To Yellow Banks was in the fall of 1836, after the town of Oquawka had
been laid out, and when told that the town had taken the Indian name,
instead of its English interpretation, he was very much gratified, as
he had known it as Oquawka ever since his earliest recollection and had
always made it a stopping place when going out to their winter camps.
He said the Skunk river country was dotted over with Cabins all the
way down to the Des Moines river, and was filling up very fast by white
people. A new village had been started at Shokokon (Flint Hills) by the
whites, and some of its people have already built good houses, but the
greater number are still living in log cabins. They should have retained
its Indian name, Shokokon, as our people have spent many happy days in
this village. Here too, we had our council house in which the braves
of the Sac nation have many times assembled to listen to my words of
counsel. It was situated in a secluded but romantic spot in the midst of
the bluffs, not far from the river, and on frequent occasions, when it
became necessary to send out parties to make war on the Sioux to redress
our grievances, I have assembled my braves here to give them counsel
before starting on he war-path. And here, too, we have often met when
starting out in the fall for our fall and winter's hunt, to counsel in
regard to our several locations for the winter. In those days the Fur
Company had a trading house here and their only neighbors were the
resident Indians of Tama's town, located a few miles above on the river.
The Burlington _Hawk-Eye_, of a late date, in reference to this council
house, says:
"A little distance above the water works, and further around the turn of
the bluff is a natural amphitheater, formed by the action of the little
stream that for ages has dripped and gurgled down its deep and narrow
channel to the river. It is a straight, clear cut opening in the hill
side, slightly rising till at a distance of seventy-five or one hundred
yards from the face of the bluff it terminates as suddenly and sharply
as do the steeply sloping sides.
"Well back in this grassy retreat, upon a little projection of earth
that elevates it above the surrounding surface, lies a huge granite
boulder. In connection with the surroundings it gives to the place the
appearance of a work of man, everything is so admirably arranged for a
council chamber. Here, it is rumored by tradition, the dusky warriors of
the Sacs gathered to listen in attentive silence to the words of their
leader, Black Hawk, who from his rocky rostrum addressed the motionless
groups that strewed the hill sides; motionless under his addresses and
by them aroused to deeds of darkness and crafty daring that made the
name of their chief a synonym with all things terrible.
"Whatever of truth this story may contain we cannot say, and it may be
no one knows. Certain it is, however, that Black Hawk's early history is
intimately linked and interwoven with that of our city, and in justice
to a brave man and a soldier, as well as a 'first settler' and a
citizen, his name and his last resting place should be rescued from the
oblivion that will soon enshroud them."
Another village has been commenced by the whites on the Mississippi
river, at Fort Madison, which is being built up very rapidly. The
country, too, is fast settling up by farmers, and as the Sacs have made
a settlement on the frontier farther west, on our old hunting grounds,
he said he would have to move farther back so as to be near his people;
and on bidding us farewell, said it might be the last time, as he was
growing old, and the distance would be too great from the point at which
he intended to build a house and open a little farm to make a visit on
horseback, and as the Des Moines river is always low in the fall of the
year he could not come in his canoe.
At the close of the summer of 1837 the President of the United States
invited deputations from several tribes Of Indians residing on the Upper
Mississippi to visit him at Washington. Among those who responded to his
invitation were deputations from the Sacs and Foxes and Sioux, who had
been at enmity, and between whom hostilities had been renewed, growing
out of their inhuman treatment of many of the women and children of the
Sacs, after they had made their escape from the battle of Bad Axe, at
the close of the war.
Keokuk, principal chief of the Sacs and Foxes, (by the advice of his
friend, Sagenash, Col. George Davenport, of Rock Island) invited Black
Hawk to join his delegation, which invitation he readily accepted, and
made one of the party; whilst the Sioux were represented by several of
their crafty chiefs. Several counsels were held, the object of which was
to establish peace between the Sacs and Foxes and Sioux, and in order to
perpetuate it, make a purchase of a portion of the country of the Sioux,
which territory should be declared neutral, and on which neither party
should intrude for any purpose; but the Sioux, whose domain extends far
and wide, would not consent to sell any of their land; hence nothing was
accomplished.
Before returning to their county the Sac and Fox delegation visited the
large cities in the East, in all of which Black Hawk attracted great
attention; but more particularly in Boston, as he did not visit it
during his former tour. The delegation embraced Keokuk, his wife and
little son, four chiefs of the nation, Black Hawk and son, and several
warriors. Here they were received and welcomed by the mayor of the city,
and afterwards by Governor Everett as the representative of the State.
On the part of the city, after a public reception, the doors of Faneuil
Hall were opened to their visitors to hold a levee for the visits of the
ladies, and in a very short time the "old cradle of liberty" was jammed
full.
After dinner the delegation was escorted to the State House by a
military company, and on their arrival were conspicuously seated in
front of the Speakers' desk, the house being filled with ladies, members
of the legislature, and dignitaries of the city council.
Governor Everett then addressed the audience, giving a brief history of
the Sac and Fox tribe, whose principal chiefs (including the great war
chief) were then present, and then turning to them hi said: "Chiefs and
warriors of the united Sacs and Foxes, you are welcome to our hall of
council. Brothers, you have come a long way from your home to visit your
white brethren; we rejoice to take you by the hand. Brothers, we have
heard the names of your chiefs and warriors. Our brethren who have
traveled in the West have told us a great deal about the Sacs and Foxes.
We rejoice to see you with our own eyes.
"Brothers, we are called the Massachusetts. This is the name of the red
men who once lived here. Their wigwams were scattered on yonder fields,
and their council fire was kindled on this spot. They were of the same
great race as the Sacs and Foxes.
"Brothers, when our fathers came over the great water they were a
small band. The red man stood upon the rock by the seaside and saw our
fathers. He might have pushed them into the water and drowned them; but
he stretched out his hand to them and said: 'Welcome, white man.' Our
fathers were hungry, and the red man gave them corn and venison. They
were cold, and the red man wrapped them in his blanket. We are now
numerous and powerful, but we remember the kindness of the red men to
our fathers. Brothers, you are welcome; we are glad to see you.
"Brothers, our faces are pale, and your faces are dark, but our hearts
are alike. The Great Spirit has made His children of different colors,
but He loves them all.
"Brothers, you dwell between the Mississippi and Missouri. They are
mighty rivers. They have one branch far East in the Alleghanies and
another far West in the Rocky Mountains, but they flow together at last
into one great stream and ran down into the sea. In like manner the
red man dwells in the West and the white man in the East, by the great
water; but they are all one band, one family. It has many branches; but
one head.
"Brothers, as you entered our council house, you beheld the image of our
great father, Washington. It is a cold stone; it cannot speak to you,
but he was the friend of the red man, and bade his children live in
friendship with their red brethren. He is gone to the world of spirits,
but his words have made a very deep print in our hearts, like the step
of a strong buffalo on the soft clay of the prairie.
"Brother, (addressing Keokuk) I perceive your little son between your
knees. May the Great Spirit preserve his life, my brother. He grows up
before you, like the tender sapling by the side of the great oak. May
they flourish for a long time together; and when the mighty oak is
fallen on the ground may the young tree fill its place in the forest,
and spread out its branches over the tribe.
"Brothers, I make you a short talk and again bid you welcome to our
council hall."
Keokuk rose and made an eloquent address. Several of the other chiefs
spoke, and after them the old war chief, Black Hawk, on whom the large
crowd were looking with intense interest, arose and delivered a short
but dignified address.
Presents were then distributed to them by the Governor. Keokuk received
a splendid sword and a brace of pistols, his son a nice little rifle,
the other chiefs long swords, and Black Hawk a sword and brace of
pistols.
After the close of ceremonies in the Capitol, the Indians gave a
exhibition of the war dance, in the common in front of the Capitol,
in presence of thirty thousand spectators, and then returned to their
quarters.