CHAPTER XIX.

Causes of Indian hostilities in general-Philip's letter to the Governor of Massachusetts -Black Hawk born on Rock river, in Illinois, 1767-Winnebagoes-Menonemies -Pottawatomies-Sacs and Foxes-Treaty of St. Louis, June 27, 1804-Black Hawk's opinion of it-Fort Madison-Attempts to cut off its garrison-Whites settle on the lands ceded-Were in some instances the aggressors-Treaty of Prairie Du Chien, August 19, 1825-American mediators, etc.-Unsuccessful attack on keelboats by Indians, July 30, 1827-Black Hawk suspected-General Atkinson marches into the Winnebago country, and arrests those suspected-Indians suspected tried, 1828-Black Hawk, among others, tried and acquitted-Treaty of Prairie Du Chien, July 15, 1830-Black Hawk not a party to it-Difficulties between Black Hawk and Keokuk-Several depredations committed-Governor Reynolds - General Gaines-Black Hawk crosses the Mississippi to its west bank-Recrosses the Mississippi in the spring of 1832, and ascends the Rock river-Governor Reynolds calls out one thousand militia-General Whitesides elected brigadier-general-Ascends Rock river to Dixon's-Major Stillman ascends Rock river in advance of the armyIs defeated, May 14th, 1832-Captain Adams-Major Hackleton-General Whitesides's brigade visits the battle ground and buries the dead-Returns to Dixon's-General Atkinson arrives-Keokuk's address--Indian Creek settlement attacked, and its inhabitants massacred-Miss Hall's narrative-General Whitesides's brigade marches to Pawpaw grove, and from thence to Fox river and to Ottaway-Are discharged-A part volunteer again-Black Hawk moves up the Rock river to its head waters, and is pursued-A Dunkard preacher massacred near Chicago-A party of spies attacked, and four killed-St. Vrain-Mr. Smith-Mr. Winters-Attack on Plum Creek-Captain Stephenson-Captain, afterward General Dodge-General Semple -General Atkinson fortifies his camp at Dixon's, and awaits the arrival of the Illinois militia-General Henry-General Posey--General Alexander-Militia arrive at Dixon's, and General Brady assumes command of the whole-Congress direct six hundred mounted rangers to be enlisted-Major Demont-Rev. Zadock Casey-The whole army march up Rock river-Joined by one hundred Pottawatomies, under Wa-ban-see-Arrive at Koshkanong-General Atkinson assumes the commandGeneral Henry sent to Fort Winnebago, and General Posey to Fort Hamilton, for supplies-General Henry pursues Black Hawk up the White Water, thence to the Wisconsin-Overtakes him on the 21st of July-Battle of Wisconsin-General Ew. ing-General Fry-Colonel Jones-Indians defeated-Reaches the Blue Mounds on the 22nd of July-General Atkinson arrives-The army crosses the WisconsinOvertakes Black Hawk on the Mississippi-Battle of the Bad Axe-Indians defeated, August 2, 1832-General Atkinson's official report of the battle-Captain Throcmorton's account-Black Hawk escapes-Governor Cass's report of the campaign-Black Hawk taken prisoner by the Winnebagoes, and brought to Prairie Du ChienGeneral Scott ordered to the scene of action--Cholera at Chicago-Treaty of 1832-Black Hawk taken to Washington, and through the Eastern cities-Dies October 3, 1838-His character.

WHATEVER doubts may exist, in relation to the war of 1756 having been a native of America, there can be none in relation to the Black

Hawk war, of 1832. The latter is conceded, by all, to have been "a native of Illinois." Its origin was here; and its progress and termination were here and in the neighborhood. We should, therefore, do injustice to our subject, were we to pass over an event, so prominent in our history, with a few slight or casual remarks.

Those who have recently migrated hither, and those acquainted imperfectly with our annals, can scarcely believe, that twelve years have not yet elapsed, since the country in our vicinity was the theatre of an Indian massacre, and its whole population driven to seek protection from the guns of Fort Dearborn. Such, however, is the fact, strange as it

may seem.

Most of the difficulties between the white and red man, for the last two hundred years, have grown out of a desire, manifested by the former, to possess the lands, or hunting-grounds of the latter. As early as 1667, we find a letter of Philip, of Pakanoket, without date, (known generally as King Philip,) directed to the Governor of Massachusetts, on this subject. This letter, on account of its singularity, we insert entire.

"TO THE MUCH HONORED GOVERNOR, MR. THOMAS PRINCE, DWELLING AT PLYMOUTH: "King Philip, desire to let you understand that he could not come to the court, for Tom, his interpreter, has a pain in his back; that he could not travel so far, and Philip's sister is very sick. Philip would entreat that favor of you, and any of the magistrates, if any English or Endians speak about any land, he pray you to give them no answer at all. This last summer he maid that promise with you, that he would not sell no land in seven years time; for that he would have no English trouble him before that time, he has not forgot that you promise him; he will come as soon as possible, he can speak with you, and so I rest.

"Your very loving friend,

"PHILIP P "Dwelling at Hope Neck."

It would seem from the tenor of the above letter, that Philip had been summoned to court at Plymouth, but being unwilling to trust the English, he excused himself because Tom had a "pain in his back," and his sister" was very sick." It would seem farther, that Philip had been importuned to sell land to the English, and that it was agreed on all hands, that no purchase or sale should be made for seven years.

In tracing the war of 1756 to its source, we find the intrusion upon, or rather the surveying of Indian lands, one of its prominent causes. The Pontiac war had its source in the same cause; the war with the Miamies, which terminated in the defeat of "Little Turtle." And in our days, Tecumseh's hostility, and Black Hawk's, later still, all originated in controversies about land.

Black Hawk, the Indian chief who has recently occupied a considerable space in the public mind, and cost, it is said, the United States more than two millions of dollars, was born, as it is supposed, about the year 1767, on Rock river, in Illinois.

At the time of which we are about to speak, the Winnebagoes occupied all that part of the Wisconsin territory, bordering on the river Wisconsin, and in the vicinity of Winnebago lake. Their population, in 1820, was estimated at one thousand five hundred and fifty souls, of whom five hundred were warriors. White Loon was a conspicuous chief among them. He opposed General Wayne in 1794; fought at Tippecanoe in 1811; was active during the war of 1812, on the side of the British; and treated with General Harrison, at Greenville, in 1814.

The Menonimies resided still further north, upon a river of that name, in the vicinity of Green Bay. They were estimated, in 1820, at three hundred and fifty souls, of whom one hundred were warriors.

The

The Pottawatomies occupied the head waters of Lake Michigan; they were estimated, in 1820, at three thousand four hundred souls. United States paid them yearly five thousand seven hundred dollars. The Pottawatomies were known to the French at an early day. In 1668, three hundred of their warriors visited Father Allouez, at Chegaumegon, an island in Lake Superior.

The Sacs (or rather the Sauks,) and Foxes, usually mentioned together, (one nation in fact,) occupied the country west of the Pottawatomies, between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers; they were estimated, in 1820, at three thousand souls. They were also known to the French; and Christianity was taught them by the Jesuits, in 1668. Keokuk was for many years a conspicuous chief among them; as also Black Hawk, before referred to. The latter was a grandson of Na-na-ma-kee, or Thunder, and having taken the scalp of an enemy, at the early age of fifteen, was admitted to the rank of " a brave." A short time afterward, he joined a war-party against the Osages, and became noted for his valor. On his return, he was allowed to join in the war-dance of his nation: he frequently led war-parties against the enemies of his tribe, and in almost. every instance was victorious.

On the 27th of June, 1804, a treaty was made at St. Louis, by General Harrison, with the Sacs and Foxes; and the lands east of the Mississippi were ceded to the United States. This treaty having been executed, as Black Hawk pretended, without the knowledge or consent of the nation, and having been the subject of much altercation, and the cause of serious difficulty thereafter, we insert it entire. (See note 1.)

When Fort Madison was afterward erected on the Mississippi river, above the De Moyne rapids, the Indians expressed their dissatisfaction, and made an unsuccessful attempt to cut off the garrison.

The Territory of Illinois, in 1818, having been admitted into the Union, and peace between Great Britain and the United States been restored, emigrants from every direction repaired thither, and the country of the Sacs and Foxes, was shortly surrounded by the settlements of white men. In order to hasten the departure of the Indians from the ceded territory, some outrages, it is said, and we have no doubt of the fact, were committed on their persons and their effects.

On the 19th of August, 1825, a treaty was held at Prairie Du Chien with the Sacs, Foxes, Winnebagoes, Chippeways, Sioux, and other northwestern tribes, by William Clarke and Lewis Cass, on behalf of the United States, for the purpose of bringing about a peace between the Sacs and the other tribes. The United States undertook the part of mediators. However pure their motives, the effect was not such as could have been desired. Hostilities continued, and murders frequently happened. In the summer of 1827, a party of twenty-four Chippeways, on a tour to Fort Snelling, was surprised by a band of Sioux, and eight of their number were killed and wounded. The commander of Fort Snelling, caused four of the Sioux to be delivered to the Chippeways, by whom they were shot. Red Bird, a chief of the Sioux, resented the affront, and determined to retaliate. He accordingly led a party against the Chippeways, and was defeated. On his return home, he was derided as being 66 no brave." Red Bird, disappointed of vengeance upon the Chippeways, resolved to seek it among their abettors the whites; and on the 24th of July, 1827, two whites in the vicinity of Prairie Du Chien were killed, and another wounded; and on the 30th of July, two keel-boats conveying military stores to Fort Snelling, were attacked, two of their crew killed, and four wounded. Black Hawk was charged, among others, with this last offence.

General Atkinson thereupon marched with a brigade of troops, regulars and militia, into the Winnebago country, and made prisoners of Red Bird and six others, who were held in confinement at Prairie Du Chien, until a trial could be had. Red Bird died in prison. A part of those arrested were convicted, and a part acquitted. Those convicted were executed on the 26th of December, in the following year, (1828.)

Black Hawk and Kanonekan, or the youngest of the Thunders, and a son of Red Bird, all of whom had been charged with attacking the boats, were acquitted. Black Hawk was confined for more than a year, before he could be brought to trial; and imprisonment to him was more insufferable than any punishment which could have been inflicted. He could not understand why, if one was guilty, he should not immediately be punished; and if innocent, why he should not be discharged. Imprisonment being regarded by the Indians as evidence of cowardice, presuming they dare not punish the culprit; such a delay of justice exceeded altogether his comprehension.

Black Hawk was discharged merely for want of proof, not for want of guilt. Although doubts upon the subject were once entertained, there was none afterward. His confessions, which he had sense enough to withhold till after his acquittal, were conclusive.

Though vioGeneral At

Matters remained in this state for about three years. lence was frequently done, punishment seldom followed. kinson, in 1831, supposed and believed that efforts were in progress to unite all the Indians, from Rock river to Mexico, in a war. It seems, from what occurred afterward, that he was not mistaken. Black Hawk

in his memoirs of himself, says: "Runners were sent to the Arkansas, Red River and Texas-not on the subject of our lands, but a secret mission, which I am not at present permitted to explain."

A treaty on the 15th of July, 1830, had been made at Prairie Du Chien, by which the Sacs and Foxes ceded all their country east of the Mississippi to the United States. The Sioux, lowas, and several other tribes, participated in the sale: but Black Hawk had nothing to do with it. Keokuk, or the Watchful Fox, at this time headed the Sacs, who made the treaty. Black Hawk, when apprised of what they had done, disapproved of it, and was much agitated. Keokuk was a friend of the whites, and Black Hawk used to say, that he, (Keokuk,) sold his country for nothing.

In the summer of 1831, Black Hawk says he heard, while on a visit to the Indian agent at Rock Island, for the first time, "talk of their having to leave their village." "The trader," he says, "explained to him the terms of the treaty, and advised him to select a good place for a village, and remove to it in the spring." Keokuk had consented to go, and was using all his influence to induce others to go with him.

A party began now to be organized, in opposition to that of Keokuk. Of this Black Hawk became the head. "I now promised this party," says he, "to be their leader; and raised the standard of opposition to Keokuk, with a full determination not to leave the village."

The Sac village was on the point of land formed by the Rock river and the Mississippi. Here were about seven hundred acres, which had usually been planted with corn. The Sac village had stood there for one hundred and fifty years; and the country of the Sacs had extended from the mouth of the Wisconsin to the mouth of the Missouri.

About the time of the execution of the treaty of Prairie Du Chien, several petty outrages were committed on the Indians by the whites, which served to exasperate still more those who were already excited.

One of Black Hawk's men having found a hive of bees in the woods, took it to his wigwam. Some whites repaired thither, and demanded it. It was given up. Perceiving some skins in the wigwam, the whites took them also. It was a hard case. The skins belonged to the Indian, and were the result of his winter's hunt. He owed his trader, and without their aid he could neither pay his debt, nor purchase necessaries for his family. Previous to this, Black Hawk himself, it is said, had met with ill treatment from some whites. When hunting alone, they fell upon and beat him, so that he was lame, and disabled for a considerable time. Driven to desperation, he at length took up arms. He was deceived, however, by his friends. He had supposed that the Chippeways, the Ottawas, Winnebagoes, and Pottawatomies, would join his standard; at least he was told so. He was told, also, that their British father at Malden stood ready to help them. His head men had visited Malden, and there been informed, that if they had not sold their country, it could not be taken from them.