncing it strictly correct,
in all its particulars.
Given under my hand, at the Sac and Fox agency, the day and date above
written. ANTOINE LE CLAIR,
U.S. Interpreter for the Sacs and Foxes.
ORIGINAL DEDICATION.
NE-KA-NA-WEN.
MA-NE-SO-NO OKE-MAUT WAP-PI MAK-QUAI.
WA-TA-SAI WE-YEU,
Ai nan-ni ta co-si-ya-quai, na-katch ai she-ke she-he-nack, hai-me-ka-ti
ya-quai ke-she-he-nack, ken-e-chawe-he-ke kai-pec-kien a-cob,
ai-we-ne-she we-he-yen; ne-wai-ta-sa-mak ke-kosh-pe kai-a-poi qui-wat.
No-ta-wach-pai pai-ke se-na-mon nan-ni-yoo, ai-ke-kai na-o-pen.
Ni-me-to sai-ne-ni-wen, ne-ta-to-ta ken ai mo-he-man ta-ta-que,
ne-me-to-sai-ne-ne-wen.
Nin-a-kai-ka poi-pon-ni chi-cha-yen, kai-ka-ya ha-ma-we
pa-she-to-he-yen. Kai-na-ya kai-nen-ne-naip, he-nok ki-nok ke-cha-kai-ya
pai-no-yen ne-ket-te-sim-mak o-ke-te-wak ke-o-che, me-ka ti-ya-quois
na-kach mai-quoi, a-que-qui pa-che-qui ke-kan-ni ta-men-nin. Ke-to-ta
we-yen, a-que-ka-ni-co-te she-tai-hai-hai yen, nen, chai-cha-me-co
kai-ke-me-se ai we-ke ken-na-ta-mo-wat ken-ne-wa-ha-o
ma-quo-qua-yeai-quoi. Ken-wen-na ak-che-man wen-ni-ta-hai ke-men-ne
to-ta-we-yeu, ke-kog-hai ke-ta-shi ke-kai na-we-yen, he-na-cha
wai-che-we to-mo-nan, ai pe-che-qua-chi mo-pen ma-me-co, ma-che-we-ta
na-mo-nan, ne-ya-we-nan qui-a-ha-wa pe-ta-kek, a que-year tak-pa-she-qui
a-to-ta-mo-wat, chi-ye-tuk he-ne cha-wai-chi he-ni-nan ke-o-chi-ta
mow-ta-swee-pai che-qua-que.
He-ni-cha-hai poi-kai-nen na-no-so-si-yen, ai o-sa-ke-we-yen,
ke-pe-me-kai-mi-kat hai-nen hac-yai, na-na-co-si-peu, nen-a-kai-ne
co-ten ne-co-ten ne-ka chi-a-quoi ne-me-cok me-to-sai ne-ne wak-kai
ne-we-yen-nen, kai-shai ma-ni-to-ke ka-to-me-nak ke-wa-sai
he-co-wai mi-a-me ka-chi pai-ko-tai-hear-pe kai-cee wa-wa-kia he-pe
ha-pe-nach-he-cha, na-na-ke-na-way ni-taain ai we-pa-he-wea to-to-na ca,
ke-to-ta-we-yeak, he-nok, mia-ni ai she-ke-ta ma-ke-si-yen, nen-a-kai
na-co-ten ne-ka-he-nen e-ta-quois, wa toi-na-ka che-ma-ke-keu na-ta-che
tai-hai-ken ai mo-co-man ye-we-yeu ke-to-towe. E-nok ma-ni-hai
she-ka-ta-ma ka-si-yen, wen-e-cha-hai nai-ne-mak, mai-ko-ten ke ka-cha
ma-men-na-tuk we-yowe, keu-ke-nok ai she-me ma-na-ni ta-men-ke-yowe.
MA-KA-TAI-ME-SHE-KIA-KIAK Ma-taus-we Ki-sis, 1833.
DEDICATION. [translation]
To Brigadier General H. Atkinson:
SIR--The changes of fortune and vicissitudes of war made you my
conqueror. When my last resources were exhausted, my warriors worn down
with long and toilsome marches, we yielded, and I became your prisoner.
The story of my life is told in the following pages: it is intimately
connected, and in some measure, identified, with a part of the history
of your own: I have, therefore, dedicated it to you.
The changes of many summers have brought old age upon me, and I can not
expect to survive many moons. Before I set out on my journey to the land
of my fathers, I have determined to give my motives and reasons for my
former hostilities to the whites, and to vindicate my character from
misrepresentation. The kindness I received from you whilst a prisoner
of war assures me that you will vouch for the facts contained in my
narrative, so far as they came under your observation.
I am now an obscure member of a nation that formerly honored and
respected my opinions. The pathway to glory is rough, and many gloomy
hours obscure it. May the Great Spirit shed light on yours, and that
you may never experience the humility that the power of the American
government has reduced me to, is the wish of him, who, in his native
forests, was once as proud and bold as yourself.
BLACK HAWK.
10th Moon, 1833.
ADVERTISEMENT
It is presumed that no apology will be required for presenting to the
public the life of a Hero who has lately taken such high rank among the
distinguished individuals of America. In the following pages he will be
seen in the character of a Warrior, a Patriot and a State prisoner;
in every situation he is still the chief of his Band, asserting their
rights with dignity, firmness and courage. Several accounts of the late
war having been published, in which he thinks justice is not done to
himself or nation, he determined to make known to the world the injuries
his people have received from the whites, the causes which brought
on the war on the part of his nation, and a general history of it
throughout the campaign. In his opinion this is the only method now left
him to rescue his little Band, the remnant of those who fought bravely
with him, from the effects of the statements that have already gone
forth.
The facts which he states, respecting the Treaty of 1804, in virtue of
the provisions of which the government claimed the country in dispute
and enforced its arguments with the sword, are worthy of attention. It
purported to cede tot he United States all of the country, including the
village and corn-fields of Black Hawk and his band, on the east side of
the Mississippi. Four individuals of the tribe, who were on a visit to
St. Louis to obtain the liberation of on of their people from prison,
were prevailed upon, says Black Hawk, to make this important treaty,
without the knowledge or authority of the tribes, or nation.
In treating with the Indians for their country, it has always been
customary to assemble the whole nation; because, as has been truly
suggested by the Secretary of War, the nature of the authority of the
chiefs of the tribe is such, that it is not often that they dare make a
treaty of much consequence, and we might add, never, when involving so
much magnitude as the one under consideration, without the presence
of their young men. A rule so reasonable and just ought never to
be violated, and the Indians might well question the right of the
Government to dispossess them, when such violation was made the basis of
its right.
The Editor has written this work according to the dictation of Black
Hawk, through the United States Interpreter, at the Sac and Fox Agency
of Rock Island. He does not, therefore, consider himself responsible for
any of the facts, or views, contained in it, and leaves the Old Chief
and his story with the public, whilst he neither asks, nor expects, any
fame for his services as an amanuensis.
THE EDITOR.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BLACK HAWK.
I was born at the Sac village, on Rock river, in the year 1767, and
am now in my 67th year. My great grandfather, Nanamakee, or Thunder,
according to the tradition given me by my father, Pyesa, was born in the
vicinity of Montreal, Canada, where the Great Spirit first placed the
Sac nation, and inspired him with a belief that, at the end of four
years he should see a _white man_, who would be to him a father.
Consequently he blacked his face, and eat but once a day, just as the
sun was going down, for three years, and continued dreaming, throughout
all this time whenever he slept. When the Great Spirit again appeared to
him, and told him that, at the end of one year more, he should meet his
father, and directed him to start seven days before its expiration, and
take with him his two brothers, Namah, or Sturgeon, and Paukahummawa,
or Sunfish, and travel in a direction to the left of sun-rising. After
pursuing this course for five days, he sent out his two brothers to
listen if they could hear a noise, and if so, to fasten some grass to
the end of a pole, erect it, pointing in the direction of the sound, and
then return to him.
Early next morning they returned, and reported that they had heard
sounds which appeared near at hand, and that they had fulfilled his
order. They all then started for the place where the pole had been
erected; when, on reaching it, Nanamakee left his party and went alone
to the place from whence the sounds proceeded, and found, that the white
man had arrived and pitched his tent. When he came in sight, his father
came out to meet him. He took him by the hand and welcomed him into his
tent. He told him that he was the son of the King of France; that he had
been dreaming for four years; that the Great Spirit had directed him
to come here, where he should meet a nation of people who had never
yet seen a white man; that they should be his children and he should
be their father; that he had communicated these things to the King, his
father, who laughed at him and called him Mashena, but he insisted on
coming here to meet his children where the Great Spirit had directed
him. The king had told him that he would find neither land nor people;
that this was an uninhabited region of lakes and mountains, but, finding
that he would have no peace without it, he fitted out a napequa, manned
it, and gave him charge of it, when he immediately loaded it, set sail
and had now landed on the very day that the Great Spirit had told him
in his dreams he should meet his children. He had now met the man who
should, in future, have charge of all the nation.
He then presented him with a medal which he hung round his neck.
Nanamakee informed him of his dreaming, and told him that his two
brothers remained a little way behind. His father gave him a shirt, a
blanket and a handkerchief besides a variety of other presents, and told
him to go and bring his brethren. Having laid aside his buffalo robe and
dressed himself in his new dress, he started to meet his brothers.
When they met he explained to them his meeting with the white man and
exhibited to their view the presents that he had made him. He then took
off his medal and placed it on his elder brother Namah, and requested
them both to go with him to his father.
They proceeded thither, were where ushered into the tent, and after some
brief ceremony his father opened a chest and took presents therefrom for
the new comers. He discovered that Nanamakee had given his medal to his
elder brother Namah. He told him that he had done wrong; that he should
wear that medal himself, as he had others for his brothers. That which
he had given him was typical of the rank he should hold in the nation;
that his brothers could only rank as _civil chiefs_, and that their
duties should consist of taking care of the village and attending to its
civil concerns, whilst his rank, from his superior knowledge, placed
him over all. If the nation should get into any difficulty with another,
then his puccohawama, or sovereign decree, must be obeyed. If he
declared war he must lead them on to battle; that the Great Spirit had
made him a great and brave general, and had sent him here to give him
that medal and make presents to him for his people.
His father remained four days, during which time he gave him guns,
powder and lead, spears and lances, and taught him their use, so that
in war he might be able to chastise his enemies, and in peace they
could kill buffalo, deer and other game necessary for the comforts and
luxuries of life. He then presented the others with various kinds of
cooking utensils and taught them their uses. After having given them
large quantities of goods as presents, and everything necessary for
their comfort, he set sail for France, promising to meet them again, at
the same place, after the 12th moon.
The three newly made chiefs returned to their village and explained to
Mukataquet, their father, who was the principal chief of the nation,
what had been said and done.
The old chief had some dogs killed and made a feast preparatory to
resigning his scepter, to which all the nation were invited. Great
anxiety prevailed among them to know what the three brothers had seen
and heard. . When the old chief arose and related to them the sayings
and doings of his three sons, and concluded by saying that the Great
Spirit had directed that these, his three sons, should take the rank
and power that had once been his, and that he yielded these honors and
duties willingly to them, because it was the wish of the Great Spirit,
and he could never consent to make him angry.
He now presented the great medicine bag to Nanamakee, and told him that
he "cheerfully resigned it to him, it is the soul of our nation, it has
never yet been disgraced and I will expect you to keep it unsullied."
Some dissensions arose among them, in consequence of so much power being
given to Nanamakee, he being so young a man. To quiet them, Nanamakee,
during a violent thunder storm, told them that he had caused it, and
that it was an exemplification of the name the Great Spirit had given
him. During the storm the lightning struck, and set fire to a tree near
by, a sight they had never witnessed before. He went to it and brought
away some of its burning branches, made a fire in the lodge and seated
his brothers around it opposite to one another, while he stood up and
addressed his people as follows:
"I am yet young, but the Great Spirit has called me to the rank I hold
among you. I have never sought to be more than my birth entitled me to.
I have not been ambitious, nor was it ever my wish while my father
was yet among the living to take his place, nor have I now usurped his
powers. The Great Spirit caused me to dream for four years. He told me
where to go and meet the white man who would be a kind father to us all.
I obeyed. I went, and have seen and know our new father.
"You have all heard what was said and done. The Great Spirit directed
him to come and meet me, and it is his order that places me at the head
of my nation, the place which my father has willingly resigned.
"You have all witnessed the power that has been given me by the Great
Spirit, in making that fire, and all that I now ask is that these, my
two chiefs, may never let it go out. That they may preserve peace among
you and administer to the wants of the needy. And should an enemy invade
our country, I will then, and not until then, assume command, and go
forth with my band of brave warriors and endeavor to chastise them."
At the conclusion of this speech every voice cried out for Nanamakee.
All were satisfied when they found that the Great Spirit had done what
they had suspected was the work of Nanamakee, he being a very shrewd
young man.
The next spring according to promise their French father returned, with
his napequa richly laden with goods, which were distributed among them.
He continued for a long time to keep up a regular trade with them, they
giving him in exchange for his goods furs and peltries.
After a long time the British overpowered the French, the two nations
being at War, and drove them away from Quebec, taking possession of it
themselves. The different tribes of Indians around our nation, envying
our people, united their forces against them and by their combined
strength succeeded in driving them to Montreal, and from thence to
Mackinac. Here our people first met our British father, who furnished
them with goods. Their enemies still wantonly pursued them and drove
them to different places along the lake. At last they made a village
near Green Bay, on what is now called Sac river, having derived its name
from this circumstance. Here they held a council with the Foxes, and a
national treaty of friendship and alliance was agreed upon. The Foxes
abandoned their village and joined the Sacs. This arrangement, being
mutually obligatory upon both parties, as neither were sufficiently
strong to meet their enemies with any hope of success, they soon became
as one band or nation of people. They were driven, however, by the
combined forces of their enemies to the Wisconsin. They remained here
for some time, until a party of their young men, who descended Rock
river to its mouth, had returned and made a favorable report of the
country. They all descended Rock river, drove the Kaskaskias from the
country and commenced the erection of their village, determined never to
leave it.
At this village I was born, being a lineal descendant of the first
chief, Nanamakee, or Thunder. Few, if any events of note transpired
within my recollection until about my fifteenth year. I was not allowed
to paint or wear feathers, but distinguished myself at an early age by
wounding an enemy; consequently I was placed in the ranks of the Braves.
Soon after this a leading chief of the Muscow nation came to our village
for recruits to go to war against the Osages, our common enemy.
I volunteered my services to go, as my father had joined him, and was
proud to have an opportunity to prove to him that I was not an unworthy
son, and that I had courage and bravery. It was not long before we met
the enemy and a battle immediately ensued. Standing by my father's side,
I saw him kill his antagonist and tear the scalp from off his head.
Fired with valor and ambition, I rushed furiously upon another and smote
him to the earth with my tomahawk. I then ran my lance through his body,
took off his scalp and returned in triumph to my father. He said nothing
but looked well pleased. This was the first man I killed. The enemy's
loss in this engagement having been very great, they immediately
retreated, which put an end to the war for the time being. Our party
then returned to the village and danced over the scalps we had taken.
This was the first time I was permitted to join in a scalp dance.
After a few moons had passed, being acquired considerable reputation
as a brave, I led a party of seven and attacked one hundred Osages! I
killed one man and left him for my comrades to scalp while I was taking
observations of the strength and preparations of the enemy. Finding that
they were equally well armed with ourselves, I ordered a retreat and
came off without the loss of a man. This excursion gained for me great
applause, and enabled me, before a great while, to raise a party of one
hundred and eighty to march against the Osages. We left our village in
high spirits and marched over a rugged country, until we reached the
land of the Osages, on the borders of the Missouri.
We followed their trail until we arrived at the village, which we
approached with exceeding caution, thinking that they were all here,
but found, to our sorrow, that they had deserted it. The party became
dissatisfied in consequence of this disappointment, and all, with the
exception of five noble braves, dispensed and went home. I then placed
myself at the head of this brave little band, and thanked the Great
Spirit that so _many_ had remained. We took to the trail of our enemies,
with a full determination never to return without some trophy of
victory. We followed cautiously on for several days, killed one man and
a boy, and returned home with their scalps.
In consequence of this mutiny in camp, I was not again able to raise
a sufficient force to go against the Osages until about my Nineteenth
year. During this interim they committed many outrages on our nation;
hence I succeeded in recruiting two hundred efficient warriors, and
early one morning took up the line of march. In a few days we were in
the enemy's country, and we had not gone far before we met a force
equal to our own with which to contend. A general battle immediately
commenced, although my warriors were considerably fatigued by forced
marches. Each party fought desperately. The enemy seemed unwilling
to yield the ground and we were determined to conquer or die. A great
number of Osages were killed and many wounded before they commenced a
retreat. A band of warriors more brave, skillful and efficient than mine
could not be found. In this engagement I killed five men and one squaw,
and had the good fortune to take the scalps of all I struck with one
exception--that of the squaw, who was accidentally killed. The enemy's
loss in this engagement was about one hundred braves. Ours nineteen. We
then returned to our village well pleased with our success, and danced
over the scalps which we had taken.
The Osages, in consequence of their great loss in this battle, became
satisfied to remain on their own lands. This stopped for a while their
depredations on our nation. Our attention was now directed towards an
ancient enemy who had decoyed and murdered some of our helpless women
and children. I started with my father, who took command of a small
party, and proceeded against the enemy to chastise them for the wrongs
they had heaped upon us. We met near the Merimac and an action ensued;
the Cherokees having a great advantage in point of numbers. Early in
this engagement my father was wounded in the thigh, but succeeded in
killing his enemy before he fell. Seeing that he had fallen, I assumed
command, and fought desperately until the enemy commenced retreating
before the well directed blows of our braves. I returned to my father
to administer to his necessities, but nothing could be done for him. The
medicine man said the wound was mortal, from which he soon after died.
In this battle I killed three men and wounded several. The enemy's loss
was twenty-eight and ours seven.
I now fell heir to the great medicine bag of my forefathers, which had
belonged to my father. I took it, buried our dead, and returned with my
party, sad and sorrowful, to our village, in consequence of the loss of
my father.
Owing to this misfortune I blacked my face, fasted and prayed to the
Great Spirit for five years, during which time I remained in a civil
capacity, hunting and fishing.
The Osages having again commenced aggressions on our people, and the
Great Spirit having taken pity on me, I took a small party and went
against them. I could only find six of them, and their forces being
so weak, I thought it would be cowardly to kill them, but took them
prisoners and carried them to our Spanish father at St. Louis, gave them
up to him and then returned to our village.
Determined on the final and complete extermination of the dastardly
Osages, in punishment for the injuries our people had received from
them, I commenced recruiting a strong force, immediately on my return,
and stated in the third moon, with five hundred Sacs and Foxes, and one
hundred Iowas, and marched against the enemy. We continued our march for
many days before we came upon their trail, which was discovered late in
the day. We encamped for the night, made an early start next morning,
and before sundown we fell upon forty lodges, killed all the inhabitants
except two squaws, whom I took as prisoners. Doing this engagement I
killed seven men and two boys with my own hands. In this battle many of
the bravest warriors among the Osages were killed, which caused those
who yet remained of their nation to keep within the boundaries of their
own land and cease their aggressions upon our hunting grounds.
The loss of my father, by the Cherokees, made me anxious to avenge his
death by the utter annihilation, if possible, of the last remnant of
their tribe. I accordingly commenced collecting another party to go
against them. Having succeeded in this, I started with my braves and
went into their country, but I found only five of their people, whom I
took prisoners. I afterwards released four of them, the other, a young
squaw, we brought home. Great as was my hatred of these people, I could
not kill so small a party.
About the close of the ninth moon, I led a large party against the
Chippewas, Kaskaskias and Osages. This was the commencement of a long
and arduous campaign, which terminated in my thirty-fifth year, after
having had seven regular engagements and numerous small skirmishes.
During this campaign several hundred of the enemy were slain. I killed
thirteen of their bravest warriors with my own hands.
Our enemies having now been driven from our hunting grounds, with so
great a loss as they sustained, we returned in peace to our village.
After the seasons of mourning and burying our dead braves and of
feasting and dancing had passed, we commenced preparations for our
winter's hunt. When all was ready we started on the chase and returned
richly laden with the fruits of the hunter's toil.
We usually paid a visit to St. Louis every summer, but in consequence
of the long protracted war in which we had been engaged, I had not been
there for some years.
Our difficulties all having been settled, I concluded to take a small
party and go down to see our Spanish father during the summer. We went,
and on our arrival put up our lodges where the market house now stands.
After painting and dressing we called to see our Spanish father and were
kindly received. He gave us a great variety of presents and an abundance
of provisions. We danced through the town as usual, and the inhabitants
all seemed well pleased. They seemed to us like brothers, and always
gave us good advice. On my next and last visit to our Spanish father, I
discovered on landing, that all was not right. Every countenance seemed
sad and gloomy. I inquired the cause and was informed that the Americans
were coming to take possession of the town and country, and that we were
to lose our Spanish father. This news made me and my band exceedingly
sad, because we had always heard bad accounts of the Americans from the
Indians who had lived near them. We were very sorry to lose our Spanish
father, who had always treated us 'with great friendship.
A few days afterwards the Americans arrived. I, in company with my band,
went to take leave for the last time of our father. The Americans came
to see him also. Seeing their approach, we passed out at one door as
they came in at another. We immediately embarked in our canoes for our
village on Rock river, not liking the change any more than our friends
at St. Louis appeared to.
On arriving at our village we gave out the news that a strange people
had taken possession of St. Louis and that we should never see our
generous Spanish father again. This information cast a deep gloom over
our people.
Sometime afterwards a boat came up the river with a young American
chief, at that time Lieutenant, and afterwards General Pike, and a small
party of soldiers aboard. The boat at length arrived at Rock river and
the young chief came on shore with his interpreter. He made us a speech
and gave us some presents, in return for which we gave him meat and such
other provisions as we could spare.
We were well pleased with the speech of the young chief. He gave us good
advice and said our American father would treat us well. He presented
us an American flag which we hoisted. He then requested us to lower
the _British colors_, which were waving in the air, and to give him our
British medals, promising to send others on his return to St: Louis.
This we declined to do as we wished to have two fathers.
When the young chief started we sent runners to the village of the
Foxes, some miles distant, to direct them to treat him well as he
passed, which they did. He went to the head of the Mississippi and then
returned to St. Louis. We did not see any Americans again for some time,
being supplied with goods by British traders.
We were fortunate in not giving up our medals, for we learned
afterwards, from our traders, that the chiefs high up the Mississippi,
who gave theirs, never received any in exchange for them. But the fault
was not with the young American chief. He was a good man, a great brave,
and I have since learned, died in his country's service.
Some moons after this young chief had descended the Mississippi, one of
our people killed an American, was taken prisoner and was confined
in the prison at St. Louis for the offence. We held a council at
our village to see what could be done for him, and determined that
Quashquame, Pashepaho, Ouchequaka and Hashequarhiqua 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 murdered man. This being the only
means with us for 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, who had high
hopes that the emissaries would accomplish the object of their mission.
The relations of the prisoner blacked their faces and fasted, hoping the
Great Spirit would take pity on them and return husband and father to
his sorrowing wife and weeping children.
Quashquame and party remained a long time absent. They at length
returned and encamped near the village, a short distance below it, and
did not come up that day, nor did any one 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, Quashquame and party
came up and gave us the following account of their mission:
On our arrival at St. Louis we met our American father and explained to
him our business, urging the release of our friend. The American chief
told us he wanted land. We agreed to give him some on the west side of
the Mississippi, likewise more on the Illinois side opposite Jeffreon.
When the business was all arranged we expected to have our friend
released to come home with us. About the time we were ready to start our
brother was let out of the prison. He started and ran a short distance
when he was SHOT DEAD!
This was all they could remember of what had been said and done. It
subsequently appeared that they had been drunk the greater part of the
time while at St. Louis.
This was all myself and nation knew of the treaty of 1804. It has since
been explained to me. I found by that treaty, that all of the country
east of the Mississippi, and south of Jeffreon was ceded to the United
States for one thousand dollars a year. I will 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 these four individuals?
I could say much more respecting this treaty, but I will not at this
time. It has been the origin of all our serious difficulties with the
whites.
Sometime after this treaty was made, a war chief with a party of
soldiers came up in keel boats, encamped a short distance above the
head of the Des Moines rapids, and commenced cutting timber and building
houses. The news of their arrival was soon carried to all our villages,
to confer upon which many councils were held. We could not understand
the intention, or comprehend the reason why the Americans wanted to
build homes at that place. We were told that they were a party of
soldiers, who had brought great guns with them, and looked like a war
party of whites.
A number of people immediately went down to see what was going on,
myself among them. On our arrival we found that they were building a
fort. The soldiers were busily engaged in cutting timber, and I observed
that they took their arms with them when they went to the woods. The
whole party acted as they would do in an enemy's country. The chiefs
held a council with the officers, or head men of the party, which I did
not attend, but understood from them that the war chief had said that
they were building homes for a trader who was coming there to live, and
would sell us goods very cheap, and that the soldiers were to remain to
keep him company. We were pleased at this information ad hoped that it
was all true, but we were not so credulous as to believe that all these
buildings were intended merely for the accommodation of a trader. Being
distrustful of their intentions, we were anxious for them to leave off
building and go back down the river.
By this time a considerable number of Indians had arrived to see what
was doing. I discovered that the whites were alarmed. Some of our young
men watched a party of soldiers, who went out to work, carrying their
arms, which were laid aside before they commenced. Having stolen quietly
to the spot they seized the guns and gave a wild yell! The party
threw down their axes and ran for their arms, but found them gone, and
themselves surrounded. Our young men laughed at them and returned their
weapons.
When this party came to the fort they reported what had been done,
and the war chief made a serious affair of it. He called our chiefs to
council inside his fort. This created considerable excitement in our
camp, every one wanting to know what was going to be done. The picketing
which had been put up, being low, every Indian crowded around the fort,
got upon blocks of wood and old barrels that they might see what was
going on inside. Some were armed with guns and others with bows and
arrows. We used this precaution, seeing that the soldiers had their guns
loaded and having seen them load their big guns in the morning.
A party of our braves commenced dancing and proceeded up to the
gate with the intention of, going in, but were stopped. The council
immediately broke up, the soldiers with their guns in hands rushed out
from the rooms where they had been concealed. The cannon were hauled to
the gateway, and a soldier came running with fire in his hand, ready to
apply the match. Our braves gave way and retired to the camp. There was
no preconcerted plan to attack the whites at that time, but I am of
the opinion now that had our braves got into the fort all of the whites
would have been killed, as were the British soldiers at Mackinac many
years before.
We broke up our camp and returned to Rock river. A short time afterward
the party at the fort received reinforcements, among whom we observed
some of our old friends from St. Louis.
Soon after our return from Fort Madison runners came to our village from
the Shawnee Prophet. Others were despatched by him to the village of
the Winnebagoes, with invitations for us to meet him on the Wabash.
Accordingly a party went from each village.
All of our party returned, among whom came a prophet, who explained to
us the bad treatment the different nations of Indians had received from
the Americans, by giving them a few presents and taking their land from
them.
I remember well his saying: "If you do not join your friends on the
Wabash, the Americans will take this very village from you!" I little
thought then that his words would come true, supposing that he used
these arguments merely to encourage us to join him, which we concluded
not to do. He then returned to the Wabash, where a party Of Winnebagoes
had preceded him, and preparations were making for war. A battle soon
ensued in which several Winnebagoes were killed. As soon as their nation
heard of this battle, and that some of their people had been killed,
they sent several war parties in different directions. One to the mining
county, one to Prairie du Chien, and another to Fort Madison. The latter
returned by our village and exhibited several scalps which they had
taken. Their success induced several parties to go against the fort.
Myself and several of my band joined the last party, and were determined
to take the fort. We arrived in the vicinity during the night. The spies
that we had sent out several days before to watch the movements of those
at the garrison, and ascertain their numbers, came to us and gave the
following information: "A keel arrived from below this evening with
seventeen men. There are about fifty men in the fort and they march out
every morning to exercise." It was immediately determined that we should
conceal ourselves in a position as near as practicable to where the
soldiers should come out, and when the signal was given each one was to
fire on them and rush into the fort. With my knife I dug a hole in the
ground deep enough that by placing a few weeds around it, succeeded
in concealing myself. I was so near the fort that I could hear the
sentinels walking on their beats. By day break I had finished my work
and was anxiously awaiting the rising of the sun. The morning drum beat.
I examined the priming of my gun, and eagerly watched for the gate to
open. It did open, but instead of the troops, a young man came out alone
and the gate closed after him. He passed so close to me that I could
have killed him with my knife, but I let him pass unharmed. He kept the
path toward the river, and had he gone one step from it, he must have
come upon us and would have been killed. He returned immediately and
entered the gate. I would now have rushed for the gate and entered it
with him, but I feared that our party was not prepared to follow me.
The gate opened again when four men emerged and went down to the river
for wood. While they were gone another man came out, walked toward the
river, was fired on and killed by a Winnebago. The others started and
ran rapidly towards the fort, but two of them were shot down dead. We
then took shelter under the river's bank out of reach of the firing from
the fort.
The firing now commenced from both parties and was kept up without
cessation all day. I advised our party to set fire to the fort, and
commenced preparing arrows for that purpose. At night we made the
attempt, and succeeded in firing the buildings several times, but
without effect, as the fire was always instantly extinguished.
The next day I took my rifle and shot in two the cord by which they
hoisted their flag, and prevented them from raising it again. We
continued firing until our ammunition was expended. Finding that we
could not take the fort, we returned home, having one Winnebago killed
and one wounded during the siege.
I have since learned that the trader who lived in the fort, wounded
the Winnebago while he was scalping the first man that was killed. The
Winnebago recovered, and is now living, and is very friendly disposed
towards the trader, believing him to be a great brave.
Soon after our return home, news reached us that a war was going to take
place between the British and the Americans.
Runners continued to arrive from different tribes, all confirming the
reports of the expected war. The British agent, Colonel Dixon, was
holding talks with, and making presents to the different tribes. I had
not made up my mind whether to join the British or remain neutral. I had
not discovered yet one good trait in the character of the Americans who
had come to the country. They made fair promises but never fulfilled
them, while the British made but few, and we could always rely
implicitly on their word.
One of our people having killed a Frenchman at Prairie du Chien, the
British took him prisoner and said they would shoot him next day. His
family were encamped a short distance below the mouth of the Wisconsin.
He begged for permission to go and see them that night, as he was to
die the next day. They permitted him to go after he had promised them to
return by sunrise the next morning.
He visited his family, which consisted of his wife and six children. I
can not describe their meeting and parting so as to be understood by
the whites, as it appears that their feelings are acted upon by certain
rules laid down by their preachers, while ours are governed by the
monitor within us. He bade his loved ones the last sad farewell and
hurried across the prairie to the fort and arrived in time. The soldiers
were ready and immediately marched out and shot him down. I visited the
stricken family, and by hunting and fishing provided for them until they
reached their relations.
Why did the Great Spirit ever send the whites to this island to drive
us from our homes and introduce among us poisonous liquors, disease and
death? They should have remained in the land the Great Spirit allotted
them. But I will proceed with my story. My memory, however, is not very
good since my late visit to the white people. I have still a buzzing
noise in my ear from the noise and bustle incident to travel. I may give
some parts of my story out of place, but will make my best endeavors to
be correct.
Several of our chiefs were called upon to go to Washington to see our
Great Father. They started and during their absence I went to Peoria,
on the Illinois river, to see an old friend and get his advice. He was a
man who always told u the truth, sad knew everything that was going on.
When I arrived at Peoria he had gone to Chicago, and was not at home. I
visited the Pottawattomie villages and then returned to Rock river. Soon
after which our friends returned from their visit to the Great Father
and reported what had been said and done. Their Great Father told them
that in the event of a war taking place with England, not to interfere
on either side, but remain neutral. He did not want our help, but wished
us to hunt and supply our families, and remain in peace. He said that
British traders would not be allowed to come on the Mississippi to
furnish us with goods, but that we would be well supplied by an American
trader. Our chiefs then told him that the British traders always gave us
credit in the fall for guns, powder and goods, to enable us to hunt and
clothe our families. He replied that the trader at Fort Madison would
have plenty of goods, and if we should go there in the autumn of the
year, he would supply us on credit, as the British traders had done. The
party gave a good account of what they had seen and the kind treatment
they had received. This information pleased us all very much. We all
agreed to follow our Great Father's advice and not interfere in the
war. Our women were much pleased at the good news. Everything went on
cheerfully in our village. We resumed our pastimes of playing ball,
horse-racing and dancing, which had been laid aside when this great war
was first talked about. We had fine crops of corn which were now ripe,
and our women were busily engaged in gathering it and making caches to
contain it.
In a short time we were ready to start to Fort Madison to get our
supply of goods, that we might proceed to our hunting grounds. We passed
merrily down the river, all in high spirits. I had determined to spend
the winter at my old favorite hunting ground on Skunk river. I left
part of my corn and mats at its mouth to take up as we returned and many
others did the same.
The next morning we arrived at the fort and made our encampment. Myself
and principal men paid a visit to the war chief at the fort. He received
us kindly and gave us some tobacco, pipes and provisions.
The trader came in and we all shook hands with him, for on him all our
dependence was placed, to enable us to hunt and thereby support our
families. We waited a long time, expecting the trader would tell us that
he had orders from our Great Father to supply us with goods, but he said
nothing on the subject. I got up and told him in a short speech what we
had come for, and hoped he had plenty of goods to supply us. I told him
that he should be well paid in the spring, and concluded by informing
him that we had decided to follow our Great Father's advice and not go
to war.
He said that he was happy to hear that we had concluded to remain in
peace. That he had a large quantity of goods, and that if we had made
a good hunt we should be well supplied, but he remarked that he had
received no instructions to furnish us anything on credit, nor could he
give us any without receiving the pay for them on the spot!
We informed him what our Great Father had told our chiefs at Washington,
and contended that he could supply us if he would, believing that our
Great Father always spoke the truth. The war chief said the trader could
not furnish us on credit, and that he had received no instructions from
our Great Father at Washington. We left the fort dissatisfied and went
to camp. What was now to be done we knew not. We questioned the party
that brought us the news from our Great Father, that we could get credit
for our winter supplies at this place. They still told the same story
and insisted on its truth. Few of us slept that night. All was gloom and
discontent.
In the morning a canoe was seen descending the river, bearing an
express, who brought intelligence that La Gutrie, a British trader, had
landed at Rock Island with two boat loads of goods. He requested us
to come up immediately as he had good news for us, and a variety of
presents. The express presented us with tobacco, pipes and wampum. The
news ran through our camp like fire through dry grass on the prairie.
Our lodges were soon taken down and we all started for Rock Island. Here
ended all hopes of our remaining at peace, having been forced into war
by being deceived.
Our party were not long in getting to Rock Island. When we came in sight
and saw tents pitched, we yelled, fired our guns and beat our drums.
Guns were immediately fired at the island, returning our salute, and a
British flag hoisted. We loaded, were cordially received by La Gutrie,
and then smoked the pipe with him. After which he made a speech to
us, saying that he had been sent by Col. Dixon. He gave us a number of
handsome presents, among them a large silk flag and a keg of rum. He
then told us to retire, take some refreshments and rest ourselves, as he
would have more to say to us next day.
We accordingly retired to our lodges, which in the meantime had been put
up, and spent the night. The next morning we called upon him and told
him we wanted his two boat loads of goods to divide among our people,
for which he should be well paid in the spring in furs and peltries. He
consented for us to take them and do as we pleased with them. While our
people were dividing the goods, he took me aside and informed me that
Colonel Dixon was at Green Bay with twelve boats loaded with goods, guns
and ammunition. He wished to raise a party immediately and go to him. He
said our friend, the trader at Peoria, was collecting the Pottawattomies
and would be there before us. I communicated this information to my
braves, and a party of two hundred warriors were soon collected and
ready to depart. I paid a visit to the lodge of an old friend, who had
been the comrade of my youth, and had been in many war parties with me,
but was now crippled and no longer able to travel. He had a son that
I had adopted as my own, and who had hunted with me the two winters
preceding. I wished my old friend to let him go with me. He objected,
saying he could not get his support if he did attend me, and that I,
who had always provided for him since his misfortune, would be gone,
therefore he could not spare him as he had no other dependence. I
offered to leave my son in his stead but he refused to give his consent.
He said that he did not like the war, as he had been down the river and
had been well treated by the Americans and could not fight against them.
He had promised to winter near a white settler above Salt river,
and must take his son with him. We parted and I soon concluded my
arrangements and started with my party for Green Bay. On our arrival
there we found a large encampment; were well received by Colonel Dixon
and the war chiefs who were with him. He gave us plenty of provisions,
tobacco and pipes, saying that he would hold a council with us the next
day. In the encampment I found a great number of Kickapoos, Ottawas and
Winnebagoes. I visited all their camps and found them in high spirits.
They had all received new guns, ammunition and a variety of clothing.
In the evening a messenger came to visit Colonel Dixon. I went to his
tent, in which them were two other war chiefs and an interpreter. He
received me with a hearty shake of the hand; presented me to the other
chiefs, who treated me cordially, expressing themselves as being much.
Pleased to meet me. After I was seated Colonel Dixon said: "General
Black Hawk, I sent for you to explain to you what we are going to do and
give you the reasons for our coming here. Our friend, La Gutrie, informs
us in the letter you brought from him, of what has lately taken place.
You will now have to hold us fast by the hand. Your English Father has
found out that the Americans want to take your country from you and has
sent me and my braves to drive them back to their own country. He has,
likewise, sent a large quantity of arms and ammunition, and we want all
your warriors to join us."
He then placed a medal around my neck and gave me a paper, which I lost
in the late war, and a silk flag, saying: "You are to command all the
braves that will leave here the day after to-morrow, to join our braves
at Detroit."
I told him I was very much disappointed, as I wanted to descend the
Mississippi and make war upon the settlements. He said he had been
ordered to lay in waste the country around St. Louis. But having been a
trader on the Mississippi for many years himself, and always having
been treated kindly by the people there, he could not send brave men
to murder helpless women and innocent children. There were no soldiers
there for us to fight, and where he was going to send us there were a
great many of them. If we defeated them the Mississippi country should
be ours. I was much pleased with this speech, as it was spoken by a
brave.
I inquired about my old friend, the trader at Peoria, and observed,
"that I had expected that he would have been here before me." He shook
his head and said, "I have sent express after express for him, and have
offered him great sums of money to come and bring the Pottawatomies and
Kickapoos with him." He refused, saying, "Your British father has not
enough money to induce me to join you. I have now laid a trap for him. I
have sent Gomo and a party of Indians to take him prisoner and bring him
here alive. I expect him in a few days."
The next day arms and ammunition, knives, tomahawks and clothing were
given to my band. We had a great feast in the evening, and the morning
following I started with about five hundred braves to join the British
army. We passed Chicago and observed that the fort had been evacuated
by the Americans, and their soldiers had gone to Fort Wayne. They
were attacked a short distance from the fort and defeated. They had a
considerable quantity of powder in the fort at Chicago, which they had
promised to the Indians, but the night before they marched away they
destroyed it by throwing it into a well. If they had fulfilled their
word to the Indians, they doubtless would have gone to Fort Wayne
without molestation. On our arrival, I found that the Indians had
several prisoners, and I advised them to treat them well. We continued
our march, joining the British below Detroit, soon after which we had a
battle. The Americans fought well, and drove us back with considerable
loss. I was greatly surprised at this, as I had been told that the
Americans would not fight.
Our next movement was against a fortified place. I was stationed with my
braves to prevent any person going to, or coming from the fort. I found
two men taking care of cattle and took them prisoners. I would not kill
them, but delivered them to the British war chief. Soon after, several
boats came down the river fail of American soldiers. They landed on the
opposite side, took the British batteries, and pursued the soldiers that
had left them. They went too far without knowing the strength of the
British and were defeated. I hurried across the river, anxious for an
opportunity to show the courage of my braves, but before we reached the
scene of battle all was over.
The British had taken many prisoners and the Indians were killing them.
I immediately put a stop to it, as I never thought it brave, but base
and cowardly to kill in unarmed and helpless foe. We remained here for
some time. I can not detail what took place, as I was stationed with my
braves in the woods. It appeared, however, that the British could not
take this fort, for we marched to another, some distance off. When we
approached it, I found a small stockade, and concluded that there were
not many men in it. The British war chief sent a flag of truce. Colonel
Dixon carried it, but soon returned, reporting that the young war chief
in command would not give up the fort without fighting. Colonel Dixon
came to me and said, "you will see to-morrow, how easily we will take
that fort." I was of the same opinion, but when the morning came I was
disappointed. The British advanced and commenced the attack, fighting
like true braves, but were defeated by the braves in the fort, and
a great number of our men were killed. The British army was making
preparations to retreat. I was now tired of being with them, our success
being bad, and having got no plunder. I determined on leaving them and
returning to Rock river, to see what had become of my wife and children,
as I had not heard from them since I left home. That night I took about
twenty of my braves, and left the British camp for home. On our journey
we met no one until we came to the Illinois river. Here we found two
lodges of Pottawattomies. They received us in a very friendly manner,
and gave us something to eat. I inquired about their friends who were
with the British. They said there had been some fighting on the Illinois
river, and that my friend, the Peoria trader, had been taken prisoner.
"By Gomo and his party?" I immediately inquired. They replied, "no, but
by the Americans, who came up with boats. They took him and the French
settlers prisoners, and they burned the village of Peoria." They could
give us no information regarding our friends on Rock river. In three
days more we were in the vicinity of our village, and were soon after
surprised to find that a party of Americans had followed us from the
British camp. One of them, more daring than his comrades, had made his
way through the thicket on foot, and was just in the act of shooting me
when I discovered him. I then ordered him to surrender, marched him
into camp, and turned him over to a number of our young men with this
injunction: "Treat him as a brother, as I have concluded to adopt him in
our tribe."
A little while before this occurrence I had directed my party to proceed
to the village, as I had discovered a smoke ascending from a hollow in
the bluff, and wished to go alone to the place from whence the smoke
proceeded, to see who was there. I approached the spot, and when I came
in view of the fire, I saw an old man sitting in sorrow beneath a mat
which he had stretched over him. At any other time I would have turned
away without disturbing him, knowing that he came here to be alone, to
humble himself before the Great Spirit, that he might take pity on him.
I approached and seated myself beside him. He gave one look at me and
then fixed his eyes on the ground. It was my old friend. I anxiously
inquired for his son, my adopted child, and what had befallen our
people. My old comrade seemed scarcely alive. He must have fasted a long
time. I lighted my pipe and put it into his mouth. He eagerly drew a few
puffs, cast up his eyes which met mine, and recognized me. His eyes
were glassy and he would again have fallen into forgetfulness, had I
not given him some water, which revived him. I again inquired, "what has
befallen our people, and what has become of our son?"
In a feeble voice he said, "Soon after your departure to join the
British, I descended the river with a small party, to winter at the
place I told you the white man had asked me to come to. When we arrived
I found that a fort had been built, and the white family that had
invited me to come and hunt near them had removed to it. I then paid
a visit to the fort to tell the white people that my little band were
friendly, and that we wished to hunt in the vicinity of the fort.
The war chief who commanded there, told me that we might hunt on the
Illinois side of the Mississippi, and no person would trouble us. That
the horsemen only ranged on the Missouri side, and he had directed them
not to cross the river. I was pleased with this assurance of safety, and
immediately crossed over and made my winter's camp. Game was plenty. We
lived happy, and often talked of you. My boy regretted your absence
and the hardships you would have to undergo. We had been here about two
moons, when my boy went out as usual to hunt. Night came on and he did
not return. I was alarmed for his safety and passed a sleepless night.
In the morning my old woman went to the other lodges and gave the alarm
and all turned out to hunt for the missing one. There being snow upon
the ground they soon came upon his track, and after pursuing it for
some distance, found he was on the trail of a deer, which led toward
the river. They soon came to the place where he had stood and fired, and
near by, hanging on the branch of a tree, found the deer, which he had
killed and skinned. But here were also found the tracks of white men.
They had taken my boy prisoner. Their tracks led across the river and
then down towards the fort. My friends followed on the trail, and soon
found my boy lying dead. He had been most cruelly murdered. His face was
shot to pieces, his body stabbed in several places and his head scalped.
His arms were pinioned behind him."
The old man paused for some time, and then told me that his wife had
died on their way up the Mississippi. I took the hand of my old friend
in mine and pledged myself to avenge the death of his son. It was now
dark, and a terrible storm was raging. The rain was descending in heavy
torrents, the thunder was rolling in the heavens, and the lightning
flashed athwart the sky. I had taken my blanket off and wrapped it
around the feeble old man. When the storm abated I kindled a fire and
took hold of my old friend to remove him nearer to it. He was dead! I
remained with him during the night. Some of my party came early in the
morning to look for me, and assisted me in burying him on the peak of
the bluff. I then returned to the village with my friends. I visited the
grave of my old friend as I ascended Rock river the last time.
On my arrival at the village I was met by the chiefs and braves and
conducted to the lodge which was prepared for me. After eating, I gave
a fall account of all that I had seen and done. I explained to my
people the manner in which the British and Americans fought. Instead of
stealing upon each other and taking every advantage to kill the enemy
and save their own people as we do, which, with us is considered
good policy in a war chief, they march out in open daylight and fight
regardless of the number of warriors they may lose. After the battle
is over they retire to feast and drink wine as if nothing had happened.
After which they make a statement in writing of what they have done,
each party claiming the victory, and neither giving an account of half
the number that have been killed on their own side They all fought like
braves, but would not do to lead a party with us. Our maxim is: "Kill
the enemy and save our own men." Those chiefs will do to paddle a canoe
but not to steer it. The Americans shot better than the British, but
their soldiers were not so well clothed, nor so well provided for.
The village chief informed me that after I started with my braves and
the parties who followed, the nation was reduced to a small party of
fighting men; that they would have been unable to defend themselves if
the Americans had attacked them. That all the children and old men and
women belonging to the warriors who had joined the British were left
with them to provide for. A council had been called which agreed that
Quashquame, the Lance, and other chiefs, with the old men, women and
children, and such others as chose to accompany them, should descend the
Mississippi to St. Louis, and place themselves under the American chief
stationed there. They accordingly went down to St. Louis, were received
as the friendly band of our nation, were sent up the Missouri and
provided for, while their friends were assisting the British!
Keokuk was then introduced to me as the war chief of the braves then in
the village. I inquired how he had become chief? They said that a large
armed force was seen by their spies going toward Peoria. Fears were
entertained that they would come up and attack the village and a council
had been called to decide as to the best course to be adopted, which
concluded upon leaving the village and going to the west side of the
Mississippi to get out of the way. Keokuk, during the sitting of the
council, had been standing at the door of the lodge, not being allowed
to enter, as he had never killed an enemy, where he remained until old
Wacome came out. He then told him that he heard what they had decided
upon, and was anxious to be permitted to speak before the council
adjourned. Wacome returned and asked leave for Keokuk to come in and
make a speech. His request was granted. Keokuk entered and addressed the
chiefs. He said: "I have heard with sorrow that you have determined to
leave our village and cross the Mississippi, merely because you have
been told that the Americans were coming in this direction. Would you
leave our village, desert our homes and fly before an enemy approaches?
Would you leave all, even the graves of our fathers, to the mercy of an
enemy without trying to defend them? Give me charge of your warriors and
I'll defend the village while you sleep in safety."
The council consented that Keokuk should be war chief. He marshalled
his braves, sent out his spies and advanced with a party himself on
the trail leading to Peoria. They returned without seeing an enemy.
The Americans did not come by our village. All were satisfied with the
appointment of Keokuk. He used every precaution that our people should
not be surprised. This is the manner in which and the cause of his
receiving the appointment.
I was satisfied, and then started to visit my wife and children. I found
them well, and my boys were growing finely. It is not customary for
us to say much about our women, as they generally perform their part
cheerfully and never interfere with business belonging to the men. This
is the only wife I ever had or ever will have. She is a good woman, and
teaches my boys to be brave. Here I would have rested myself and enjoyed
the comforts of my lodge, but I could not. I had promised to avenge the
death of my adopted son.
I immediately collected a party of thirty braves, and explained to them
the object of my making this war party, it being to avenge the death
of my adopted son, who had been cruelly and wantonly murdered by the
whites. I explained to them the pledge I had made to his father, and
told them that they were the last words that he had heard spoken. All
were willing to go with me to fulfill my word. We started in canoes,
and descended the Mississippi, until we arrived ear the place where Fort
Madison had stood. It had been abandoned and burned by the whites, and
nothing remained but the chimneys. We were pleased to see that the white
people had retired from the country. We proceeded down the river again.
I landed with one brave near Cape Gray, the remainder of the party went
to the mouth of the Quiver. I hurried across to the tail that led from
the mouth of the Quiver to a fort, and soon after heard firing at the
mouth of the creek. Myself and brave concealed ourselves on the side
of the road. We had not remained here long before two men, riding one
horse, came at full speed from the direction of the sound of the firing.
When they came sufficiently near we fired; the horse jumped and both men
fell. We rushed toward them and one rose and ran. I followed him and was
gaining on him, when he ran over a pile of rails that had lately been
made, seized a stick and struck at me. I now had an opportunity to see
his face, and I knew him. He had been at Qaashquame's village to teach
his people how to plow. We looked upon him as a good man. I did not wish
to kill him, and pursued him no further. I returned and met my brave. He
said he had killed the other man and had his scalp in his hand. We had
not proceeded far before we met the man supposed to be killed, coming
up the road, staggering like a drunken man, and covered all over with
blood. This was the most terrible sight I had ever seen. I told my
comrade to kill him to put him out of his misery. I could not look at
him. I passed on and heard a rustling in the bushes. I distinctly saw
two little boys concealing themselves in the undergrowth, thought of
my own children, and passed on without noticing them. My comrade here
joined me, and in a little while we met the other detachment of our
party. I told them that we would be pursued, and directed them to follow
me. We crossed the creek and formed ourselves in the timber. We had not
been here long, when a party of mounted men rushed at full speed upon
us. I took deliberate aim and shot the leader of the party. He fell
lifeless from his horse. All my people fired, but without effect. The
enemy rushed upon us without giving us time to reload. They surrounded us
and forced us into a deep sink-hole, at the bottom of which there were
some bushes. We loaded our gum and awaited the approach of the enemy.
They rushed to the edge of the hole, fired on us and killed one of our
men. We instantly returned their fire, killing one of their party. We
reloaded and commenced digging holes in the side of the bank to protect
ourselves, while a party watched the enemy, expecting their whole force
would be upon us immediately. Some of my warriors commenced singing
their death songs. I heard the whites talking, and called to them to
come out and fight. I did not like my situation and wished the matter
settled. I soon heard chopping and knocking. I could not imagine what
they were doing. Soon after they ran up a battery on wheels and fired
without hurting any of us. I called to them again, and told them if
they were brave men to come out and fight us. They gave up the siege and
returned to their fort about dusk. There were eighteen in this trap with
me. We came out unharmed, with the exception of the brave who was killed
by the enemy's fist fire, after we were entrapped. We found one white
man dead at the edge of the sink-hole, whom they did not remove for fear
of our fire, and scalped him, placing our dead brave upon him, thinking
we could not leave him in a better situation than on the prostrate form
of a fallen foe.
We had now effected our purpose and concluded to go back by land,
thinking it unsafe to use our canoes. I found my wife and children, and
the greater part of our people, at the mouth of the Iowa river. I now
determined to remain with my family and hunt for them, and to humble
myself before the Great Spirit, returning thanks to him for preserving
me through the war. I made my hunting camp on English river, which is
a branch of the Iowa. During the winter a party of Pottawattomies came
from the Illinois to pay me a visit, among them was Washeown, an old man
who had formerly lived in our village. He informed as that in the fall
the Americans had built a fort at Peoria and had prevented them from
going down the Sangamon to hunt. He said they were very much distressed.
Gomo had returned from the British army, and brought news of their
defeat near Malden. He told us that he went to the American chief with
a flag, gave up fighting, and told him he desired to make peace for his
nation. The American chief gave him a paper to the war chief at Peoria,
and I visited that fort with Gomo. It was then agreed that there should
be no more hostilities between the Americans and the Pottawattomies. Two
of the white chiefs, with eight Pottawattomie braves, and five others,
Americans, had gone down to St. Louis to have the treaty of peace
confirmed. This, said Washeown, is good news; for we can now go to our
hunting grounds, and, for my part, I never had anything to do with this
war. The Americans never killed any of our people before the war,
nor interfered with our hunting grounds, and I resolved to do nothing
against them. I made no reply to these remarks as the speaker was old
and talked like a child.
We gave the Pottawattomies a great feast. I presented Washeown with a
good horse. My braves gave one to each of his party, and, at parting,
said they wished us to make peace, which we did not promise, but told
them that we would not send out war parties against the settlements.
A short time after the Pottawattomies had gone, a party of thirty braves
belonging to our nation, from the peace camp on the Missouri, paid us a
visit. They exhibited five scalps which they had taken on the Missouri,
and wished us to join in a dance over them, which we willingly did.
They related the manner in which they had taken these scalps. Myself and
braves showed them the two we had taken near the Quiver, and told them
the cause that induced us to go out with the war party, as well as
the manner in which we took these scalps, and the difficulty we had in
obtaining them.
They recounted to us all that had taken place, the number that had been
slain by the peace party, as they were called and recognized to be,
which far surpassed what our warriors, who had joined the British, had
done. This party came for the purpose of joining the British, but I
advised them to return to the peace party, and told them the news
which the Pottawattomies had brought. They returned to the Missouri,
accompanied by some of my braves whose families were there.
After "sugar-making" was over in the spring, I visited the Fox village
at the lead mines. They had nothing to do with the war, and consequently
were not in mourning. I remained there some days, spending my time very
pleasantly with them in dancing and feasting. I then paid a visit to the
Pottawattomie village on the Illinois river, and learned that Sanatuwa
and Tatapuckey had been to St. Louis. Gomo told me that "peace had been
made between his people and the Americans, and that seven of his band
remained with the war chief to make the peace stronger." He then told
me: "Washeown is dead! He had gone to the fort to carry some wild fowl
to exchange for tobacco, pipes and other articles. He had secured some
tobacco and a little flour, and left the fort before sunset, but had
not proceeded far when he was _shot dead_ by a white war chief, who had
concealed himself near the path for that purpose. He then dragged him
to the lake and threw him in, where I afterwards found him. I have since
given two homes and a rifle to his relatives, not to break the peace, to
which they have agreed."
I remained for some time at the village of Gomo, and went with him to
the fort to pay a visit to the war chief. I spoke the Pottawattomie
tongue well, and was taken for one of their people by him. He treated
us friendly, and said he was very much displeased about the murder of'
Washeown. He promised us he would find out and punish the person who
killed him. He made some inquiries about the Sacs, which I answered.
On my return to Rock river, I was informed that a party of soldiers
had gone up the Mississippi to build a fort at Prairie du Chien. They
stopped near our village, appearing very friendly, and were treated
kindly by our people.
We commenced repairing our lodges, putting our village in order, and
clearing our cornfields. We divided the fields belonging to the party on
the Missouri among those who wanted them, on condition that they
should be relinquished to their owners on their return from the peace
establishment. We were again happy in our village. Our women went
cheerfully to work and all moved on harmoniously.
Some time afterward, five or six boats arrived loaded with soldiers on
their way to Prairie du Chien to reinforce the garrison at that place.
They appeared friendly and were well received, and we held a council
with the war chief. We had no intention of hurting him or any of his
party, for we could easily have defeated them. They remained with us
all day and gave oar people plenty of whisky. Doing the night a party
arrived, by way of Rock river, who brought us six kegs of powder. They
told us that the British had gone to Prairie du Chien and taken the
fort. They wished us to again join them in the war, which we agreed to
do. I collected my warriors and determined to pursue the boats, which
had sailed with a fair wind. If we had known the day before, we could
easily have taken them all, as the war chief used no precaution to
prevent it.
I started immediately 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.
About half way up the rapids I had a full view of the boats all sailing
with a strong wind. I discovered that one boat was badly managed, and
was suffered to be drawn ashore by the wind. They landed by running
hard aground and lowered their sail. The others passed on. This boat the
Great Spirit gave to us. All that could, hurried aboard, but they were
unable to push off, being fast aground. We advanced to the river's bank
undercover, and commenced firing on the boat. I encouraged my braves
to continue firing. Several guns were fired from the boat, but without
effect. I prepared my bow and arrows to throw fire to the sail, which
was lying on the boat. After two or three attempts, I succeeded in
setting it on fire. The boat was soon in flames. About this time, one of
the boats that had passed returned, dropped anchor and swung in close to
one which was on fire, taking off all the people except those who were
killed or badly wounded. We could distinctly see them passing from one
boat to the other, and fired on them with good effect. We wounded the
war chief in this way. Another boat now came down, dropped her anchor,
which did not take hold, and drifted whore. The other boat cut her cable
and drifted down the river, leaving their comrades without attempting to
assist them. We then commenced an attack upon this boat, firing several
rounds, which was not returned. We thought they were afraid or only had
a few aboard. I therefore ordered a rush toward the boat, but when we
got near enough they fired, killing two of our braves--these being all
we lost in the engagement. Some of their men jumped out and shoved the
boat off, and thus got away without losing a man. I had a good opinion
of this war chief, as he managed so much better than the others. It
would give me pleasure to shake him by the hand.
We now put out the fire on the captured boat to save the cargo, when
a skiff was seen coming down the river. Some of our people cried out,
"Here comes an express from Prairie du Chien." We hoisted the British
flag, but they would not land. They turned their little boat around, and
rowed up the river. We directed a few shots at them, but they were so
far off that we could not hurt them. I found several barrels of whisky
on the captured boat, knocked in the heads and emptied the bad medicine
late the river. I next found a box full of small bottles and packages,
which appeared to be bad medicine also, such as the medicine men kill
the white people with when they are sick. This I threw into the river.
Continuing my search for plunder, I found several guns, some large
barrels filled with clothing, and a number of cloth lodges, all of
which I distributed among my warriors. We now disposed of the dead, and
returned to the Fox village opposite the lower end of Rock Island, where
we put up our new lodges, and hoisted the British flag. A great many of
our braves were dressed in the uniform clothing which we had taken from
the Americans, which gave our encampment the appearance of a regular
camp of soldiers. We placed out sentinels and commenced dancing over the
scalps we had taken. Soon after several boats passed down, among them
a very large one carrying big guns. Our young men followed them some
distance, but could do them no damage more than scare them. We were now
certain that the fort at Prairie du Chien had been taken, as this large
boat went up with the first party who built the fort.
In the course of the day some of the British came down in a small boat.
They had followed the large one, thinking it would get fast in the
rapids, in which case they were sure of taking her. They had summoned
her on her way down to surrender, but she refused to do so, and now,
that she had passed the rapids in safety, all hope of taking her had
vanished. The British landed a big gun and gave us three soldiers to
manage it. They complimented us for our bravery in taking the boat, and
told us what they had done at Prairie do Chien. They gave us, a keg of
rum, and joined with us in our dancing and feasting. We gave them some
things which we had taken from the boat, particularly books and papers.
They started the next morning, promising to return in a few days with a
large body of soldiers.
We went to work under the direction of the men left with us, and dug
up the ground in two places to put the big gun in, that the men might
remain in with it and be safe. We then sent spies down the river to
reconnoitre, who sent word by a runner that several boats were coming
up filled with men. I marshalled my forces and was soon ready for their
arrival. I resolved to fight, as we had not yet had a fair fight with
the Americans during the war. The boats arrived in the evening, stopping
at a small willow island, nearly opposite to us. During the night we
removed our big gun further down, and at daylight next morning commenced
firing. We were pleased to see that almost every shot took effect. The
British being good gunners, rarely missed. They pushed off as quickly as
possible, although I had expected they would land and give us battle. I
was fully prepared to meet them but was sadly disappointed by the boats
all sailing down the river. A party of braves followed to watch where
they landed, but they did not stop until they got below the Des Moines
rapids, where they came ashore and commenced building a fort. I did not
want a fort in our country, as we wished to go down to the Two River
country in the fall and hunt, it being our choice hunting ground, and
we concluded that if this fort was built, it would prevent us from going
there. We arrived in the vicinity in the evening, and encamped on a high
bluff for the night. We made no fire, for fear of being observed, and
our young men kept watch by turns while others slept. I was very tired,
and was soon asleep. The Great Spirit, during my slumber, told me to
go down the bluff to a creek, that I would there find a hollow tree cut
down, and by looking in at the top of it, I would see a large snake with
head erect--to observe the direction he was looking, and I would see the
enemy close by and unarmed. In the morning I communicated to my braves
what the Great Spirit had said to me, took one of them and went down a
ravine that led to the creek. I soon came in sight of the place where
they were building the fort, which was on a hill at the opposite side
of the creek. I saw a great many men. We crawled cautiously on our hands
and knees until we got to the bottom land, then through the grass and
weeds until we reached the bank of the creek. Here I found a tree that
had been cut down; I looked in at the top of it and saw a large
snake, with his head raised, looking across the creek. I raised myself
cautiously, and discovered nearly opposite to me, two war chiefs walking
arm in arm, without guns. They turned and walked back toward the place
where the men were working at the fort. In a little while they returned,
walking directly towards the spot where we lay concealed, but did not
come so near as before. If they had they would have been killed, for
each of us had a good rifle. We crossed the creek and crawled to a
cluster of bushes. I again raised myself a little to see if they were
coming; but they went into the fort, and by this they saved their lives.
We recrossed the creek and I returned alone, going up the same ravine I
came down. My brave went down the creek, and I, on raising the brow of
a hill to the left of the one we came down, could plainly see the men
at work. I saw a sentinel walking in the bottom near the mouth of the
creek. I watched him attentively, to see if he perceived my companion,
who had gone toward him. The sentinel stopped for some time and looked
toward where my brave was concealed. He walked first one way and then
the other.
I observed my brave creeping towards him, at last he lay still for a
while, not even moving the grass, and as the sentinel turned to walk
away, my brave fired and he fell. I looked towards the fort, and saw the
whites were in great confusion, running wildly in every direction, some
down the steep bank toward a boat. My comrade joined me, we returned
to the rest of the party and all hurried back to Rock river, where we
arrived in safety at our village. I hung up my medicine bag, put away my
rifle and spear, feeling as if I should want them no more, as I had no
desire to raise other war parties against the whites unless they gave me
provocation. Nothing happened worthy of note until spring, except
that the fort below the rapids had been abandoned and burned by the
Americans.
Soon after I returned from my wintering ground we received information
that peace had been made between the British and Americans, and that we
were required to make peace also, and were invited to go down to Portage
des Sioux, for that purpose. Some advised that we should go down, others
that we should not. Nomite, our principal civil chief, said he would go,
as soon as the Foxes came down from the mines.
They came and we all started from Rock river, but we had not gone far
before our chief was taken sick and we stopped with him at the village
on Henderson river. The Foxes went on and we were to follow as soon as
our chief got better, but he rapidly became worse and soon died. His
brother now became the principal chief. He refused to go down, saying,
that if he started, he would be taken sick and die as his brother had
done. This seemed to be reasonable, so we concluded that none of us
would go at this time. The Foxes returned. They said, "we have smoked
the pipe of peace with our enemies, and expect that the Americans will
send a war party against you if you do not go down." This I did not
believe, as the Americans had always lost by their armies that were sent
against us. La Gutrie and other British traders arrived at our village
in the fall. La Gutrie told us that we must go down and make peace, as
this was the wish of our English father. He said he wished us to go down
to the Two River country to winter, where game was plenty, as there had
been no hunting there for several years.
Having heard the principal war chief had come up with a number of
troops, and commenced the erection of a fort near the Rapids des Moines,
we consented to go down with the traders to visit the American chief,
and tell him the reason why we had not been down sooner. When we arrived
at the head of the rapids, the traders left their goods, and all of
their boats with one exception, in which they accompanied us to see the
Americans. We visited the war chief on board his boat, telling him
what we had to say, and explaining why we had not been down sooner. He
appeared angry and talked to La Gutrie for some time. I inquired of him
what the war chief said. He told me that he was threatening to hang him
up to the yard arm of his boat. "But" said he, "I am not afraid of what
he says. He dare not put his threats into execution. I have done no more
than I had a right to do a. a British subject."
I then addressed the chief, asking permission for ourselves and some
Menomonees, to go down to the Two River country for the purpose of
hunting. He said we might go down but must return before the ice came,
as he did not intend that we should winter below the fort. "But," he
inquired, "what do you want the Menomonee to go with you for?"
I did not know at first what reply to make, but told him that they had a
great many pretty squaws with them, and we wished them to go with us on
that account. He consented. We all went down the river and remained all
winter, as we had no intention of returning before spring when we asked
leave to go. We made a good hunt. Having loaded our trader's boats with
furs and peltries, they started to Mackinac, and we returned to our
village.
There is one circumstance that I did not relate at the proper place.
It has no reference to myself or people, but to my friend Gomo, the
Pottawattomie chief. He came to Rock river to pay me a visit, and during
his stay he related to me the following story:
"The war chief at Peoria is a very good man. He always speaks the truth
and treats our people well. He sent for me one day, told me he was
nearly out of provisions, and wished me to send my young men hunting to
supply his fort. I promised to do so, immediately returned to my camp
and told my young men the wishes and wants of the war chief. They
readily agreed to go and hurt for our friend and returned with plenty
of deer. They carried them to the fort, laid them down at the gate and
returned to our camp. A few days afterward I went again to the fort to
see if they wanted any more meat. The chief gave me powder and lead
and said he wanted, me to send my hunters out again. When I returned to
camp, I told my young men that the chief wanted more meat. Matatah, one
of my principal braves, said he would take a party and go across the
Illinois, about one day's travel, where game was plenty, and make a good
hunt for our friend the war chief. He took eight hunters with him, and
his wife and several other squaws went with them. They had travelled
about half the day in the prairie when they discovered a party of white
men coming towards them with a drove of cattle. Our hunters apprehended
no danger or they would have kept out of the way of the whites, who had
not yet perceived them. Matatah changed his course, as he wished to meet
and speak to the whites. As soon as the whites saw our party, some of
them put off at full speed, and came up to our hunters. Matatah gave up
his gun to them, and endeavored to explain to them that he was friendly
and was hunting for the war chief. They were not satisfied with this but
fired at and wounded him. He got into the branches of a tree that had
blown down, to keep the horses from running over him. He was again
fired on several times and badly wounded. He, finding that he would be
murdered, and, mortally wounded already, sprang at the man nearest him,
seized his gun and shot him from his horse. He then fell, covered with
blood from his wounds, and immediately expired. The other hunters being
in the rear of Matatah attempted to escape, after seeing their leader so
basely murdered by the whites. They were pursued and nearly all of the
party killed. My youngest brother brought me the news in the night, he
having been with the party and was slightly wounded. He said the whites
had abandoned their cattle and gone back towards the settlement. The
rest of the night we spent in mourning for our friends. At daylight I
blacked my face and started for the fort to see the chief. I met him at
the gate and told him what had happened. His countenance changed and I
could see sorrow depicted in it for the death of my people. He tried to
persuade me that I was mistaken, as he could not believe that the whites
would act so cruelly. But when I convinced him, he said to me, 'those
cowards who murdered your people shall be punished.' I told him that my
people would have revenge, that they would not trouble any of his people
at the fort, as we did not blame him or any of his soldiers, but that
a party of my braves would go towards the Wabash to avenge the death
of their friends and relations. The next day I took a party of hunters,
killed several deer, and left them at the fort gate as I passed."
Here Gomo ended his story. I could relate many similar ones that have
come within my own knowledge and observation, but I dislike to look back
and bring on sorrow afresh. I will resume my narrative.
The great chief at St. Louis having sent word for us to come down and
confirm the treaty, we did not hesitate, but started immediately that
we might smoke the peace pipe with him. On our arrival we met the great
chiefs in council. They explained to us the words of our Great Father
at Washington, accusing us of heinous crimes and many misdemeanors,
particularly in not coming down when first invited. We knew very well
that our Great Father had deceived us and thereby forced us to join
the British, and could not believe that he had put this speech into the
mouths of those chiefs to deliver to us. I was not a civil chief and
consequently made no reply, but our civil chiefs told the commissioner
that, "What you say is a lie. Our Great Father sent us no such speech,
he knew that the situation in which we had been placed was caused by
him." The white chiefs appeared very angry at this reply and said, "We
will break off the treaty and make war against you, as you have grossly
insulted us."
Our chiefs had no intention of insulting them and told them so, saying,
"we merely wish to explain that you have told us a lie, without any
desire to make you angry, in the same manner that you whites do when
you do not believe what is told you." The council then proceeded and the
pipe of peace was smoked.
Here for the first time, I touched the goose quill to the treaty not
knowing, however, that, by the act I consented to give away my village.
Had that been explained to me I should have opposed it and never would
have signed their treaty, as my recent conduct will clearly prove.
What do we know of the manners, the laws, and the customs of the white
people? They might buy our bodies for dissection, and we would touch the
goose quill to confirm it and not know what we were doing. This was the
case with me and my people in touching the goose quill for the first
time.
We can only judge of what is proper and right by our standard of what
is right and wrong, which differs widely from the whites, if I have been
correctly informed. The whites may do wrong all their lives, and then if
they are sorry for it when about to die, all is well, but with us it is
different. We must continue to do good throughout our lives. If we have
corn and meat, and know of a family that have none, we divide with them.
If we have more blankets than we absolutely need, and others have not
enough, we must give to those who are in want. But I will presently
explain our customs and the manner in which we live.
We were treated friendly by the whites and started on our return to our
village on Rock river. When we arrived we found that the troops had
come to build a fort on Rock Island. This, in our opinion, was a
contradiction to what we had done--"to prepare for war in time of
peace." We did not object, however, to their building their fort on
the island, but were very sorry, as this was the best one on the
Mississippi, and had long been the resort of our young people during
the summer. It was our garden, like the white people have near their
big villages, which supplied us with strawberries, blackberries,
gooseberries, plums, apples and nuts of different kinds. Being situated
at the foot of the rapids its waters supplied us with the finest fish.
In my early life I spent many happy days on this island. A good spirit
had charge of it, which lived in a cave in the rocks immediately under
the place where the fort now stands. This guardian spirit has often been
seen by our people. It 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 it inhabited, for fear of disturbing it. But the
noise at the fort has since driven it away, and no doubt a bad spirit
has taken its place.
Our village was situated on the north side of Rock river, at the foot of
the rapids, on the point of land between Rock river and the Mississippi.
In front a prairie extended to the Mississippi, and in the rear a
continued bluff gently ascended from the prairie.
BLACK HAWK'S TOWER.
On its highest peak our Watch Tower was situated, from which we had a
fine view for many miles up and down Rock river, and in every direction.
On the side of this bluff we had our corn fields, extending about two
miles up parallel with the larger river, where they adjoined those of
the Foxes, whose village was on the same stream, opposite the lower end
of Rock Island, and three miles distant from ours. We had eight hundred
acres in cultivation including what we had on the islands in Rock river.
The land around our village which remained unbroken, was covered with
blue-grass which furnished excellent pasture for our horses. Several
fine springs poured out of the bluff near by, from which we were well
supplied with good water. The rapids of Rock river furnished us with
an abundance of excellent fish, and the land being very fertile, never
failed to produce good crops of corn, beans, pumpkins and squashes. We
always had plenty; our children never cried from hunger, neither were
our people in want. Here our village had stood for more than a hundred
years, during all of which time we were the undisputed possessors of the
Mississippi valley, from the Wisconsin to the Portage des Sioux, near
the mouth of the Missouri, being about seven hundred miles in length.
At this time we had very little intercourse with the whites except those
who were traders. Our village was healthy, and there was no place in
the country possessing such advantages, nor hunting grounds better than
those we had in possession. If a prophet had come to our village in
those days and told us that the things were to take place which have
since come to pass, none of our people would have believed him. What! to
be driven from our village, and our hunting grounds, and not even to be
permitted to visit the graves of our forefathers and relatives and our
friends?
This hardship is not known to the whites. With us it is a custom to
visit the graves of our friends and keep them in repair for many years.
The mother will go alone to weep over the grave of her child. The
brave, with pleasure, visits the grave of his father, after he has been
successful in war, and repaints the post that marks where he lies. There
is no place like that where the bones of our forefathers lie to go to
when in grief. Here prostrate by the tombs of our fathers will the Great
Spirit take pity on us.
But how different is our situation now from what it was in those happy
days. Then were we as happy as the buffalo on the plains, but now, we
are as miserable as the hungry wolf on the prairie. But I am digressing
from my story. Bitter reflections crowd upon my mind and must find
utterance.
When we returned to our village in the spring, from our wintering
grounds, we would finish bartering with our traders, who always followed
us to our village. We purposely kept some of our fine furs for this
trade, and, as there was great opposition among them, who should get
these furs, we always got our goods cheap. After this trade was met, the
traders would give us a few kegs of rum, which were generally promised
in the fall, to encourage us to make a good hunt and not go to war. They
would then start with their furs and peltries, for their homes, and our
old men would take a frolic. At this time our young men never drank.
When this was ended, the next thing to be done was to bury our dead;
such as had died during the year. This is a great medicine feast.
The relations of those who have died, give all the goods they have
purchased, as presents to their friends, thereby reducing themselves to
poverty, to show the Great Spirit that they are humble, so that he will
take pity on them. We would next open the caches, take out the corn
and other provisions which had been put up in the fall. We would then
commence repairing our lodges. As soon as this was accomplished, we
repair the fences around our corn fields and clean them off ready for
planting. This work was done by the women. The men during this time are
feasting on dried venison, bear's meat, wild fowl and corn prepared in
different ways, while recounting to one another what took place during
the winter.
Our women plant the corn, and as soon as they are done we make a feast,
at which we dance the crane dance in which they join us, dressed in
their most gaudy attire, and decorated with feathers. At this feast the
young men select the women they wish to have for wives. He then informs
his mother, who calls on the mother of the girl, when the necessary
arrangements are made and the time appointed for him to come. He goes to
the lodge when all are asleep, or pretend to be, and with his flint and
steel strikes a light and soon finds where his intended sleeps. He then
awakens her, holds the light close to his face that she may know him,
after which he places the light close to her. If she blows it out the
ceremony is ended and he appears in the lodge next morning as one of
the family. If she does not blow out the light, but leaves it burning he
retires from the lodge. The next day he places himself in full view of
it and plays his flute. The young women go out one by one to see who he
is playing for. The tune changes to let them know he is not playing for
them. When his intended makes her appearance at the door, he continues
his courting tune until she returns to the lodge. He then quits playing
and makes another trial at night which mostly turns out favorable.
During the first year they ascertain whether they can agree with each
other and be happy, if not they separate and each looks for another
companion. If we were to live together and disagree, we would be as
foolish as the whites. No indiscretion can banish a woman from her
parental lodge; no difference how many children she may bring home she
is always welcome--the kettle is over the fire to feed them.
The crane dance often lasts two or three days. When this is over, we
feast again and have our national dance. The large square in the village
is swept and prepared for the purpose. The chiefs and old warriors take
seats on mats, which have been spread on the upper end of the square,
next come the drummers and singers, the braves and women form the sides,
leaving a large space in the middle. The drums beat and the singing
commences. A warrior enters the square keeping time with the music. He
shows the manner he started on a war party, how he approached the enemy,
he strikes and shows how he killed him. All join in the applause, and
he then leaves the square and another takes his place. Such of our young
men have not been out in war parties and killed in enemy stand back
ashamed, not being allowed to enter the square. I remember that I was
ashamed to look where our young men stood, before I could take my stand
in the ring as a warrior.
What pleasure it is to an old warrior, to see his son come forward and
relate his exploits. It makes him feel young, induces him to enter the
square and "fight his battles o'er again."
This national dance makes our warriors. When I was travelling last
summer on a steamboat on the river, going from New York to Albany, I was
shown the place where the Americans dance the war-dance, (West Point),
where the old warriors recount to their young men what they have done
to stimulate them to go and do likewise. This surprised me, as I did not
think the whites understood our way of making braves.
When our national dance is over, our cornfields hoed, every weed dug
up and our corn about knee high, all our young men start in a direction
toward sundown, to hunt deer and buffalo and to kill Sioux if any are
found on our hunting grounds. A part of our old men and women go to the
lead mines to make lead, and the remainder of our people start to fish
and get meat stuff. Every one leaves the village and remains away
about forty days. They then return, the hunting party bringing in dried
buffalo and deer meat, and sometimes Sioux scalps, when they are found
trespassing on our hunting grounds. At other times they are met by a
party of Sioux too strong for them and are driven in. If the Sioux have
killed the Sacs last, they expect to be retaliated upon and will fly
before them, and so with us. Each party knows that the other has a
right to retaliate, which induces those who have killed last to give way
before their enemy, as neither wishes to strike, except to avenge the
death of relatives. All our wars are instigated by the relations of
those killed, or by aggressions on our hunting grounds. The party from
the lead mines brings lead, and the others dried fish, and mats for our
lodges. Presents are now made by each party, the first giving to the
others dried buffalo and deer, and they in return presenting them lead,
dried fish and mats. This is a happy season of the year, having plenty
of provisions, such as beans, squashes and other produce; with our dried
meat and fish, we continue to make feasts and visit each other until
our corn is ripe. Some lodge in the village a feast daily to the Great
Spirit. I cannot explain this so that the white people will understand
me, as we have no regular standard among us.
Every one makes his feast as he thinks best, to please the Great Spirit,
who has the care of all beings created. Others believe in two Spirits,
one good and one bad, and make feasts for the Bad Spirit, to keep him
quiet. They think that if they can make peace with him, the Good Spirit
will not hurt them. For my part I am of the opinion, that so far as we
have reason, we have a right to use it in determining what is right
or wrong, and we should always pursue that path which we believe to be
right, believing that "whatsoever is, is right." If the Great and Good
Spirit wished us to believe and do as the whites, he could easily change
our opinions, so that we could see, and think, and act as they do. We
are nothing compared to his power, and we feel and know it. We have men
among us, like the whites, who pretend to know the right path, but will
not consent to show it without pay. I have no faith in their paths, but
believe that every man must make his own path.
When our corn is getting ripe, our young people watch with anxiety for
the signal to pull roasting ears, as none dare touch them until the
proper time. When the corn is fit for use another great ceremony takes
place, with feasting and returning thanks to the Great Spirit for giving
us Corn.
I will has relate the manner in which corn first came. According to
tradition handed down to our people, a beautiful woman was seen to
descend from the clouds, and alight upon the earth, by two of our
ancestors who had killed a deer, and were sitting by a fire roasting
a part of it to eat. They were astonished at seeing her, and concluded
that she was hungry and had smelt the meat. They immediately went to
her, taking with them a piece of the roasted venison. They presented
it to her, she ate it, telling them to return to the spot where she was
sitting at the end of one year, and they would find a reward for
their kindness and generosity. She then ascended to the clouds and
disappeared. The men returned to their village, and explained to the
tribe what they had seen, done ad heard, but were laughed at by their
people. When the period had arrived for them to visit this consecrated
ground, where they were to find a reward for their attention to the
beautiful woman of the clouds, they went with a large party, and found
where her right hand had rested on the ground corn growing, where the
left hand had rested beans, and immediately where she had been seated,
tobacco.
The two first have ever since been cultivated by our people as our
principal provisions, and the last is used for smoking. The white people
have since found out the latter, and seem to it relish it as much as we
do, as they use it in different ways: Smoking, snuffing and chewing.
We thank the Great Spirit for all the good he has conferred upon us.
For myself, I never take a drink of water from a spring without being
mindful of his goodness.
We next have our great ball play, from three to five hundred on a side
play this game. We play for guns, lead, homes and blankets, or any other
kind of property we may have. The successful party takes the stakes,
and all return to our lodges with peace and friendship. We next commence
horse racing, and continue on, sport and feasting until the corn is
secured. We then prepare to leave our village for our hunting grounds.
The traders arrive and give us credit for guns, flints, powder, shot
and lead, and such articles as we want to clothe our families with
and enable us to hunt. We first, however, hold a council with them, to
ascertain the price they will give for our skins, and then they will
charge us for the goods. We inform them where we intend hunting, and
tell them where to build their houses. At this place we deposit a part
of our corn, and leave our old people. The traders have always been kind
to them and relieved them when in want, and consequently were always
much respected by our people, and never since we were a nation, has one
of them been killed by our people.
We then disperse in small parties to make our hunt, and as soon as it
is over, we return to our trader's establishment, with our skins, and
remain feasting, playing cards and at other pastimes until the close f
the winter. Our young men then start on the beaver hunt, others to hunt
raccoons and muskrats; the remainder of our people go to the sugar camps
to make sugar. All leave our encampment and appoint a place to meet on
the Mississippi, so that we may return together to our village in the
spring. We always spend our time pleasantly at the sugar camp. It being
the season for wild fowl, we lived well and always had plenty, when the
hunters came in that we might make a feast for them. After this is over
we return to our village, accompanied sometimes by our traders. In this
way the time rolled round happily. But these are times that were.
While on the subject of our manners and customs, it might be well to
relate an instance that occurred near our village just five years before
we left it for the last time.
In 1827, a young Sioux Indian got lost on the prairie, in a snow storm,
and found his way into a camp of the Sacs. According to Indian customs,
although he was an enemy, he was safe while accepting their hospitality.
He remained there for some time on account of the severity of the storm.
Becoming well acquainted he fell in love with the daughter of the Sac
at whose village he had been entertained, and before leaving for his own
country, promised to come to the Sac village for her at a certain time
during the approaching summer. In July he made his way to the Rock river
village, secreting himself in the woods until he met the object of his
love, who came out to the field with her mother to assist her in hoeing
corn. Late in the afternoon her mother left her and went to the village.
No sooner had she got out of hearing, than he gave a loud whistle which
assured the maiden that he had returned. She continued hoeing leisurely
to the end of the row, when her lover came to meet her, and she promised
to come to him as soon as she could go to the lodge and get her blanket,
and together they would flee to his country. But unfortunately for the
lovers the girl's two brothers had seen the meeting, and after procuring
their guns started in pursuit of them. A heavy thunderstorm was coming
on at the time. The lovers hastened to, and took shelter under a cliff
of rocks, at Black Hawk's watchtower. Soon after a loud peal of thunder
was heard, the cliff of rocks was shattered in a thousand pieces, and
the lovers buried beneath, while in full view of her pursuing brothers.
This, their unexpected tomb, still remains undisturbed.
This tower to which my name had been applied, was a favorite resort and
was frequently visited by me alone, when I could sit and smoke my
pipe, and look with wonder and pleasure, at the grand scenes that
were presented by the sun's rays, even across the mighty water. On
one occasion a Frenchman, who had been making his home in our village,
brought his violin with him to the tower, to play and dance for the
amusement of a number of our people, who had assembled there, and while
dancing with his back to the cliff accidentally fell over it and was
killed by the fall. The Indians say that always at the same time of the
year, soft strains of the violin can be heard near that spot.
On returning in the spring from oar hunting grounds, I had the pleasure
of meeting our old friend, the trader of Peoria, at Rock Island. He came
up in a boat from St. Louis, not as a trader, but as our Agent. We were
well pleased to see him. He told us that he narrowly escaped falling
into the hands of Dixon. He remained with us a short time, gave us good
advice, and then returned to St. Louis.
The Sioux having committed depredations on our people, we sent out war
parties that summer, who succeeded in killing fourteen.
I paid several visits to Fort Armstrong, at Rock Island, during the
summer, and was always well received by the gentlemanly officers
stationed there, who were distinguished for their bravery, and they
never trampled upon an enemy's rights. Colonel George Davenport resided
near the garrison, and being in connection with the American Fur
Company, furnished us the greater portion of our goods. We were not as
happy then, in our village, as formerly. Our people got more liquor from
the small traders than customary. I used all my influence to prevent
drunkenness, but without effect. As the settlements progressed towards
us, we became worse off and more unhappy.
Many of our people, instead of going to the old hunting grounds, when
game was plenty, would go near the settlements to hunt, and, instead of
saving their skins, to pay the trader for goods furnished them in the
fall, would sell them to the settlement for whisky, and return in
the spring with their families almost naked, and without the means of
getting anything for them.
About this time my eldest son was taken sick and died. He had always
been a dutiful child and had just grown to manhood. Soon after, my
youngest daughter, an interesting and affectionate child, died also.
This was a hard stroke, because I loved my children. In my distress
I left the noise of the village and built my lodge on a mound in the
corn-field, and enclosed it with a fence, around which I planted corn
and beans. Here I was with my family alone. I gave everything I had
away, and reduced myself to poverty. The only covering I retained was
a piece of buffalo robe. I blacked my face and resolved on fasting for
twenty-four moons, for the loss of my two children--drinking only of
water during the day, and eating sparingly of boiled corn at sunset. I
fulfilled my promise, hoping that the Great Spirit would take pity on
me.
My nation had now some difficulty with the Iowas. Our young men had
repeatedly killed some of them, and the breaches had always been made
up by giving presents to the relations of those killed. But the last
council we had with them, we promised that in case any more of their
people were killed ours, instead of presents, we would give up the
person or persons, who had done the injury. We made this determination
known to our people, but notwithstanding this, one of our young men
killed an Iowa the following winter.
A party of our people were about starting for the Iowa village to give
the young man up, and I agreed to accompany them. When we were ready
to start, I called at the lodge for the young man to go with us. He was
sick, but willing to go, but his brother, however, prevented him and
insisted on going to die in his place, as he was unable to travel. We
started, and on the seventh day arrived in sight of the Iowa village,
and within a short distance of it we halted ad dismounted. We all bid
farewell to our young brave, who entered the village singing his death
song, and sat down on the square in the middle of the village. One of
the Iowa chiefs came out to us. We told him that we had fulfilled our
promise, that we had brought the brother of the young man who had killed
one of his people--that he had volunteered to come in his place, in
consequence of his brother being unable to travel from sickness. We
had no further conversation but mounted our horses and rode off. As we
started I cast my eye toward the village, and observed the Iowas coming
out of their lodges with spears and war clubs. We took the backward
trail and travelled until dark--then encamped and made a fire. We had
not been there long before we heard the sound of homes coming toward us.
We seized our arms, but instead of an enemy it was our young brave with
two horses. He told me that after we had left him, they menaced him with
death for some time--then gave him something to eat--smoked the pipe
with him and made him a present of the two horses and some goods, and
started him after us. When we arrived at on, village our people were
much pleased, and for their noble and generous conduct on this occasion,
not one of the Iowa people has been killed since by our nation.
That fall I visited Malden with several of my band, and was well treated
by the agent of our British Father, who gave us a variety of presents.
He also gave me a medal, and told me there never would be war between
England and America again; but for my fidelity to the British, during
the war that had terminated some time before, requested me to come with
my band and get presents every year, as Colonel Dixon had promised me.
I returned and hunted that winter on the Two Rivers. The whites were now
settling the country fast. I was out one day hunting in a bottom, and
met three white men. They accused me of killing their hogs. I denied it,
but they would not listen to me. One of them took my gun out of my
hand and fired it off--then took out the flint, gave it back to me and
commenced beating me with sticks, ordering me at the same time to be
off. I was so much bruised that I could not sleep for several nights.
Some time after this occurrence, one of my camp cut a bee tree and
carried the honey to his lodge. A party of white men soon followed him,
and told him the bee tree was theirs, and that he had no right to cut
it. He pointed to the honey and told them to take it. They were not
satisfied with this, but took all the packs of skins that he had
collected during the winter, to pay his trader and clothe his family
with in the spring, and carried them off.
How could we like a people who treated us so unjustly? We determined to
break up our camp for fear they would do worse, and when we joined
our people in the spring a great many of them complained of similar
treatment.
This summer our agent came to live at Rock Island. He treated us well
and gave us good advice. I visited him and the trader very often during
the summer, and for the first time heard talk of our having to leave our
village. The trader, Colonel George Davenport, who spoke our language,
explained to me the terms of the treaty that had been made, and said
we would be obliged to leave the Illinois side of the Mississippi, and
advised us to select a good place for our village and remove to it in
the spring. He pointed out the difficulties we would have to encounter
if we remained at our village on Rock river. He had great influence with
the principal Fox chief, his adopted brother, Keokuk. He persuaded him
to leave his village, go to the west side of the Mississippi and build
another, which he did the spring following. Nothing was talked of but
leaving our village. Keokuk had been persuaded to consent to go, and was
using all his influence, backed by the war chief at Fort Armstrong and
our agent and trader at Rock Island, to induce others to go with him. He
sent the crier through our village, to inform our people that it was the
wish of our Great Father that we should remove to the west side of the
Mississippi, and recommended the Iowa river as a good place for the
new village. He wished his party to make such arrangements, before they
started on their winter's hunt, an to preclude the necessity of their
returning to the village in the spring.
The party opposed to removing called on me for my opinion. I gave it
freely, and after questioning Quashquame about the sale of our lands, he
assured me that he "never had consented to the sale of our village."
I now promised this party to be the leader, and raised the standard
of opposition to Keokuk, with a full determination not to leave our
village. I had an interview with Keokuk, to see if this difficulty could
not be settled with our Great Father, and told him to propose to give
any other land that our Great Father might choose, even our lead mines,
to be peaceably permitted to keep the small point of land on which our
village was situated. I was of the opinion that the white people had
plenty of land and would never take our village from us. Keokuk promised
to make an exchange if possible, and applied to our agent, and the great
chief at St. Louis, who had charge of all the agents, for permission to
go to Washington for that purpose.
This satisfied us for a time. We started to our hunting grounds with
good hopes that something would be done for us. Doing the winter I
received information that three families of whites had come to our
village and destroyed some of our lodges, were making fences and
dividing our cornfields for their own use. They were quarreling among
themselves about their lines of division. I started immediately for
Rock river, a distance of ten days' travel, and on my arrival found the
report true. I went to my lodge and saw a family occupying it. I wished
to talk to them but they could not understand me. I then went to Rock
Island; the agent being absent, I told the interpreter what I wanted to
say to these people, viz: "Not to settle on our lands, nor trouble our
fences, that there was plenty of land in the country for them to settle
upon, and that they must leave our village, as we were coming back to
it in the spring." The interpreter wrote me a paper, I went back to the
village and showed it to the intruders, but could not understand their
reply. I presumed, however, that they would remove as I expected them
to. I returned to Rock Island, passed the night there and had a long
conversation with the trader. He advised me to give up and make my
village with Keokuk on the Iowa river. I told him that I would not. The
next morning I crossed the Mississippi on very bad ice, but the Great
Spirit had made it strong, that I might pass over safe. I traveled three
days farther to see the Winnebago sub-agent and converse with him about
our difficulties. He gave no better news than the trader had done. I
then started by way of Rock river, to see the Prophet, believing that he
as a man of great knowledge. When we met, I explained to him everything
as it was. He at once agreed that I was right, and advised me never to
give up our village, for the whites to plow up the bones of our people.
He said, that if we remained at our village, the whites would not
trouble us, and advised me to get Keokuk, and the party that consented
to go with him to the Iowa in the spring, to return and remain at our
village.
I returned to my hunting ground, after an absence of one moon, and
related what I had done. In a short time we came up to our village, and
found that the whites had not left it, but that others had come, and
that the greater part of our cornfields had been enclosed. When we
landed the whites appeared displeased because we came back. We repaired
the lodges that hid been left standing and built others. Keokuk came to
the village, but his object was to persuade others to follow him to the
Iowa. He had accomplished nothing towards making arrangements for us to
remain, or to exchange other lands for our village. There was no more
friendship existing between us. I looked upon him as a coward and no
brave, to abandon his village to be occupied by strangers. What right
had these people to our village, and our fields, which the Great Spirit
had given us to live upon?
My reason teaches me that land cannot be sold. The Great Spirit gave it
to his children to live upon and cultivate as far as necessary for their
subsistence, and so long as they occupy and cultivate it they have the
right to the soil, but if they voluntarily leave it, then any other
people have a right to settle on it. Nothing can be sold but such things
as can be carried away.
In consequence of the improvements of the intruders on our fields, we
found considerable difficulty to get ground to plant a little corn. Some
of the whites permitted us to plant small patches in the fields they had
fenced, keeping all the best ground for themselves. Our women had great
difficulty in climbing their fences, being unaccustomed to the kind, and
were ill treated if they left a rail down.
One of my old friends thought he was safe. His cornfield was on a small
island in Rock river. He planted his corn, it came up well, but the
white man saw it; he wanted it, and took his teams over, ploughed up
the crop and replanted it for himself. The old man shed tears, not for
himself but on account of the distress his family would be in if they
raised no corn. The white people brought whisky to our village, made our
people drink, and cheated them out of their homes, guns and traps.
This fraudulent system was carried to such an extent that I apprehended
serious difficulties might occur, unless a stop was put to it.
Consequently I visited all the whites and begged them not to sell my
people whisky. One of them continued the practice openly; I took a party
of my young men, went to his house, took out his barrel, broke in the
head and poured out the whisky. I did this for fear some of 'the whites
might get killed by my people when they were drunk.
Our people were treated very badly by the whites on many occasions. At
one time a white man beat one of our women cruelly, for pulling a few
suckers of corn out of his field to suck when she was hungry. At another
time one of our young men was beat with clubs by two white men, for
opening a fence which crossed our road to take his horse through. His
shoulder blade was broken and his body badly braised, from the effects
of which he soon after died.
Bad and cruel as our people were treated by the whites, not one of them
was hurt or molested by our band. I hope this will prove that we are
a peaceable people--having permitted ten men to take possession of our
corn fields, prevent us from planting corn, burn our lodges, ill-treat
our women, and beat to death our men without offering resistance to
their barbarous cruelties. This is a lesson worthy for the white man to
learn: to use forebearance when injured.
We acquainted our agent daily with our situation, and through him the
great chief at St. Louis, and hoped that something would be done for us.
The whites were complaining at the same time that we were intruding upon
their rights. They made it appear that they were the injured party, and
we the intruders. They called loudly to the great war chief to protect
their property.
How smooth must be the language of the whites, when they can make right
look like wrong, and wrong like right.
During this summer I happened at Rock Island, when a great chief
arrived, whom I had known as the great chief of Illinois, (Governor
Cole) in company with another chief who I have been told is a great
writer (judge James Hall.) I called upon them and begged to explain the
grievances to them, under which my people and I were laboring, hoping
that they could do something for us. The great chief however, did not
seem disposed to council with, me. He said he was no longer the chief
of Illinois; that his children had selected another father in his stead,
and that he now only ranked as they did. I was surprised at this talk,
as I had always heard that he was a good brave and great chief. But the
white people appear to never be satisfied. When they get a good father,
they hold councils at the suggestion of some bad, ambitious man, who
wants the place himself, and conclude among themselves that this man, or
some other equally ambitious, would make a better father than they have,
and nine times out of ten they don't get as good a one again.
I insisted on explaining to these chiefs the true situation of my
people. They gave their assent. I rose and made a speech, in which
I explained to them the treaty made by Quashquame, and three of our
braves, according to the manner the trader and others had explained it
to me. I then told them that Quashquame and his party positively denied
having ever sold my village, and that as I had never known them to lie,
I was determined to keep it in possession.
I told them that the white people had already entered our village,
burned our lodges, destroyed on, fences, ploughed up our corn and beat
our people. They had brought whisky into our country, made our people
drunk, and taken from them their homes, guns and traps, and that I had
borne all this injury, without suffering any of my braves to raise a
hand against the whites.
My object in holding this council was to get the opinion of these two
chiefs as to the best course for me to pursue. I had appealed in vain,
time after time to our agent, who regularly represented our situation to
the chief at St. Louis, whose duty it was to call upon the Great Father
to have justice done to us, but instead of this we are told that the
white people wanted our county and we must leave it for them!
I did not think it possible that our Great Father wished us to leave our
village where we had lived so long, and where the bones of so many of
our people had been laid. The great chief said that as he no longer had
any authority he could do nothing for us, and felt sorry that it was
not in his power to aid us, nor did he know how to advise us. Neither
of them could do anything for us, but both evidently were very sorry. It
would give e great pleasure at all times to take these two chiefs by the
hand.
That fall I paid a visit to the agent before we started to our hunting
grounds, to hear if he had any good news for me. He had news. He said
that the land on which our village now stood was ordered to be sold to
individuals, and that when sold our right to remain by treaty would be
at an end, and that if we returned next spring we would be forced to
remove.
We learned during the winter, that part of the land where our village
stood had been sold to individuals, and that the trader at Rock Island,
Colonel Davenport, had bought the greater part that had been sold. The
reason was now plain to me why he urged us to remove. His object, we
thought, was to get our lands. We held several councils that winter to
determine what we should do. We resolved in one of them, to return to
our village as usual in the spring. We concluded that if we were removed
by force, that the trader, agent and others must be the cause, and that
if they were found guilty of having driven us from our village they
should be killed. The trader stood foremost on this list. He had
purchased the land on which my lodge stood, and that of our graveyard
also. We therefore proposed to kill him and the agent, the interpreter,
the great chief at St. Louis, the war chiefs at Forts Armstrong, Rock
Island and Keokuk, these being the principal persons to blame for
endeavoring to remove us. Our women received bad accounts from the
women who had been raising corn at the new village, of the difficulty
of breaking the new prairie with hoes, and the small quantity of corn
raised. We were nearly in the same condition with regard to the
latter, it being the first time I ever knew our people to be in want of
provisions.
I prevailed upon some of Keokuk's band to return this spring to the Rock
river village, but Keokuk himself would not come. I hoped that he would
get permission to go to Washington to settle our affairs with our Great
Father. I visited the agent at Rock Island. He was displeased because we
had returned to our village, and told me that we must remove to the west
of the Mississippi. I told him plainly that we would not. I visited the
interpreter at his house, who advised me to do as the agent had directed
me. I then went to see the trader and upbraided him for buying our
lands. He said that if he had not purchased them some person else would,
and that if our Great Father would make an exchange with us, he would
willingly give up the land he had purchased to the government. This I
thought was fair, and began to think that he had not acted so badly as I
had suspected. We again repaired our lodges and built others, as most
of our village had been burnt and destroyed. Our women selected small
patches to plant corn, where the whites had not taken them in their
fences, and worked hard to raise something for our children to subsist
upon.
I was told that according to the treaty, we had no right to remain on
the lands sold, and that the government would force us to leave them.
There was but a small portion however that had been sold, the balance
remaining in the hands of the government. We claimed the right, if
we had no other, to "live and hunt upon it as long as it remained
the property of the government," by a stipulation in the treaty that
required us to evacuate it after it had been sold. This was the land
that we wished to inhabit and thought we had a right to occupy.
I heard that there was a great chief on the Wabash, and sent a party to
get his advice. They informed him that we had not sold our village. He
assured them then, that if we had not sold the land on which our village
stood, our Great Father would not take it from us.
I started early to Malden to see the chief of my British Father, and
told him my story. He gave the same reply that the chief on the Wabash
had given, and in justice to him I must say he never gave me any bad
advice, but advised me to apply to our American Father, who, he said,
would do us justice. I next called on the great chief at Detroit and
made the same statement to him that I had made to the chief of our
British Father. He gave me the same reply. He said if we had not sold
our lands, and would remain peaceably on them, that we would not be
disturbed. This assured me that I was right, and determined me to hold
out as I had promised my people. I returned from Malden late in the
fall. My people were gone to their hunting ground, whither I followed.
Here I learned that they had been badly treated all summer by the
whites, and that a treaty had been held at Prairie du Chien. Keokuk
and some of our people attended it, and found that our Great Father had
exchanged a small strip of the land that had been ceded by Quashquame
and his party, with the Pottowattomies for a portion of their lead near
Chicago. That the object of this treaty was to get it back again, and
that the United States had agreed to give them sixteen thousand dollars
a year, forever for this small strip of land, it being less than a
twentieth part of that taken from our nation for one thousand dollars a
year. This bears evidence of something I cannot explain. This land they
say belonged to the United States. What reason then, could have induced
them to exchange it with the Pottowattomies if it was so valuable?
Why not keep it? Or if they found they had made a bad bargain with the
Pottowattomies, why not take back their land at a fair proportion of
what they gave our nation for it! If this small portion of the land
that they took from us for one thousand dollars a year, be worth sixteen
thousand dollars a year forever to the Pottowattomies, then the whole
tract of country taken from us ought to be worth, to our nation, twenty
times as much a this small fraction.
Here I was again puzzled to find out how the white people reasoned, and
began to doubt whether they had any standard of right and wrong.
Communication was kept up between myself and the Prophet. Runners were
sent to the Arkansas, Red river and Texas, not on the subject of our
lands, but on a secret mission, which I am not at present permitted to
explain.
It was related to me that the chiefs and head men of the Foxes had
been invited to Prairie du Chien, to hold a Council for the purpose of
settling the difficulties existing between them and the Sioux.
The chiefs and head men, amounting to nine, started for the place
designated, taking with them one woman, and were met by the Menonomees
and Sioux, near the Wisconsin and killed, all except one man. Having
understood that the whole matter was published shortly after it
occurred, and is known to the white people, I will say no more about it.
I would here remark, that our pastimes and sports had been laid aside
for two years. We were a divided people, forming two parties. Keokuk
being at the head of one, willing to barter our rights merely for the
good opinion of the whites, and cowardly enough to desert our village
to them. I was at the head of the other division, and was determined to
hold on to my village, although I had been ordered to leave it. But, I
considered, as myself and band had no agency in selling our county, and
that, as provision had been made in the treaty, for us all to remain
on it as long as it belonged to the United States, that we could not be
forced away. I refused therefore to quit my village. It was here that I
was born, and here lie the bones of many friends and relations. For
this spot I felt a sacred reverence, and never could consent to leave it
without being forced therefrom.
When I called to mind the scenes of my youth and those of later days,
when I reflected that the theatre on which these were acted, had been
so long the home of my fathers, who now slept on the hills around it, I
could not bring my mind to consent to leave this country to the whites
for any earthly consideration.
The winter passed off in gloom. We made a bad hunt for want of guns,
traps and other necessaries which the whites had taken from our people
for whisky. The prospect before me was a bad one. I fasted and called
upon the Great Spirit to direct my steps to the right path. I was in
great sorrow because all the whites with whom I was acquainted and had
been on terms of intimacy, advised me contrary to my wishes, that I
began to doubt whether I had a friend among them.
Keokuk, who has a smooth tongue, and is a great speaker, was busy in
persuading my band that I was wrong, and thereby making many of them
dissatisfied with me. I had one consolation, for all the women were on
my side on account of their cornfields.
On my arrival again at my village, with my band increased, I found it
worse than before. I visited Rock Island and the agent again ordered me
to quit my village. He said that if we did not, troops would be sent to
drive us off. He reasoned with me and told me it would be better for us
to be with the rest of our people, so that we might avoid difficulty
and live in peace. The interpreter joined him and gave me so many good
reasons that I almost wished I had not undertaken the difficult task I
had pledged myself to my brave band to perform. In this mood I called
upon the trader, who is fond of talking, and had long been my friend,
but now amongst those who advised me to give up my village. He received
me very friendly and went on to defend Keokuk in what he had done,
endeavoring to show me that I was bringing distress on our women and
children. He inquired if some terms could not be made that would be
honorable to me and satisfactory to my braves, for us to remove to the
west side of the Mississippi. I replied that if our Great Father could
do us justice and make the proposition, I could then give up honorably.
He asked me "if the great chief at St. Louis would give us six thousand
dollars to purchase provisions and other articles, if I would give
up peaceably and remove to the west side of the Mississippi?" After
thinking some time I agreed that I could honorably give up, being paid
for it, according to our customs, but told him that I could not make the
proposal myself, even if I wished, because it would be dishonorable in
me to do so. He said that he would do it by sending word to the great
chief at St. Louis that he could remove us peaceably for the amount
stated, to the west side of the Mississippi. A steamboat arrived at the
island during my stay. After its departure the trader told me that he
had requested a war chief, who was stationed at Galena, and was on board
the steamboat, to make the offer to the great chief at St. Louis, and
that he would soon be back and bring his answer. I did not let my people
know what had taken place for fear they would be displeased. I did not
much like what had been done myself, and tried to banish it from my
mind.
After a few days had passed the war chief returned and brought an answer
that "the great chief at St. Louis would give us nothing, and that if we
did not remove immediately we would be driven off."
I was not much displeased with the answer they brought me, because I
would rather have laid my bones with those of my forefathers than
remove for any consideration. Yet if a friendly offer had been made as
I expected, I would, for the sake of our women and children have removed
peaceably.
I now resolved to remain in my village, and make no resistance if the
military came, but submit to my fate. I impressed the importance of this
course on all my band, and directed them in case the military came not
to raise an arm against them.
About this time our agent was put out of office, for what reason I could
never ascertain. I then thought it was for wanting to make us leave our
village and if so it was right, because I was tired of hearing him talk
about it. The interpreter, who had been equally as bad in trying to
persuade us to leave our village was retained in office, and the young
man who took the place of our agent, told the same old story over about
removing us. I was then satisfied that this could not have been the
cause.
Our women had planted a few patches of corn which was growing finely,
and promised a subsistence for our children, but the white people again
commenced ploughing it up. I now determined to put a stop to it by
clearing our county of the intruders. I went to their principal men and
told them that they should and must leave our country, giving them until
the middle of the next day to remove. The worst left within the time
appointed, but the one who remained, represented that his family, which
was large, would be in a starving condition, if he went and left his
crop. He promised to behave well, if I would consent to let him remain
until fall, in order to secure his crop. He spoke reasonably and I
consented.
We now resumed some of our games and pastimes, having been assured by
the prophet that we would not be removed. But in a little while it was
ascertained that a great war chief, General Gaines, was on his way to
Rock river with a great number of soldiers. I again called upon the
prophet, who requested a little time to see into the matter. Early next
morning he came to me and said he had been dreaming; that he saw nothing
bad in this great war chief, General Gaines, who was now near Rock
river. That his object was merely to frighten us from our village, that
the white people might get our land for nothing. He assured us that
this great war chief dare not, and would not, hurt any of us. That the
Americans were at peace with the British, and when they made peace, the
British required, and the Americans agreed to it, that they should never
interrupt any nation of Indians that was at peace, and that all we had
to do to retain our village was to refuse any and every offer that might
be made by this war chief.
The war chief arrived and convened a council at the agency. Keokuk and
Wapello were sent for, and with a number of their band were present.
The council house was opened and all were admitted, and myself and band
were sent for to attend. When we arrived at the door singing a war song,
and armed with lances, spears, war clubs, bows and arrows, as if going
to battle, I halted and refused to enter, as I could see no necessity or
propriety in having the room crowded with those who were already there.
If the council was convened for us, why then have others in our room.
The war chief having sent all out except Keokuk, Wapello and a few
of their chiefs and braves, we entered the council in this warlike
appearance, being desirous of showing the war chief that we were not
afraid. He then rose and made a speech. He said:
"The president is very sorry to be put to the trouble and expense of
sending so large a body of soldiers here to remove you from the lands
you have long since ceded to the United States. Your Great Father has
already warned you repeatedly, through your agent, to leave the country,
and he is very sorry to find that you have disobeyed his orders. Your
Great Father wishes you well, and asks nothing from you but what is
reasonable and right. I hope you will consult your own interests, and
leave the country you are occupying, and go to the other side of the
Mississippi."
I replied:
"We have never sold our country. We never received any annuities from
our American father, and we are determined to hold on to our village."
The war chief, apparently angry, rose and said
"Who is _Black Hawk_? Who is _Black Hawk_?"
I replied:
"I am a _Sac_! My forefather was a SAC! I and all the nations call me a
SAC!!"
The war chief said:
"I came here neither to beg nor hire you to leave your village. My
business is to remove you, peaceably if I can, forcibly if I must! I
will now give you two days in which to remove, and if you do not cross
the Mississippi by that time, I will adopt measures to force you away."
I told him that I never would consent to leave my village and was
determined not to leave it.
The council broke up and the war chief retired to his fort. I consulted
the prophet again. He said he had been dreaming, and that the Great
Spirit had directed that a woman, the daughter of Mattatas, the old
chief of the village, should take a stick in her hand and go before the
war chief, and tell him that she is the daughter of Mattatas, and that
he had always been the white man's friend. That he had fought their
battles, been wounded in their service and had always spoken well of
them, and she had never heard him say that he had sold their village.
The whites are numerous, and can take it from us if they choose, but she
hoped they would not be so unfriendly. If they were, he had one favor to
ask; she wished her people to be allowed to remain long enough to gather
their provisions now growing in their fields; that she was a woman and
had worked hard to raise something to support her children. And now, if
we are driven from our village without being allowed to save our corn,
many of our little children must perish with hunger.
Accordingly Mattatas' daughter was sent to the fort, accompanied by
several of our young men and was admitted. She went before the war chief
and told the story of the prophet. The war chief said that the president
did not send him here to make treaties with the women, nor to hold
council with them. That our young men most leave the fort, but she might
remain if she wished.
All our plans were defeated. We must cross the river, or return to our
village and await the coming of the war chief with his soldiers. We
determined on the latter, but finding that our agent, interpreter,
trader and Keokuk, were determined on breaking my ranks, and had induced
several of my warriors to cross the Mississippi, I sent a deputation
to the agent, at the request of my band, pledging myself to leave the
county in the fall, provided permission was given us to remain, and
secure our crop of corn then growing, as we would be in a starving
situation if we were driven off without the means of subsistence.
The deputation returned with an answer from the war chief, "That no
further time would be given than that specified, and if we were not then
gone he would remove us."
I directed my village crier to proclaim that my orders were, in the
event of the war chief coming to our village to remove us, that not a
gun should be fired or any resistance offered. That if he determined to
fight, for them to remain quietly in their lodges, and let him kill them
if he chose.
I felt conscious that this great war chief would not hurt our people,
and my object was not war. Had it been, we would have attacked and
killed the war chief and his braves, when in council with us, as they
were then completely in our power. But his manly conduct and soldierly
deportment, his mild yet energetic manner, which proved his bravery,
forbade it.
Some of our young men who had been out as spies came in and reported
that they had discovered a large body of mounted men coming toward our
village, who looked like a war party. They arrived and took a position
below Rock river, for their place of encampment. The great war chief,
General Gaines, entered Rock river in a steamboat, with his soldiers and
one big gun. They passed and returned close by our village, but excited
no alarm among my braves. No attention was paid to the boat; even our
little children who were playing on the bank of the river, as usual,
continued their amusement. The water being shallow, the boat got
aground, which gave the whites some trouble. If they had asked for
assistance, there was not a brave in my band who would not willingly
have aided them. Their people were permitted to pass and repass through
our village, and were treated with friendship by our people.
The war chief appointed the next day to remove us. I would have remained
and been taken prisoner by the regulars, but was afraid of the multitude
of pale faced militia, who were on horse back, as they were under no
restraint of their chiefs.
We crossed the river during the night, and encamped some distance below
Rock Island. The great war chief convened another council, for the
purpose of making a treaty with us. In this treaty he agreed to give us
corn in place of that we had left growing in our fields. I touched the
goose quill to this treaty, and was determined to live in peace.
The corn that had been given us was soon found to be inadequate to our
wants, when loud lamentations were heard in the camp by the women and
children, for their roasting ears, beans and squashes. To satisfy them,
a small party of braves went over in the night to take corn from
their own fields. They were discovered by the whites and fired upon.
Complaints were again made of the depredations committed by some of my
people, on their own corn fields.
I understood from our agent, that there had been a provision made in one
of our treaties for assistance in agriculture, and that we could have
our fields plowed if we required it. I therefore called upon him, and
requested him to have a small log home built for me, and a field plowed
that fall, as I wished to live retired. He promised to have it done. I
then went to the trader, Colonel Davenport, and asked for permission
to be buried in the graveyard at our village, among my old friends
and warriors, which he gave cheerfully. I then returned to my people
satisfied.
A short time after this, a party of Foxes went up to Prairie du Chien
to avenge the murder of their chiefs and relations, which had been
committed the summer previous, by the Menomonees and Sioux. When they
arrived in the vicinity of the encampment of the Menomonees, they met
with a Winnebago, and inquired for the Menomonee camp. They requested
him to go on before them and see if there were any Winnebagoes in it,
and if so, to tell them that they had better return to their own camp.
He went and gave the information, not only to the Winnebagoes, but to
the Menomonees, that they might be prepared. The party soon followed,
killed twenty-eight Menomonees, and made their escape.
This retaliation which with us is considered lawful and right, created
considerable excitement among the whites. A demand was made for
the Foxes to be surrendered to, and tried by, the white people.
The principal men came to me during the fall and asked my advice. I
conceived that they had done right, and that our Great Father acted very
unjustly in demanding them, when he had suffered all their chiefs to be
decoyed away, and murdered by the Menomonees, without ever having made a
similar demand of them. If he had no right in the first instance he had
none now, and for my part, I conceived the right very questionable, if
not an act of usurpation in any case, where a difference exists between
two nations, for him to interfere. The Foxes joined my band with the
intention to go out with them on the fall hunt.
About this time, Neapope, who started to Malden when it was ascertained
that the great war chief, General Gaines, was coming to remove us,
returned. He said he had seen the chief of our British Father, and asked
him if the Americans could force us to leave our village. He said: "If
you had not sold your land the Americans could not take your village
from you. That the right being vested in you only, could be transferred
by the voice and will of the whole nation, and that as you have never
given your consent to the sale of your country, it yet remains your
exclusive property, from which the American government never could force
you away, and that in the event of war, you should have nothing to fear,
as we would stand by and assist you."
He said that he had called at the prophet's lodge on his way down, and
there had learned for the first time, that we had left our village. He
informed me privately, that the prophet was anxious to see me, as he had
much good news to tell me, and that I would hear good news in the spring
from our British Father. "The prophet requested me to give you all the
particulars, but I would much rather you would see him yourself and
learn all from him. But I will tell you that he has received expresses
from our British Father, who says that he is going to send us guns,
ammunition, provisions and clothing early in the spring. The vessels
that bring them will come by way of Milwaukee. The prophet has likewise
received wampum and tobacco from the different nations on the lakes,
Ottawas, Chippewas, and Pottowattomies, and as to the Winnebagoes he has
them all at his command. We are going to be happy once more."
I told him I was pleased that our British Father intended to see us
righted. That we had been driven from our lands without receiving
anything for them, and I now began to hope from his talk, that my
people would once more be happy. If I could accomplish this I would be
satisfied. I am now growing old and could spend the remnant of my time
anywhere. But I wish first to see my people happy. I can then leave them
cheerfully. This has always been my constant aim, and I now begin to
hope that our sky will soon be clear.
Neapope said:
"The prophet told me that all the tribes mentioned would fight for us
if necessary, and the British father will support us. If we should be
whipped, which is hardly possible, we will still be safe, the prophet
having received a friendly talk from the chief of Wassicummico, at
Selkirk's settlement, telling him, that if we were not happy in our own
country, to let him know and he would make us happy. He had received
information from our British father that we had been badly treated by
the Americans. We must go and see the prophet. I will go first; you had
better remain and get as many of your people to join you as you can.
You know everything that we have done. We leave the matter with you to
arrange among your people as you please. I will return to the prophet's
village to-morrow. You can in the meantime make up your mind an to
the course you will take and send word to the prophet by me, as he is
anxious to assist us, and wishes to know whether you will join us, and
assist to make your people happy."
During the night I thought over everything that Neapope had told me,
and was pleased to think that by a little exertion on my part, I could
accomplish the object of all my wishes. I determined to follow the
advice of the prophet, and sent word by Neapope, that I would get all
my braves together, explain everything that I had heard to them, and
recruit as many as I could from the different villages.
Accordingly I sent word to Keokuk's band and the Fox tribe, explaining
to them all the good news I had heard. They would not hear. Keokuk said
that I had been imposed upon by liars, and had much better remain where
I was and keep quiet. When he found that I was determined to make an
attempt to recover my village, fearing that some difficulty would arise,
he made application to the agent and great chief at St. Louis, asking
permission for the chiefs of our nation to go to Washington to see our
Great Father, that we might have our difficulties settled amicably.
Keokuk also requested the trader, Colonel Davenport, who was going to
Washington, to call on our Great Father and explain everything to him,
and ask permission for us to come on and see him.
Having heard nothing favorable from the great chief at St. Louis, I
concluded that I had better keep my band together, and recruit as many
as possible, so that I would be prepared to make the attempt to rescue
my village in the spring, provided our Great Father did not send word
for us to go to Washington. The trader returned. He said he had called
on our Great Father and made a full statement to him in relation to our
difficulties, and had asked leave for us to go to Washington, but had
received no answer.
I had determined to listen to the advice of my friends, and if permitted
to go to see our Great Father, to abide by his counsel, whatever it
might be. Every overture was made by Keokuk to prevent difficulty, and I
anxiously hoped that something would be done for my people that it might
be avoided. But there was bad management somewhere, or the difficulty
that has taken place would have been avoided.
When it was ascertained that we would not be permitted to go to
Washington, I resolved upon my course, and again tied to recruit some
braves from Keookuk's band, to accompany me, but could not.
Conceiving that the peaceable disposition of Keokuk and his people had
been in a great measure the cause of our having been driven from our
village, I ascribed their present feelings to the same cause, and
immediately went to work to recruit all my own band, and making
preparations to ascend Rock river, I made my encampment on the
Mississippi, where Fort Madison had stood. I requested my people to
rendezvous at that place, sending out soldiers to bring in the warriors,
and stationed my sentinels in a position to prevent any from moving off
until all were ready.
My party having all come in and got ready, we commenced our march up the
Mississippi; our women and children in canoes, carrying such provisions
as we had, camp equipage, &c. My braves and warriors were on horseback,
armed and equipped for defence. The prophet came down and joining us
below Rock river, having called at Rock Island on his way down, to
consult the war chief, agent and trader; who, he said, used many
arguments to dissuade him from going with us, requesting him to come and
meet us and turn us back. They told him also there was a war chief on
his way to Rock Island with a large body of soldiers.
The prophet said he would not listen to this talk, because no war chief
would dare molest us so long as we were at peace. That we had a right
to go where we pleased peaceably, and advised me to say nothing to my
braves and warriors until we encamped that night. We moved onward until
we arrived at the place where General Gaines had made his encampment the
year before, and encamped for the night. The prophet then addressed my
braves and warriors. He told them to "follow us and act like braves,
and we have nothing to fear and much to gain. The American war chief
may come, but will not, nor dare not interfere with us so long as we act
peaceably. We are not yet ready to act otherwise. We must wait until we
ascend Rock river and receive our reinforcements, and we will then be
able to withstand any army."
That night the White Beaver, General Atkinson, with a party of soldiers
passed up in a steamboat. Our party became alarmed, expecting to meet
the soldiers at Rock river, to prevent us going up. On our arrival at
its mouth, we discovered that the steamboat had passed on.
I was fearful that the war chief had stationed his men on some
high bluff, or in some ravine, that we might be taken by surprise.
Consequently, on entering Rock river we commenced beating our drums and
singing, to show the Americans that we were not afraid.
Having met with no opposition, we moved up Rock river leisurely for some
distance, when we were overtaken by an express from White Beaver, with
an order for me to return with my band and recross the Mississippi
again. I sent him word that I would not, not recognizing his right to
make such a demand, is I was acting peaceably, and intended to go to the
prophet's village at his request, to make corn.
The express returned. We moved on and encamped some distance below the
prophet's village. Here another express came from the White Beaver,
threatening to pursue us and drive us back, if we did not return
peaceably. This message roused the spirit of my band, and all were
determined to remain with me and contest the ground with the war chief,
should he come and attempt to drive us. We therefore directed the
express to say to the war chief "if he wished to fight us he might come
on." We were determined never to be driven, and equally so, not to make
the first attack, our object being to act only on the defensive. This we
conceived to be our right.
Soon after the express returned, Mr. Gratiot, sub-agent for the
Winnebagoes, came to our encampment. He had no interpreter, and was
compelled to talk through his chiefs. They said the object of his
mission was to persuade us to return. But they advised us to go
on--assuring us that the further we went up Rock river the more friends
we would meet, and our situation would be bettered. They were on our
side and all of their people were our friends. We must not give up,
but continue to ascend Rock river, on which, in a short time, we would
receive reinforcements sufficiently strong to repulse any enemy. They
said they would go down with their agent, to ascertain the strength of
the enemy, and then return and give us the news. They had to use some
stratagem to deceive their agent in order to help us.
During this council several of my braves hoisted the British flag,
mounted their horses and surrounded the council lodge. I discovered that
the agent was very much frightened. I told one of his chiefs to tell him
that he need not be alarmed, and then went out and directed my braves to
desist. Every warrior immediately dismounted and returned to his lodge.
After the council adjourned I placed a sentinel at the agent's lodge to
guard him, fearing that some of my warriors might again frighten him. I
had always thought he was a good man and was determined that he should
not be hurt. He started with his chiefs to Rock Island.
Having ascertained that White Beaver would not permit us to remain where
we were, I began to consider what was best to be done, and concluded to
keep on up the river, see the Pottowattomies and have a talk with them.
Several Winnebago chiefs were present, whom I advised of my intentions,
as they did not seem disposed to render us any assistance. I asked them
if they had not sent us wampum during the winter, and requested us to
come and join their people and enjoy all the rights and privileges of
their country. They did not deny this; and said if the white people did
not interfere, they had no objection to our making corn this year, with
our friend the prophet, but did not wish us to go any further up.
The next day I started with my party to Kishwacokee. That night I
encamped a short distance above the prophet's village. After all was
quiet in our camp I sent for my chiefs, and told them that we had
been deceived. That all the fair promises that had been held out to us
through Neapope were false. But it would not do to let our party know
it. We must keep it secret among ourselves, move on to Kishwacokee, as
if all was right, and say something on the way to encourage our people.
I will then call on the Pottowattomies, hear what they say, and see what
they will do.
We started the next morning, after telling our people that news had just
come from Milwaukee that a chief of our British Father would be there in
a few days. Finding that all our plans were defeated, I told the prophet
that he must go with me, and we would see what could be done with the
Pottowattomies. On our arrival at Kishwacokee an express was sent to the
Pottowattomie villages. The next day a deputation arrived. I inquired
if they had corn in their villages. They said they had a very little and
could not spare any. I asked them different questions and received very
unsatisfactory answers. This talk was in the presence of all my people.
I afterwards spoke to them privately, and requested them to come to my
lodge after my people had gone to sleep. They came and took seats. I
asked them if they had received any news from the British on the lake.
They said no. I inquired if they had heard that a chief of our British
Father was coming to Milwaukee to bring us guns, ammunition, goods and
provisions. They said no. I told them what news had been brought to me,
and requested them to return to their village and tell the chiefs that I
wished to see them and have a talk with them.
After this deputation started, I concluded to tell my people that if
White Beaver came after us, we would go back, as it was useless to
think of stopping or going on without more provisions and ammunition. I
discovered that the Winnebagoes and Pottowattomies were not disposed to
render us any assistance. The next day the Pottowattomie chiefs arrived
in my camp. I had a dog killed, and made a feast. When it was ready, I
spread my medicine bags, and the chiefs began to eat. When the ceremony
was about ending, I received news that three or four hundred white men
on horse-back had been seen about eight miles off. I immediately started
three young men with a white flag to meet them and conduct them to our
camp, that we might hold a council with them and descend Rock river
again. I also directed them, in case the whites had encamped, to return,
and I would go and see them. After this party had started I sent five
young men to see what might take place. The first party went to the
camp of the whites, and were taken prisoners. The last party had not
proceeded far before they saw about twenty men coming toward them at
full gallop. They stopped, and, finding that the whites were coming
toward them in such a warlike attitude, they turned and retreated, but
were pursued, and two of them overtaken and killed. The others then made
their escape. When they came in with the news, I was preparing my flags
to meet the war chief. The alarm was given. Nearly all my young men were
absent ten miles away. I started with what I had left, about forty, and
had proceeded but a short distance, before we saw a part of the army
approaching. I raised a yell, saying to y braves, "Some of our people
have been killed. Wantonly and cruelly murdered! We must avenge their
death!"
In a little while we discovered the whole army coming towards us at a
full gallop. We were now confident that our first party had been killed.
I immediately placed my men behind a cluster of bushes, that we might
have the first fire when they had approached close enough. They made a
halt some distance from us. I gave another yell, and ordered my brave
warriors to charge upon them, expecting that they would all be killed.
They did charge. Every man rushed towards the enemy and fired, and they
retreated in the utmost confusion and consternation before my little but
brave band of warriors.
After following the enemy for some distance, I found it useless
to pursue them further, as they rode so fast, and returned to the
encampment with a few braves, as about twenty-five of them continued in
pursuit of the flying enemy. I lighted my pipe and sat down to thank the
Great Spirit for what he had done. I had not been meditating long, when
two of the three young men I had seat with the flag to meet the American
war chief, entered. My astonishment was not greater than my joy to see
them living and well. I eagerly listened to their story, which was as
follows:
"When we arrived near the encampment of the whites, a number of them
rushed out to meet us, bringing their guns with them. They took us into
their camp, where an American who spoke the Sac language a little told
us that his chief wanted to know how we were, where we were going, where
our camp was, and where was Black Hawk? We told him that we had come
to see his chief, that our chief had directed us to conduct him to our
camp, in case he had not encamped, and in that event to tell him that
he, Black Hawk, would come to see him; he wished to hold a council with
him, as he had given up all intention of going to war."
This man had once been a member of our tribe, having been adopted by me
many years before and treated with the same kindness as was shown to our
young men, but like the caged bird of the woods, he yearned for freedom,
and after a few years residence with us an opportunity for escape came
and he left us. On this occasion he would have respected our flag and
carried back the message I had sent to his chief, had he not been taken
prisoner, with a comrade, by some of my braves who did not recognize
him, and brought him into camp. They were securely tied with cords to
trees and left to meditate, but were occasionally buffeted by my young
men when passing near them. When I passed by him there was a recognition
on the part of us both, but on account of former friendship I concluded
to let him go, and some little time before the sun went down I
released him from his captivity by untying the cords that bound him and
accompanied him outside of our lines so that he could escape safely.
His companion had previously made a desperate effort to escape from his
guards and was killed by them.
They continued their story:
"At the conclusion of this talk a party of white men came in on
horseback. We saw by their countenances that something had happened. A
general tumult arose. They looked at us with indignation, talked among
themselves for a moment, when several of them cocked their guns and
fired at us in the crowd. Our companion fell dead. We rushed through
the crowd and made our escape. We remained in ambush but a short time,
before we heard yelling like Indians running an enemy. In a little while
we saw some of the whites in full speed. One of them came near us. I
threw my tomahawk and struck him on the head which brought him to the
ground; I ran to him and with his own knife took off his scalp. I took
his gun, mounted his horse, and brought my friend here behind me. We
turned to follow our braves, who were chasing the enemy, and had not
gone far before we overtook a white man, whose horse had mired in a
swamp. My friend alighted and tomahawked the man, who was apparently
fast under his horse. He took his scalp, horse and gun. By this time our
party was some distance ahead. We followed on and saw several white men
lying dead on the way. After riding about six miles we met our party
returning. We asked them how many of our men had been killed. . They
said none after the Americans had retreated. We inquired how many whites
had been killed. They replied that they did not know, but said we will
soon ascertain, as we must scalp them as we go back. On our return
we found ten men, besides the two we had killed before we joined our
friends. Seeing that they did not yet recognize us, it being dark, we
again asked how many of our braves had been killed? They said five. We
asked who they were? They replied that the first party of three who went
out to meet the American war chief, had all been taken prisoners and
killed in the encampment, and that out of a party of five, who followed
to see the meeting of the first party with the whites, two had been
killed. We were now certain that they did not recognize us, nor did we
tell who we were until we arrived at our camp. The news of our death had
reached it some time before, and all were surprised to see us again."
The next morning I told the crier of my village to give notice that we
must go and bury our dead. In a little while all were ready. A small
deputation was sent for our absent warriors, and the remainder started
to bury the dead. We first disposed of them and then commenced an
examination in the enemy's deserted encampment for plunder. We found
arms and ammunition and provisions, all of which we were sadly in want
of, particularly the latter, as we were entirely without. We found also
a variety of saddle bags, which I distributed among my braves, a small
quantity of whisky and some little barrels that had contained this bad
medicine, but they were empty. I was surprised to find that the whites
carried whisky with them, as I had understood that all the pale faces,
when acting is soldiers in the field, were strictly temperate.
The enemy's encampment was in a skirt of woods near a run, about half a
day's travel from Dixon's ferry. We attacked them in the prairie, with a
few bushes between us, about sundown, and I expected that my whole party
would be killed. I never was so much surprised in all the fighting I
have seen, knowing, too, that the Americans generally shoot well, as
I was to see this army of several hundreds retreating, without showing
fight, and passing immediately through their encampment, I did think
they intended to halt there, as the situation would have forbidden
attack by my party if their number had not exceeded half of mine, as
we would have been compelled to take the open prairie whilst they could
have picked trees to shield themselves from our fire.
I was never so much surprised in my life as I was in this attack. An
army of three or four hundred men, after having learned that we were
sueing for peace, to attempt to kill the flag bearers that had gone
unarmed to ask for a meeting of the war chiefs of the two contending
parties to hold a council, that I might return to the west side of the
Mississippi, to come forward with a full determination to demolish
the few braves I had with me, to retreat when they had ten to one, was
unaccountable to me. It proved a different spirit from any I had ever
before seen among the pale faces. I expected to see them fight as the
Americans did with the British during the last war, but they had no such
braves among them. At our feast with the Pottowattomies I was convinced
that we had been imposed upon by those who had brought in reports of
large re-enforcements to my band and resolved not to strike a blow; and
in order to get permission from White Beaver to return and re-cross the
Mississippi, I sent a flag of peace to the American war chief, who was
reported to be close by with his army, expecting that he would convene
a council and listen to what we had to say. But this chief, instead
of pursuing that honorable and chivalric course, such as I have always
practiced, shot down our flag-bearer and thus forced us into war
with less than five hundred warriors to contend against three or four
thousand soldiers.
The supplies that Neapope and the prophet told us about, and the
reinforcements we were to have, were never more heard of, and it is
but justice to our British Father to say were never promised, his chief
being sent word in lieu of the lies that were brought to me, "for us to
remain at peace as we could accomplish nothing but our own ruin by going
to war."
What was now to be done? It was worse than folly to turn back and meet
an enemy where the odds were so much against us and thereby sacrifice
ourselves, our wives and children to the fury of an enemy who had
murdered some of our brave and unarmed warriors when they were on a
mission to sue for peace.
Having returned to our encampment, and found that all our young men
had come in, I sent out spies to watch the movements of the army, and
commenced moving up Kishwacokee with the balance of my people. I did not
know where to go to find a place of safety for my women and children,
but expected to find a good harbor about the head of Rock river. I
concluded to go there, and thought my best route would be to go
round the head of Kishwacokee, so that the Americans would have some
difficulty if they attempted to follow us.
On arriving at the head of Kishwacokee, I was met by a party of
Winnebagoes, who seemed to rejoice at our success. They said they had
come to offer their services, and were anxious to join in. I asked them
if they knew where there was a safe place for our women and children.
They told us that they would send two old men with us to guide us to a
good safe place.
I arranged war parties to send out in different directions, before I
proceeded further. The Winnebagoes went alone. The war parties having
all been fitted out and started, we commenced moving to the Four Lakes,
the place where our guides were to conduct us. We had not gone far
before six Winnebagoes came in with one scalp. They said they had killed
a man at a grove, on the road from Dixon's to the lead mines. Four
days after, the party of Winnebagoes who had gone out from the head of
Kishwacokee, overtook us, and told me that they had killed four men
and taken their scalps: and that one of them was Keokuk's father, (the
agent). They proposed to have a dance over their scalps. I told them
that I could have no dancing in my camp, in consequence of my having
lost three young braves; but they might dance in their own camp, which
they did. Two days after, we arrived in safety at the place where
the Winnebagoes had directed us. In a few days a great number of our
warriors came in. I called them all around me, and addressed them.
I told them: "Now is the time, if any of you wish to come into
distinction, and be honored with the medicine bag! Now is the time to
show your courage and bravery, and avenge the murder of our three
braves!"
Several small parties went out, and returned again in a few days, with
success--bringing in provisions for our people. In the mean time, some
spies came in, and reported that the army had fallen back to Dixon's
ferry; and others brought news that the horsemen had broken up their
camp, disbanded, and returned home.
Finding that all was safe, I made a dog feast, preparatory to leaving
my camp with a large party, (as the enemy were stationed so far off).
Before my braves commenced feasting, I took my medicine bags, and
addressed them in the following language:
"BRAVES AND WARRIORS: These are the medicine bags of our forefather,
Mukataquet, who was the father of the Sac nation. They were handed down
to the great war chief of our nation, Nanamakee, who has been at war
with all the nations of the plains, and have never yet been disgraced! I
expect you all to protect them!"
After the ceremony was over and our feasting done I started, with about
two hundred warriors following my great medicine bags. I directed my
course toward sunset and dreamed, the second night after we started,
that there would be a great feast prepared for us after one day's
travel. I told my warriors my dream in the morning and we started for
Moscohocoynak, (Apple river). When we arrived in the vicinity of a fort
the white people had built there we saw four men on horseback. One of
my braves fired and wounded a man when the others set up a yell as if
a large force were near and ready to come against us. We concealed
ourselves and remained in this position for some time watching to see
the enemy approach, but none came. The four men, in the mean time, ran
to the fort and gave the alarm. We followed them and attacked their
fort. One of their braves, who seemed more valiant than the rest, raised
his head above the picketing to fire at us when one of my braves, with a
well-directed shot, put an end to his bravery. Finding that these people
could not be killed without setting fire to their houses and fort I
thought it more prudent to be content with what flour, provisions,
cattle and horses we could find than to set fire to their buildings, as
the light would be seen at a distance and the army might suppose we were
in the neighborhood and come upon us with a strong force. Accordingly
we opened a house and filled our bags with flour and provisions, took
several horses and drove off some of their cattle.
We started in a direction toward sunrise. After marching a considerable
time I discovered some white men coming towards us. I told my braves
that we would go into the woods and kill them when they approached.
We concealed ourselves until they came near enough and then commenced
yelling and firing and made a rush upon them. About this time their
chief, with a party of men, rushed up to rescue the men we had fired
upon. In a little while they commenced retreating and left their chief
and a few braves who seemed willing and anxious to fight. They acted
like men, but were forced to give way when I rushed upon them with my
braves. In a short time the chief returned with a lager party. He seemed
determined to fight, and anxious for a battle. When he came near enough
I raised the yell and firing commenced from both sides. The chief, who
seemed to be a small man, addressed his warriors in a loud voice, but
they soon retreated, leaving him and a few braves on the battle field.
A great number of my warriors pursued the retreating party and killed a
number of their horses as they ran.
The chief and his few braves were unwilling to leave the field. I
ordered my braves to rush upon them, and had the mortification of seeing
two of my chiefs killed before the enemy retreated.
This young chief deserves great praise for his courage and bravery, but
fortunately for us, his army was not all composed of such brave men.
During this attack we killed several men and about forty horses and lost
two young chiefs and seven warriors. My braves were anxious to pursue
them to the fort, attack and burn it, but I told them it was useless to
waste our powder as there was no possible chance of success if we did
attack them, and that as we had ran the bear into his hole we would
there leave him and return to our camp.
On arriving at our encampment we found that several of our spies had
returned, bringing intelligence that the army had commenced moving.
Another party of five came in and said they had been pursued for several
hours, and were attacked by twenty-five or thirty whites in the woods;
that the whites rushed in upon them as they lay concealed and received
their fire without seeing them. They immediately retreated whilst we
reloaded. They entered the thicket again and as soon as they came near
enough we fired. Again they retreated and again they rushed into the
thicket and fired. We returned their fire and a skirmish ensued between
two of their men and one of ours, who was killed by having his throat
cut. This was the only man we lost, the enemy having had three killed;
they again retreated.
Another party of three Sacs had come in and brought two young white
squaws, whom they had given to the Winnebagoes to take to the whites.
They said they had joined a party of Pottowattomies and went with them
as a war party against the settlers of Illinois.
The leader of this party, a Pottowattomie, had been severely whipped by
this settler, some time before, and was anxious to avenge the insult and
injury. While the party was preparing to start, a young Pottowattomie
went to the settler's house and told him to leave it, that a war party
was coming to murder them. They started, but soon returned again, as
it appeared that they were all there when the war party arrived. The
Pottowattomies killed the whole family, except two young squaws, whom
the Sacs took up on their horses and carried off, to save their lives.
They were brought to our encampment, and a messenger sent to the
Winnebagoes, as they were friendly on both sides, to come and get them,
and carry them to the whites. If these young men, belonging to my band,
had not gone with the Pottowittomies, the two young squaws would have
shared the same fate as their friends.
During our encampment at the Four Lakes we were hard pressed to obtain
enough to eat to support nature. Situated in a swampy, marshy country,
(which had been selected in consequence of the great difficulty required
to gain access thereto,) there was but little game of any sort to
be found, and fish were equally scarce. The great distance to any
settlement, and the impossibility of bringing supplies therefrom, if
any could have been obtained, deterred our young men from making
further attempts. We were forced to dig roots and bark trees, to obtain
something to satisfy hunger and keep us alive. Several of our old people
became so reduced, as to actually die with hunger! Learning that the
army had commenced moving, and fearing that they might come upon and
surround our encampment, I concluded to remove our women and children
across the Mississippi, that they might return to the Sac nation again.
Accordingly, on the next day we commenced moving, with five Winnebagoes
acting as our guides, intending to descend the Wisconsin.
Neapope, with a party of twenty, remained in our rear, to watch for the
enemy, whilst we were proceeding to the Wisconsin, with our women and
children. We arrived, and had commenced crossing over to an island, when
we discovered a large body of the enemy coming towards us. We were now
compelled to fight, or sacrifice our wives and children to the fury of
the whites. I met them with fifty warriors, (having left the balance to
assist our women and children in crossing) about a mile from the river,
When an attack immediately commenced, I was mounted on a fine horse,
and was pleased to see my warriors so brave. I addressed them in a load
voice, telling them to stand their ground and never yield it to the
enemy. At this time I was on the rise of a hill, where I wished to form
my warriors, that we might have some advantage over the whites. But the
enemy succeeded in gaining this point, which compelled us to fall into
a deep ravine, from which we continued firing at them and they at us,
until it began to grow dark. My horse having been wounded twice during
this engagement, and fearing from his loss of blood that he would soon
give out, and finding that the enemy would not come near enough to
receive our fire, in the dusk of the evening, and knowing that our
women and children had had sufficient time to reach the island in the
Wisconsin, I ordered my warriors to return, by different routes, and
meet me at the Wisconsin, and was astonished to find that the enemy were
not disposed to pursue us.
In this skirmish with fifty braves, I defended and accomplished my
passage over the Wisconsin, with a loss of only six men, though opposed
by a host of mounted militia. I would not have fought there, but to gain
time for our women and children to cross to an island. A warrior will
duly appreciate the embarrassments I labored under--and whatever may
be the sentiments of the white people in relation to this battle, my
nation, though fallen, will award to me the reputation of a great brave
in conducting it.
The loss of the enemy could not be ascertained by our party; but I am
of the opinion that it was much greater, in proportion, than mine. We
returned to the Wisconsin and crossed over to our people.
Here some of my people left me, and descended the Wisconsin, hoping to
escape to the west side of the Mississippi, that they might return
home. I had no objection to their leaving me, as my people were all in
a desperate condition, being worn out with traveling and starving
with hunger. Our only hope to save ourselves was to get across the
Mississippi. But few of this party escaped. Unfortunately for them, a
party of soldiers from Prairie du Chien were stationed on the Wisconsin,
a short distance from its mouth, who fired upon our distressed people.
Some were killed, others drowned, several taken prisoners, and the
balance escaped to the woods and perished with hunger. Among this party
were a great many women and children.
I was astonished to find that Neapope and his party of spies had not
yet come in, they having been left in my rear to bring the news, if the
enemy were discovered. It appeared, however, that the whites had come
in a different direction and intercepted our trail but a short distance
from the place where we first saw them, leaving our spies considerably
in the rear. Neapope and one other retired to the Winnebago village,
and there remained during the war. The balance of his party, being brave
men, and considering our interests as their own, returned, and joined
our ranks.
Myself and band having no means to descend the Wisconsin, I started over
a rugged country, to go to the Mississippi, intending to cross it and
return to my nation. Many of our people were compelled to go on foot,
for want of horses, which, in consequence of their having had nothing
to eat for a long time, caused our march to be very slow. At length we
arrived at the Mississippi, having lost some of our old men and little
children, who perished on the way with hunger.
We had been here but a little while before we saw a steamboat (the
"Warrior,") coming. I told my braves not to shoot, as I intended going
on board, so that we might save our women and children. I knew the
captain (Throckmorton) and was determined to give myself up to him.
I then sent for my white flag. While the messenger was gone, I took
a small piece of white cotton and put it on a pole, and called to the
captain of the boat, and told him to send his little canoe ashore and
let me come aboard. The people on board asked whether we were Sacs or
Winnebagoes. I told a Winnebago to tell them that we were Sacs, and
wanted to give ourselves up! A Winnebago on the boat called out to us
"to run and hide, that the whites were going to shoot!" About this time
one of my braves had jumped into the river, bearing a white flag to the
boat, when another sprang in after him and brought him to the shore. The
firing then commenced from the boat, which was returned by my braves and
continued for some time. Very few of my people were hurt after the
first fire, having succeeded in getting behind old logs and trees, which
shielded them from the enemy's fire.
The Winnebago on the steamboat must either have misunderstood what
was told, or did not tell it to the captain correctly; because I am
confident he would not have allowed the soldiers to fire upon us if he
had known my wishes. I have always considered him a good man, and too
great a brave to fire upon an enemy when sueing for quarters.
After the boat left us, I told my people to cross if they could, and
wished; that I intended going into the Chippewa country. Some commenced
crossing, and such as had determined to follow them, remained; only
three lodges going with me. Next morning, at daybreak, a young man
overtook me, and said that all my party had determined to cross the
Mississippi--that a number had already got over safely and that he had
heard the white army last night within a few miles of them. I now began
to fear that the whites would come up with my people and kill them
before they could get across. I had determined to go and join the
Chippewas; but reflecting that by this I could only save myself, I
concluded to return, and die with my people, if the Great Spirit would
not give us another victory. During our stay in the thicket, a party of
whites came close by us, but passed on without discovering us.
Early in the morning a party of whites being in advance of the army,
came upon our people, who were attempting to cross the Mississippi.
They tried to give themselves up; the whites paid no attention to their
entreaties, but commenced slaughtering them. In a little while the whole
army arrived. Our braves, but few in umber, finding that the enemy paid
no regard to age or sex, and seeing that they were murdering helpless
women and little children, determined to fight until they were killed.
As many women as could, commenced swimming the Mississippi, with their
children on their backs. A number of them were drowned, and some shot
before they could reach the opposite shore.
One of my braves, who gave me this information, piled up some saddles
before him, (when the fight commenced), to shield himself from the
enemy's fire, and killed three white men. But seeing that the whites
were coming too close to him, he crawled to the bank of the without
being perceived, and hid himself under the bank until the enemy retired.
He then came to me and told me what had been done. After hearing this
sorrowful news, I started with my little party to the Winnebago village
at Prairie La Cross. On my arrival there I entered the lodge of one of
the chiefs, and told him that I wished him to go with me to his father,
that I intended giving myself up to the American war chief and die, if
the Great Spirit saw proper. He said he would go with me. I then took my
medicine bag and addressed the chief. I told him that it was "the soul
of the Sac nation--that it never had been dishonored in any battle, take
it, it is my life--dearer than life--and give it to the American chief!"
He said he would keep it, and take care of it, and if I was suffered to
live, he would send it to me.
During my stay at the village, the squaws made me a white dress of deer
skin. I then started with several Winnebagoes, and went to their agent,
at Prairie du Chien, and gave myself up.
On my arrival there, I found to my sorrow, that a large body of Sioux
had pursued and killed a number of our women and children, who had got
safely across the Mississippi. The whites ought not to have permitted
such conduct, and none but cowards would ever have been guilty of such
cruelty, a habit which had always been practiced on our nation by the
Sioux.
The massacre, which terminated the war, lasted about two hours. Our loss
in killed was about sixty, besides a number that was drowned. The loss
of the enemy could not be ascertained by my braves, exactly; but they
think that they killed about sixteen during the action.
I was now given up by the agent to the commanding officer at Fort
Crawford, the White Beaver having gone down the river. We remained here
a short time, and then started for Jefferson Barracks, in a steam boat,
under the charge of a young war chief, (Lieut. Jefferson Davis) who
treated us all with much kindness. He is a good and brave young chief,
with whose conduct I was much pleased. On our way down we called at
Galena and remained a short time. The people crowded to the boat to see
us: but the war chief would not permit them to enter the apartment where
we were--knowing, from what his feelings would have been if he had been
placed in a similar situation, that we did not wish to have a gaping
crowd around us.
We passed Rock Island without stopping. The great war chief, Gen. Scott,
who was then at Fort Armstrong, came out in a small boat to see us, but
the captain of the steamboat would not allow anybody from the fort to
come on board his boat, in consequence of the cholera raging among the
soldiers. I did think that the captain ought to have permitted the war
chief to come on board to see me, because I could see no danger to be
apprehended by it. The war chief looked well, and I have since heard was
constantly among his soldiers, who were sick and dying, administering to
their wants, and had not caught the disease from them and I thought it
absurd to think that any of the people on the steamboat could be afraid
of catching the disease from a well man. But these people are not brave
like war chiefs, who never fear anything.
On our way down, I surveyed the country that had cost us so much
trouble, anxiety and blood, and that now caused me to be a prisoner of
war. I reflected upon the ingratitude of the whites when I saw their
fine houses, rich harvests and everything desirable around them; and
recollected that all this land had been ours, for which I and my people
had never received a dollar, and that the whites were not satisfied
until they took our village and our graveyards from us and removed us
across the Mississippi.
On our arrival at Jefferson Barracks we met the great war chief, White
Beaver, who had commanded the American army against my little band. I
felt the humiliation of my situation; a little while before I had been
leader of my braves, now I was a prisoner of war, but had surrendered
myself. He received us kindly and treated us well.
We were now confined to the barracks and forced to wear the ball and
chain. This was extremely mortifying and altogether useless. Was the
White Beaver afraid I would break out of his barracks and run away? Or
was he ordered to inflict this punishment upon me? If I had taken him
prisoner on the field of battle I would not have wounded his feelings
so much by such treatment, knowing that a brave war chief would prefer
death to dishonor. But I do not blame the White Beaver for the course he
pursued, as it is the custom among the white soldiers, and I suppose was
a part of his duty.
The time dragged heavily and gloomily along throughout the winter,
although the White Beaver did everything is his power to render us
comfortable. Having been accustomed, throughout a long life, to roam
the forests o'er, to go and come at liberty, confinement, and under such
circumstances, could not be less than torture.
We passed away the time making pipes until spring, when we were visited
by the agent, trader and interpreter, from Rock Island, Keokuk and
several chiefs and braves of our nation, and my wife and daughter. I
was rejoiced to see the two latter and spent my time very agreeably with
them and my people as long as they remained.
The trader, Sagenash, (Col. Davenport) presented me with some dried
venison, which had been killed and cured by some of my friends. This was
a valuable present, and although he had given me many before, none ever
pleased me so much. This was the first meat I had eaten for a long time
that reminded me of the former pleasures of my own wigwam, which had
always been stored with plenty.
Keokuk and his chiefs, during their stay at the barracks, petitioned our
Great Father, the president, to release us, and pledged themselves
for our good conduct. I now began to hope I would soon be restored to
liberty and the enjoyment of my family and friends, having heard that
Keokuk stood high in the estimation of our Great Father, because he
did not join me in the war, but I was soon disappointed in my hopes. An
order came from our Great Father to the White Beaver to send us on to
Washington.
In a little while all were ready and left Jefferson Barracks on board of
a steamboat, under charge of a young war chief and one soldier, whom the
White Beaver sent along as a guide to Washington. We were accompanied
by Keokuk, wife and son, Appanooce, Wapello, Poweshiek, Pashippaho,
Nashashuk, Saukee, Musquaukee, and our interpreter. Our principal
traders, Col. Geo. Davenport, of Rock Island, and S. S. Phelps and
clerk, William Cousland, of the Yellow Banks, also accompanied us. On
our way up the Ohio we passed several large villages, the names of which
were explained to me. The first is called Louisville, and is a very
petty village, situated on the bank of the Ohio River. The next is
Cincinnati, which stands on the bank of the same river. This is a large
and beautiful village and seemed to be in a thriving condition. The
people gathered on the bank as we passed, in great crowds, apparently
anxious to see us.
On our arrival at Wheeling the str
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