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[Illustration: Yours faithfully Frank E. Stevens]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE
BLACK HAWK WAR
INCLUDING A REVIEW OF
BLACK HAWK’S LIFE
_Illustrated with upward of three hundred rare and interesting
portraits and views_
BY
FRANK E. STEVENS
FRANK E. STEVENS
1205 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BLDG.
CHICAGO . . ILLINOIS
1903
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1903, by
FRANK E. STEVENS
in the office of the Librarian of Congress at
Washington, D.C.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEAR MOTHER–
This book represents long years
of patient toil from which a
corresponding return is not
expected; it has been a labor of
love. To whom, then, should it be
dedicated but yourself, who spent
so many toilsome years to rear
its author, who may never repay a
fraction of the debt he owes you.
F.E.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: Line of March]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTRODUCTION
In the autumn of 1871, I began the collection of materials for the book
which is just completed; at a time when many original sources existed
from which to draw. Since that time, no opportunity wherein I might see
and talk with persons who were in the Black Hawk campaigns has been
lost, and from those interviews I have been able to gather information,
old letters, commissions, muster rolls and papers obtainable by no
possible system of correspondence.
I have endeavored to be thorough, and to be thorough has required space.
I deplore the necessity which forbids an expression of thanks to each
individual by name who has contributed documents, valuable portraits and
information from which this work has been constructed. I thank them all
as generously as I have borrowed, which has been much. Especially must I
thank Mrs. Catherine Buckmaster Curran, of Alton, Illinois, who
furnished me with a complete set of papers, without which I could never
have finished my work as it should be finished.
Mrs. Colonel William Preston Johnston, of New Orleans, who, at great
inconvenience and sacrifice of time, secured a copy of the journal kept
by Lieut. Albert Sidney Johnston during his service in those campaigns.
Dr. J.F. Snyder, Virginia, Illinois, President State Historical
Society.
Prof. B.F. Shambaugh, Iowa City, Iowa.
Mr. R.G. Thwaites, Madison, Wisconsin.
Charles Aldrich, Des Moines, Iowa.
Miss Caroline M. McIlvaine, Librarian Chicago Historical Society,
Chicago.
CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER I.–Birth, Personal Description and Character of
Black Hawk. Not a Chief. Made a Brave. Expeditions
against the Osages. Death of Py-e-sa. Period of Mourning.
Expedition against the Osages. Expedition against the
Cherokees. Expedition against the Chippewas, Osages and
Kickapoos. The first Appearance of the Americans 17
CHAPTER II.–British Intrigue against the Frontiers. Hatred
of the Americans. Treaty of 1804 25
CHAPTER III.–Treaty of 1804 and Black Hawk’s Version 31
CHAPTER IV.–Treaty of 1804 34
CHAPTER V.–Erection of Fort Madison. Rumors of Indian
Attack. Black Hawk joins Tecumseh. Returns to his Village.
Attacks Fort Madison. The Siege 37
CHAPTER VI.–Black Hawk enlists with the British in the War
of 1812. Deserts. Foster Son story. Keokuk made Chief 41
CHAPTER VII.–Expedition of Governor Clark to Prairie du
Chien. Lieut. Campbell’s Battle 46
CHAPTER VIII.–Major Taylor’s Battle. Battle of the Sink
Hole. Various Murders. British Agents withdrawn from Rock
River Country 52
CHAPTER IX.–Treaty of Portage des Sioux, 1815. Treaty of St.
Louis, 1816 60
CHAPTER X.–Fort Armstrong built. Black Hawk as a Fault
Finder. Annihilation of the Iowas 66
CHAPTER XI.–Treaties of 1822-4-5. Winnebago Outbreak. Attack
on the Boats. Arrest and Discharge 71
CHAPTER XII.–The Military Tract. Perils of Frontier Life.
Gathering Settlements about Black Hawk’s village.
Friction. Attempted Compromise. Complaints. Gov. Reynolds
calls out Militia. Notifies Clark and Gaines.
Correspondence. Gaines at Fort Armstrong 77
CHAPTER XIII.–Council. Militia Organized. March to Black
Hawk’s Village. Flight. Village Burned. Treaty of 1831 92
CHAPTER XIV.–Unrest. Messengers and War Parties sent out.
Attack on the Sioux. They Retaliate. Attack on the
Menominees. A Council 100
CHAPTER XV.–Ne-a-pope’s Mission. Keokuk’s Village. Council.
Black Hawk Moves down Iowa River and up the Mississippi to
Rock River. Atkinson Moves up to Ft. Armstrong 109
CHAPTER XVI.–Council. Atkinson calls for Troops. Reynolds’
Proclamation. Black Hawk Defiant. Gratiot’s Journey 112
CHAPTER XVII.–The Militia Moves to Rock River 116
CHAPTER XVIII.–Roster. Movement up Rock River Begun. The
Prophet’s Village Burned. Forced March to Dixon’s Ferry 122
CHAPTER XIX.–Dixon’s Ferry. Plight of Reynolds’ Messengers.
Stillman’s Defeat 129
CHAPTER XX.–Call for Additional Troops. Burial of the Dead.
Arrival of Atkinson. Lead Mines Militia. Erection of
Forts. Dodge’s March to the Four Lakes Country 139
CHAPTER XXI.–Atkinson Moves up Rock River. Indian Creek
Massacre. Narratives 145
CHAPTER XXII.–General Panic. Independent Companies Raised.
Atkinson’s March Continued. Insubordination. Army
Disbanded. Interim Regiment Raised 159
CHAPTER XXIII.–Various Illinois Murders, including those of
Sample, Payne and the St. Vrain Party 165
CHAPTER XXIV.–Atkinson’s March to Mouth of Fox River.
Dodge’s March to Meet Him. Capt. Iles’ March 172
CHAPTER XXV.–Capt. Snyder’s Battle. Murders in the Lead
Mines Country. Battle of Pecatonica. Capt. Stephenson’s
Battle 176
CHAPTER XXVI.–Attack on Apple River Fort 185
CHAPTER XXVII.–Organization of Forces at Ft. Wilbourn and
Disposition of Same. Murder of Phillips. March to Dixon’s
Ferry 188
CHAPTER XXVIII.– March to Dixon’s Ferry. Dement’s Battle 197
CHAPTER XXIX.–Murders near Ottawa. Posey’s Division Ordered
Forward. Alexander’s Division Ordered to Plum River.
Henry’s Division, with Regulars, Moved 202
CHAPTER XXX.–Consolidation of the Divisions. Capt. Dunn
Shot. Henry, Alexander and Dodge Detached to Move to Ft.
Winnebago. Posey sent to Ft. Hamilton. Disintegration of
Army. Alexander’s Return 208
CHAPTER XXXI.–Ft. Winnebago Reached. Stampede. Henry’s
Treatment of Disobedient Officers. Black Hawk’s Trail to
Westward Discovered. Forced March. Battle of the
Wisconsin. At Blue Mounds 213
CHAPTER XXXII.–Pursuit Resumed. Battle of the Bad Axe 221
CHAPTER XXXIII.–Throckmorton’s Narrative. Atkinson’s Report.
Black Hawk’s Flight. Capture. Delivery to Gen. Street.
Council 226
CHAPTER XXXIV.–Stambaugh’s Expedition 234
CHAPTER XXXV.–Examination of the Indians. Black Hawk a
Prisoner 238
CHAPTER XXXVI.–Scott’s Expedition. Treaty 242
CHAPTER XXXVII.–Movements of the Michigan Militia 243
CHAPTER XXXVIII.–Prison Life. Eastern Trip. Return. Council
at Ft. Armstrong. Black Hawk’s Apology. Black Hawk
Released 259
CHAPTER XXXIX.–Second Trip East. A Quiet Life. July Fourth
Toast at Ft. Madison. Interview with Iowas. Death. Burial.
His Grave Robbed. Bones Recovered. Consumed by Fire. Death
of Madam Black Hawk 268
APPENDIX: Abraham Lincoln in the Black Hawk War 277
APPENDIX: Jefferson Davis in the Black Hawk War 290
LIST OF PORTRAITS AND OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
ABERCROMBIE, LIEUT. J.J. From photograph deposited
by Hon. A.J. Turner, of Portage, Wis., in the
Wisconsin Historical Collections. 293
ALEXANDER, GEN. M.K. From daguerreotype owned by
his daughter, Mrs. J.A. Judson, of Paris, Ill. 192
ANDERSON, LIEUT. ROBERT. From ivory miniature
owned by his daughter, Mrs. E.M.C.A. Lawton,
Washington, D.C.; by her copyrighted in 1901,
and now first published. 293
ARCHER, COL. WILLIAM B. From a steel plate owned
by F.J. Bartlett, Marshall, Ill. 225
ARENZ, FRANCIS. From an oil painting owned by his
son, Albert W. Arenz, of Jacksonville, Ill. 93
ATKINSON, GEN. HENRY. From oil painting owned by
his grandson, Captain B.W. Atkinson, U.S.A Now
first published. 112
BAD AXE BATTLEFIELD. From oil painting owned by
Wisconsin Historical Society. 224
BAILEY, MAJOR DAVID. From oil painting owned by
his son, D.G. Bailey, of Delavan, Ill. Now first
published. 133
BAKER, LIEUT. E.D. U.S. Senator, Hero of Ball’s
Bluff. From rare plate in sketch of his life, by
Joseph Wallace, published in 1870. 130
BAKER, MRS. E.B. From photograph by Chiverton,
Dixon, Ill. She still lives at Dixon, Ill. 137
BALL, CAPT. JAPHET A. From old photograph owned by
John M. Ball, of Chatham, Ill. 130
BARNES, CAPT. ROBERT. From oil painting owned by
R.M. Barnes, of Lacon, Ill. 159
BARNEY, CAPT. BENJAMIN. From photograph made in
1870. 119
BARNSBACK, CAPT. JULIUS L. From daguerreotype made
in 1845, owned by Mrs. Clara P. Jones, of
Edwardsville, Ill. 125
BEACH, MAJOR JOHN. From Fulton’s Red Men of Iowa. 37
BEALL, MAJOR ALEXANDER. From photograph made in
1862, owned by William A. Peak, of Exeter, Ill. 123
BEGGS, REV. STEPHEN R. From “Kirkland’s Chicago.” 167
BENSON, JAMES. Private in Captain McClure’s
Company. At Stillman’s battle. From photograph
owned by McLean County Historical Society. 136
BLACKBURN, COL. JAMES M. From his only portrait. 225
BLACK HAWK (1 and 2). From American Phrenological
Journal for November, 1838. Second number. (3)
From portrait by George Catlin. (4) From
Patterson’s First Edition of Black Hawk’s
Autobiography. (5) From oil painting owned by
Wisconsin Historical Society at Madison by R.M.
Sully. (6) From McKenney and Hall’s Indians. 17
BLACK HAWK’S POWDER HORN. Owned by Iowa Historical
Society at Iowa City. Photographed by Prof. B.F.
Shambaugh. 272
BLACK HAWK’S PROMISSORY NOTE. From the original,
owned by Mrs. Fannie Anderson, of Louisiana, Mo.
Unpaid. 272
BLACK HAWK’S TOWER. As it appears to-day. 272
BLACKWELL, ROBERT. Paymaster. From daguerreotype
owned by Mrs. J.J. Brown, of Vandalia, Ill. 124
BLISS, MAJOR JOHN. From portrait in Minnesota
Historical Society’s rooms at St. Paul. 97
BOONE, CAPT. LEVI D. From an old photograph owned
by C.B. Rhodes, of Hillsboro, Ill. 126
BOONE, COL. NATHAN. Son of Daniel Boone. Only
picture. From daguerreotype loaned by his
grandson, N.B. Craig, of Hanover, Ill. 293
BOUCHARD, EDWARD D. From a tintype made in 1875,
owned by his son, Dr. William L. Bouchard, of
Chicago. Only portrait and now first published. 143
BOYD, JAMES M. Second Lieutenant. From photograph
owned by Dr. H.B. Tanner, of South Kaukauna,
Wis. 235
BRACKEN, LIEUT. CHARLES. From daguerreotype owned
by Thomas Bracken, of Mineral Point, Wis. 175
BRADY, GEN. HUGH. From oil painting owned by
George N. Brady, of Detroit, Mich. Now first
published. 120
BREESE, LIEUT.-COL. SIDNEY. U.S. Senator, Chief
Justice, etc. From his first portrait, an oil,
owned by his son, Sidney S. Breese, Springfield,
Ill., and now first published. 197
BRISTOL, JOHN E. Still alive. From photograph
owned by author. 135
BROWNING, O.H. U.S. Senator, Secretary Interior,
etc. From the engraving published with his life. 119
BUCKMASTER, MAJOR NATHANIEL. From his first
picture, a daguerreotype, owned by his daughter,
Mrs. Catherine Buckmaster Curran, of Alton,
Ill., and now first published. 97
BURNS, CAPT. JAMES. From daguerreotype furnished
by Hon. George Vernor, of Nashville, Ill. 193
BUTLER, CAPT. PETER. From daguerreotype owned by
R.O. Butler, of Monmouth, Ill. 195
CALHOUN, JOHN, of Capt. Goodan’s Company. The
County Surveyor who furnished Abraham Lincoln
with instruments and employment as deputy. He
was president of the Lecompton Constitutional
Convention. From three-fourths length oil
painting owned by Kansas Historical Society,
Topeka. 280
CARLIN, GOV. THOMAS. Then Captain. From oil
portrait in Executive Mansion at Springfield,
Ill. 94
CARPENTER, WILLIAM. Paymaster. From a steel plate. 124
CARTWRIGHT, REV. PETER. Private in Captain Reuben
Brown’s Company. From the plate in his
autobiography. 281
CASEY, ZADOCK. Paymaster. Later Lieut.-Gov. Member
of Congress, etc. From oil painting owned by his
son, Dr. John R. Casey, of Joliet, Ill. 179
CASSELL, ADJUTANT HENRY K. From photograph made in
1863, owned by Mrs. Richard Curphy, of Scranton,
Iowa. 160
CASS, LEWIS. Secretary of War in 1832. From the
engraving made by the U.S. Bureau of Printing
and Engraving. 100
CHETLAIN, A.L. From photograph owned by author. 142
CHETLAIN, LOUIS. Father of last above. Both in
Dodge’s Squadron. From old photograph owned by
the son. 142
CHRISTY, COL. SAMUEL C. From oil portrait owned by
his daughter, Mary F. Scanlan, of St. Louis, Mo. 93
CHOUTEAU, COL. AUGUSTE. From fine plate owned by
grandson, J. Gilman Chouteau, of St. Louis. 32
CHOUTEAU, COL. PIERRE. From oil painting owned by
Pierre Chouteau, of St. Louis. 32
CLARK, LIEUT. MERIWETHER LEWIS. Of Gen. Atkinson’s
Staff. From oil painting owned by Mrs.
Meriwether Lewis Clark, of Louisville, Ky., made
in 1832. 113
CLARK, GOV. WILLIAM. From engraving owned by
grandson, John O’Fallon Clark, of St. Louis. 54
COFFEY, CAPT. ACHILLES. From frontispiece of his
book, entitled, “History of the Regular Baptist
Church,” published in 1877. 190
COPES, WILLIAM. Private in Capt. Covell’s Company.
Still alive. Present at dedication of monument
at Stillman’s battlefield in 1892. From life. 138
COWEN, LIEUT.-COL. WILLIAM. From old portrait
owned by his son, Robert A. Cowen, of Chicago. 159
CRAIG, CAPT. JAMES. From the original, owned by
his son, N.B. Craig, of Hanover, Ill. 141
DANLEY, LEVI. Corporal in Captain McClure’s
Company. At Stillman’s battle. From plate owned
by McLean Co. Hist. Soc. 136
DAVENPORT, GEORGE. An assistant quartermaster of
militia. First settler on Rock Island. From oil
painting in Supervisors’ room at Rock Island. 113
DAVIS, LIEUT. JEFFERSON. From an ivory miniature
owned by Mrs. Davis and copied by her for this
work. 290
DEMENT, MAJOR JOHN. From portrait owned by author. 179
DICKSON, CAPT. JOSEPH. From daguerreotype owned by
his son, Joseph P. Dickson, of Platteville, Wis. 216
DIMMETT, WILLIAM. Private in Capt. Covell’s
Company. At Stillman’s battle. From photograph
owned by McLean Co. Hist. Society. 136
DIXON, ELISHA. Private in Capt. McClure’s Company.
At Stillman’s battle. From photograph owned by
McLean Co. Hist. Society. 136
DIXON’S FERRY. From oil painting owned by Miss F.
Louise Dixon, of Dixon, Ill. 129
DIXON, JOHN. From photograph owned by author. 129
DODGE, A.C. U.S. Senator, Minister to Spain, etc.
From photograph owned by his son, W.W. Dodge, of
Burlington, Iowa. 299
DODGE, COL. HENRY. Governor, U.S. Senator, etc.
From portrait owned by his grandson, W.W. Dodge,
Burlington, Iowa. 141
DODGE, COL. HENRY. In uniform as a U.S. Ranger, by
George Catlin. From the original, owned by W.W.
Dodge, of Burlington, Iowa. 141
DUNCAN, GEN. JOSEPH. Later Governor of Illinois.
From the oil painting in Executive Mansion, in
Springfield. 94
DUNLAP, ADJUTANT SAMUEL. From daguerreotype owned
by Mrs. J.M. Wagner, of Newman, Ill. 192
DUNN, CAPT. CHARLES. Chief Justice, etc. From the
oil painting in the rooms of the Supreme Court
of Wisconsin, at Madison. 191
EATON, LIEUT. NATHANIEL J. From daguerreotype made
in 1848, owned by his daughter, Mrs. Harriet
Eaton Root, of Alton, Ill. 113
EDDY, HENRY. Quartermaster-General. From
daguerreotype owned by his son (recently
deceased), John M. Eddy, of Shawneetown, Ill. 115
EDWARDS, LIEUT.-COL. ABRAHAM. President First
Legislative Council Mich. Ter. From portrait
owned by Mich. Pioneer and Hist. Soc., Lansing. 255
EDWARDS, CYRUS. From a steel plate owned by his
daughter, Mrs. George K. Hopkins, of Alton, Ill. 122
EDWARDS, NINIAN. First Governor of Illinois
Territory, U.S. Senator, etc. From portrait in
Executive Mansion, at Springfield. 54
ELKIN, CAPT. W.F. From an old picture owned by Lee
B. Elkin, of Springfield, Ill. 95
EWING, MAJOR W.L.D. U.S. Senator, etc. From
miniature made in 1835, owned by his daughter,
Mrs. Margaret M. Dale, of Kansas City, Mo. 224
FEAMAN, CAPT. JACOB. From photograph owned by
Elias Feaman, of Chester, Ill. 198
FLOOD, CAPT. WILLIAM G. From old photograph owned
by his daughter, Mrs. W.E. Boswell, of Carthage,
Ill. 123
FORD, THOMAS. Governor, Etc. Private in
Whiteside’s Battalion in campaign of 1831. From
painting in Executive Mansion, Springfield, Ill. 94
FORT ARMSTRONG. From an original etching by Mrs.
Alice C. Walker, of Moline, Ill., and loaned for
use in this work. 66
FORT CRAWFORD. From the oil painting made by
Arthur Brower. 121
FORT DEARBORN. From picture in rooms of Chicago
Historical Society. 167
FORT DIXON. From oil painting owned by author. 161
FORT MADISON. From a rare print in the “Annals of
Iowa,” furnished by Mr. Charles Aldrich, of Des
Moines. 37
FORT MADISON. Ground plan, from drawings in the
War Department, at Washington. 37
FORT SNELLING. From oil painting in collection of
Minn. Historical Society at St. Paul. 77
FORT WINNEBAGO. From painting owned by Hon. A.J.
Turner, of Portage, Wis. 308
FRY, COL. JACOB. From an old photograph owned by
his son, William M. Fry, of Carrollton, Ill. 95
GAINES, GEN. E.P. From engraving after the
portrait by J.W. Jarvis. 93
GEAR, CAPT. H.H. From photograph owned by Gen.
John C. Smith, Chicago. 299
GILLESPIE, ADJUTANT JOSEPH. From daguerreotype
owned by C.E. Gillespie, of Edwardsville, Ill. 96
GILLHAM, LIEUT.-COL. JAMES. From photograph owned
by his son, W.A. Gillham, of Riggston, Ill. 196
GIVENS, CAPT. WILLIAM T. From an old tintype owned
by his son, Robert S. Givens, of Waverly, Ill. 126
GRATIOT, LIEUT. CHARLES. Of Capt. Dowling’s
Company. From daguerreotype owned by his son,
Henry R. Gratiot, Gratiot, Wis. 142
GRATIOT, COL. HENRY. From oil painting owned by
Wisconsin Historical Society, at Madison.
Furnished by Hon. Hempstead Washburne, of
Chicago, a grandson. 115
GRATIOT, CAPT. J.R.B. From an ivory miniature
painted by the Swiss artist, Peter
Reinderpacker, owned by daughter of Captain G.,
Mrs. Ninette Hempstead, of De Soto, Mo. 141
GRIDLEY, LIEUT. ASAHEL. Of Capt. Covell’s Company.
At Stillman’s battle. From photograph owned by
McLean County Historical Society, of
Bloomington, Ill. 135
GRIGNON, AUGUSTIN. From oil painting in Wisconsin
Historical Collections. 235
HAACKE, DAVID. Of Capt. David W. Barnes’ Company.
Dressed in uniform of captain of militia of the
time, to which office he was appointed in 1833. 132
HAINES, ALFRED. Of Capt. John G. Adams’ Company.
From daguerreotype owned by his brother, James
Haines, of Pekin, Ill. 135
HAINES, JONATHAN. Of Capt. Adams’ Company. From
daguerreotype owned by his brother, James
Haines, of Pekin, Ill. At Stillman’s battle,
with his brother, next above. 135
HALL, OLIVER W. From tintype owned by his
daughter, Dr. Lucinda H. Corr, of Carlinville,
Ill. 133
HAMILTON, COL. WILLIAM S. From the original, owned
by the Wisconsin Historical Society, at Madison. 182
HARDIN, COL. JOHN J. From oil painting made of him
in 1832, owned by his son, Gen. M.D. Hardin, of
Chicago. 95
HARNEY, CAPT. W.S. From his first portrait done in
oil in 1825, owned by Mrs. John M. Harney, of
St. Louis, Mo., and now first published. 120
HARRISON, GOV. WILLIAM HENRY. From the oil
portrait owned by Betty Harrison Eaton, of North
Bend, Ohio. 32
HAWS, CAPT. WILLIAM. From photograph owned by J.W.
Thornton, of Magnolia, Ill. 159
HEADEN, WILLIAM. Surgeon. From oil painting owned
by Walter Headen, of Shelbyville, Ill. 124
HOGAN, LIEUT. JOHN S.C. Of Capt. Kercheval’s
Company. Second Postmaster of Chicago. From
“Kirkland’s Chicago.” 120
HOLLIDAY, CAPT. JOEL. From an old tintype owned by
his son, James H. Holliday, of Rileyville. 190
HORN, REV. REDDICK. From his only picture, owned
by H.M. Horn, of Republican City, Neb., and now
first published. 137
HORN, SYLVIA HALL. From photograph owned by her
granddaughter, Mrs. Samuel Dunavan, of Leland,
Ill. 154
HORNEY, SAMUEL. Quartermaster. From portrait
secured by John S. Bagby, of Rushville, Ill. 123
HUBBARD, LIEUT. GURDON S. Of Capt. Alex. Bailey’s
Company. From photograph by Mosher. 175
HUSSEY, NATHAN. Brigade Wagonmaster. From
beautiful daguerreotype owned by grandson, J.Y.
Hussey, of Williamsville, Ill. 195
HUSSEY, WILLIAM S. Fourth Sergeant of Capt.
Claywell’s Company. From old photograph owned by
J.Y. Hussey, of Williamsville, Ill. 198
ILES, CAPT. ELIJAH. In whose company Abraham
Lincoln was a private. From photograph made by
Anderson, of Springfield. 175
IRWIN, LIEUT. ALEXANDER J. From oil painting in
rooms of Wisconsin Historical Society, at
Madison. 235
JACKSON, ANDREW. President in 1832. From engraving
made from portrait by Earl. 54
JAMES, MAJOR THOMAS. From oil painting owned by
his son, Dr. Lewis James, of Racola, Mo. 143
JEFFERSON BARRACKS. From an old print–very rare. 100
JENKINS, CAPT. A.M. From oil painting owned by his
daughter-in-law, Mrs. M.E. Jenkins, of
Washington, D.C. 196
JONES, COL. GABRIEL. From an old tintype owned by
Adelia G. Gordon, of Chester, Ill. 217
JONES, GEORGE W. U.S. Senator, etc. From his first
picture, owned by his daughter, Mrs. J. Linn
Deuss, of Dubuque, Iowa. 299
JOHNSTON, LIEUT. ALBERT SIDNEY. From an ivory
miniature in the family of Mrs. William Preston
Johnston, of New Orleans. Published formerly by
the “Century Company.” 225
JOHNSTON, LIEUT. JOSEPH E. From the steel plate in
his “Narrative.” 246
KE-O-KUK. From the oil painting–the only one made
of him from life–secured by I.G. Baker, of St.
Louis. 27
LECLAIRE, ANTOINE. The Interpreter. From oil
painting in Court House, at Davenport, Iowa. 27
LEE, WILLIAM H. Of Capt. Samuel Huston’s Company.
Still alive. Remembers distinctly that Gen.
Atkinson swore in the Illinois troops at the
mouth of Rock River, including the company of
Lincoln. The author is under many obligations to
him for valuable information. 281
LETTER OF MAJOR NATHANIEL BUCKMASTER determining
what officer swore Capt. Abraham Lincoln into
the U.S. service. Owned by Mrs. Catherine
Buckmaster Curran, of Alton, Ill. 284
LINCOLN, CAPT. ABRAHAM. From his first picture, a
daguerreotype, owned by Hon. Robert T. Lincoln,
of Chicago. Copyrighted 1895-6 by S.S. McClure
Company. Use permitted here. 277
LINCOLN, CAPT. ABRAHAM. Discharge signed by him.
From the collection of Mr. Oldroyd, of
Washington. 281
LINCOLN, CAPT. ABRAHAM. Muster roll made by him
and in the possession of the author. 279
LOGAN, DR. JOHN B. Father of Gen. John A. Logan.
From oil painting owned by J.V. Logan, of
Menard, Ill. 196
LONG, MAJOR THOMAS. From oil painting owned by his
son, T.W. Long, of Taylorville, Ill. 119
LOWE, CAPT. GIDEON. From oil painting owned by his
granddaughter, Mrs. E.S. Purdy, of Portage, Wis. 128
MACOMB, GEN. ALEXANDER. Major-General commanding
U.S.A in 1832. From engraving after the painting
by T. Sully. 308
MADDING, CAPT. CHAMPION S. From daguerreotype
owned by his son, L.B. Madding, of Woodstock,
Wis. 194
MAP OF ILLINOIS. Showing marches, forts, etc. Made Facing
by author. Introduction.
MAP OF ILLINOIS. Showing “Military Tract.” Made in
1822, after LeSage’s Atlas. 77
MAP OF THE LEAD MINES DISTRICT. Made in 1832. From
Tanner’s Guide. 140
MARSAC, CAPT. JOSEPH. From oil painting owned by
Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society,
Lansing. Capt. Marsac was also interpreter at
the making of the Cass Treaty. 255
MASON, CAPT. R.B. From miniature made in 1846,
owned by his daughter, Miss Nannie Mason, of
Louisville, Ky. 225
MASON, GOV. S.T. From oil portrait which hangs in
the State House at Lansing, Mich. 255
MATHEWS, CAPT. CYRUS. From photograph owned by
Mrs. James R. Mathews, of Jacksonville, Ill. 160
MAUGHS, CAPT. MILTON M. From a tintype made in
1850, owned by W.B. Langley, of Chicago. Captain
Maughs was founder of Mauston, Wis. 139
MAYO, CAPT. JONATHAN. From old photograph
furnished by LeRoy Wiley, of Paris, Ill. 193
MAYO, WALTER L. 194
MENARD, CAPT. PETER or PIERRE. From daguerreotype
owned by A.H. Menard, of Tremont, Ill. 160
MOFFETT, CAPT. THOMAS. From photograph owned by
George M. Brinkerhoff, of Springfield, Ill. 198
MONUMENT AT INDIAN CREEK MASSACRE. From photograph
owned by Mrs. Samuel Dunavan, of Leland, Ill. 154
MONUMENT AT KELLOGG’S GROVE. From photograph owned
by J.B. Timms. 175
MONUMENT AT STILLMAN’S BATTLEFIELD. From
photograph owned by author. 132
MORRISON, LIEUT. JOHN. Father of Hon. William R.
Morrison. From photograph owned by latter. Of
Capt. J.S. Briggs’ Company. 197
MUNSON, RACHEL HALL. From a photograph made by
W.E. Bowman, of Ottawa, in 1865, and now owned
by author. 154
MCCLERNAND, JOHN A. Assistant Brigade
Quartermaster. From daguerreotype made in 1843,
when he was in Congress. Owned by his son, Col.
E.J. McClernand, U.S.A Never before published. 190
MCCONNEL, MAJOR MURRAY. From oil painting owned by
his daughter, Mrs. Lilla M. Boothby. 217
MCCULLOUGH, WILLIAM. Of Capt. Covell’s Company. At
Stillman’s battle. From plate owned by McLean
County His. Soc., at Bloomington. 138
MCKEE, WILLIAM. Private of the company of Capt.
Ralls. Same regiment as Capt. Lincoln. 138
MCMURTRY, CAPT. WILLIAM. From an old
daguerreotype. 195
NAPER, CAPT. JOSEPH. From daguerreotype owned by
C.A. Naper, of Naperville, Ill. 167
NEWHALL, DR. HORATIO. From photograph owned by
Mrs. William C. Barrett, of Galena, Ill. 140
ONSTOTT, CAPT. JOHN. From daguerreotype owned by
J.H. Songer, of Xenia, Ill. 191
ORDER of May 22, to Whiteside. Special No. 11. 162
ORDER of May 25, to cause injury. 132
ORDER to forbid firing of arms. 280
OREAR, GEORGE. From photograph owned by his son,
T.B. Orear, of Jacksonville, Ill. 123
ORENDORF, JAMES K. Private in the company of Capt.
Covell. At Stillman’s battle. From daguerreotype
owned by McLean County Hist. Soc., Bloomington
Ill. 138
OTTAWA. At the time of the Black Hawk War. From an
old sketch owned by W.E. Bowman, of Ottawa, and
now first published. 130
PARKER, LEONARD B. Quartermaster. From rare old
silhouette owned by his son, George W. Parker,
of St. Louis, and now first published. 193
PARKINSON, CAPT. D.M. From oil painting owned by
granddaughter, Miss M.L. Parkinson, of Mineral
Point, Wis., and now first published. 217
PARKINSON, NATHANIEL T. Of Dodge’s Squadron. From
tintype owned by Miss M.L. Parkinson, of Mineral
Point, Wis. 142
PARMENTER, ISAAC. Adjutant. From daguerreotype
furnished by H.T. Goddard, of Mt. Carmel, Ill. 194
PA-SHE-PA-HO, CHIEF. From “McKenney and Hall’s
Indians.” 27
PATTERSON, J.B. From photograph owned by his
daughter, Miss Tina Patterson, of Peoria, Ill. 27
PECATONICA BATTLEFIELD. From oil painting owned by
Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison. 182
PECATONICA–Plan of battlefield. From History of
Henry Dodge, by William Salter. 182
PIKE, LIEUT. ZEBULON M. From the engraving by
Edwin, in a “History of the War of 1812.“ 32
POINTER, WILLIAM, of the company of Capt. Seth
Pratt. Still alive. He was an old acquaintance
of Capt. Lincoln. 280
POWELL, CAPT. DANIEL. From an old photograph owned
by H.B. Trafton, of Norris City, Ill., a
grandson. 195
POWELL, LIEUT. STARKEY R., of the company of Capt.
William B. Smith. From daguerreotype owned by
his daughter, Mrs. Mary Catherine Peffer, of
Rochester, N.Y. 125
PREUITT, CAPT. SOLOMON–later Lieut. Col. in
campaign of 1832. From the “History of Madison
County.” 97
PRICE, CAPT. DANIEL. 127
PRICKETT, COL. DAVID. From oil painting owned by
daughter, Miss Christiana G. Prickett, of
Springfield, Ill. 122
PUGH, CAPT. ISAAC C. From old photograph owned by
Mrs. Mira H. Marks, of Decatur, Ill. 127
RAUM, MAJOR JOHN. From daguerreotype owned by his
son, Gen. Green B. Raum, of Chicago. 190
REMANN, MAJOR FREDERICK. From photograph owned by
Mrs. Fred G. Remann, of Vandalia, Ill. 224
REYNOLDS, GOV. JOHN. From the plate in his “My Own
Times.” 93
RICE, MATTHEW, of Capt. Solomon Hunter’s Company.
From photograph owned by his daughter, Mrs. M.E.
Smith. 198
RICHARDSON, W.A. Ass’t Quartermaster Maj. James
Odd Battalion. Lieut.-Col. Mexican War, Member
of Congress, Gov. of Nebraska, and U.S. Senator
to succeed Stephen A. Douglas. From photograph
owned by his son, W.A. Richardson, of Quincy,
Ill. 127
ROBINSON, ALEXANDER, Chief of the Pottowatomies.
From “Kirkland’s Chicago.” 166
ROBISON, JOHN K., of Capt. Gear’s Company. From
photograph owned by his daughter, Mrs. Amelia
McFarland, of Mendota, Ill. 299
ROMAN, RICHARD, Surgeon. From photograph owned by
Richard Roman, of Washington, D.C. 96
ROSS, FIRST SERGEANT LEWIS W., of Capt. John
Sain’s Company. From photograph owned by his
son, P.C. Ross, of Lewiston, Ill. 137
ROSS, CAPT. THOMAS B. From oil painting owned by
grandson, Robert W. Ross, of Vandalia, Ill. 192
ROSS, COL. WILLIAM. From picture owned by Hon.
A.C. Matthews, of Pittsfield, Ill. 119
ROUNDTREE, CAPT. HIRAM. From photograph owned by
his daughter, Mrs. Etta Roundtree Stubblefield,
of Hillsboro, Ill. 143
ROUNDTREE, CAPT. JOHN H. From photograph owned by
Miss Lilly M. Roundtree, of Platteville, Wis. 143
RUTLEDGE, THOMAS O., of Capt. Covell’s Company. At
Stillman’s battle. From old photograph owned by
McLean Co. Hist. Soc., Bloomington, Ill. 137
SANDFORD, CAPT. ISAAC. From oil painting owned by
O.S. Sandford, Tuscola, Ill. 191
SCALES, CAPT. S.H. From photograph owned by Samuel
Scales, of Shullsburg, Wis. 140
SCOTT, MAJ. GEN. WINFIELD. From his autobiography.
Made of him about the time of the Black Hawk
War. 246
SCOTT, MAJ.-GEN. WINFIELD. Headquarters at Ft.
Armstrong. 246
SEMPLE, JAMES. Later U.S. Senator, etc. From
“History of Edwards County.” 96
SHA-BO-NA, or SHAB-BO-NA. Spelled both ways in
this work, as both are used by the best
authorities. One “b” should, however, be
considered preferable. From an old tintype owned
by Hon. George M. Hollenback, of Aurora, Ill.
The last picture made of the old Chief, during
the first week of July, 1859, just prior to his
death. 166
SHELLEDY, COL. STEPHEN B. From old photograph
owned by Margaret I. Vance, of Cresco, Iowa. 192
SHULL, JESSE W. One of the oldest traders of
Northern Illinois. Went to the lead mines in
1819. From old photograph owned by Col. E.C.
Townsend, of Shullsburg, Wis., of which city
Shull was founder. He was a private in Capt.
Enoch Duncan’s Company. 140
SIMPSON, CAPT. GIDEON. From oil portrait owned by
Mrs. J.H. King, a granddaughter, of
Collinsville, Ill. 125
SMITH, CAPT. HENRY, U.S.A From old portrait, made
in 1831, owned by his sister, Katharine Smith
Sewall, of Watertown, N.Y. 113
SMITH, COL. T.W. From the oil painting in the
rooms of the Chicago Historical Society. 196
SNELLING, COL. JOSIAH. From Appleton’s Cyclopedia
of American Biography. Used by permission. 77
SNYDER, CAPT. ADAM W. From a rare ivory miniature
owned by his son, Dr. J.F. Snyder, of Virginia,
Ill. 179
STAHL, SERGEANT FREDERICK. From “History of Jo
Daviess County.” 139
STAPP, COL. JAMES T.B. From photograph owned by
Mr. Guy Stapp, of Chicago. 122
STAPP, WYATT B. From oil painting furnished for
this book by Mr. Guy Stapp, of Chicago. 133
STEPHENSON, MAJOR JAMES W. From oil painting owned
by Mrs. William Hempstead, of St. Louis. 179
STEPHENSON, CAPT. WILLIAM J. From photograph owned
by Alexander H. Brown, of Ashley, Ill. 191
STEVENS, FRANK E. From a photograph by Waters,
Chicago. Frontispiece
STEWART, COL. HART L. From “Kirkland’s Chicago.” 235
STILLMAN’S BATTLEFIELD. From recent photograph of
old cut, by Oliver W. Hall, who was upon the
scene the following day. Done in colors for this
work by Mrs. Chas. C. Dunlap, of Chicago. 134
STILLMAN, COL. ISAIAH. From his only portrait, a
daguerreotype, owned by his daughter, Mrs. Mary
E. Barber, of Libertyville, Iowa, and now first
published. 133
STRAWN, JEREMIAH. From photograph owned by Susan
S. Dent, his daughter, Chicago. 160
STRAWN, COL. JOHN. From photograph furnished by
Mr. J.S. Thompson, of Lacon, Ill. 159
STREET, GEN. JOSEPH M. From the “Annals of Iowa,”
furnished by Mr. Chas. Aldrich, of Des Moines,
Iowa. 100
STRODE, COL. JAMES M. From a rare ivory miniature,
owned by his daughter, Mrs. Luella Strode Howe,
of London, Eng. Copied especially for this work,
and now first published. 139
STUART, MAJ. JOHN T. From the first daguerreotype
brought to Illinois, owned by his widow–now
deceased–and loaned by her to the author. 94
TAYLOR, MAJOR ZACHARY. From the engraving made by
the Bureau of Printing and Engraving at
Washington. 54
TAYLOR, LIEUT. COL. His headquarters at Fort
Crawford. 128
CC
THOMAS, COL. JOHN. From steel plate in “History of
St. Clair County.” 122
THOMAS, CAPT. WILLIAM. From daguerreotype owned by
his daughter, Mrs. Belle Flynn, of Carmi, Ill. 194
THOMAS, COL. WILLIAM. From photograph owned by
H.E. Rusk, of Jacksonville, Ill. 95
THOMPSON, CAPT. JAMES. From an old photograph
owned by a son in Chester, Ill. 197
TOWNSEND FAMILY. Early settlers in the lead mines,
and all of them, brothers, served in the Black
Hawk War in Dodge’s squadron. Three of them
served in the Winnebago war of 1827. H.S.
Townsend, only recently deceased, was at the
battle of the Pecatonica. 144
TWIGGS, MAJ. D.E. From a photograph obtained from
Hon. A.J. Turner, of Portage, Wis., and now
owned by the Wis. Hist. Society, at Madison. 120
VAUGHAN, JAMES W. From photograph owned by his
son, G.W. Vaughan, of Sullivan, Ill. 125
VERNOR, Z.H. In the campaign of 1831, under Capt.
William Moore. From oil painting owned by his
son, Hon. George Vernor, of Nashville, Ill. 96
WA-BO-KI-E-SHIEK, the PROPHET. From oil painting
from life by R.M. Sully while imprisoned at
Fortress Monroe. Now owned by the Wisconsin
Historical Society, at Madison. 115
WAKEFIELD, JOHN A. Distinguished for services in
the war and for writing in 1834 (published at
Jacksonville, Ill., the same year), the first
history of the same. From his only portrait,
owned by his daughter, Mrs. Emily Terry, of St.
Paul, Minn., and now first published. 139
WALKER, CAPT. GEORGE E. First Sheriff of La Salle
County. From photograph made by W.E. Bowman, of
Ottawa, and now first published. 166
WA-PEL-LO, or WAU-PE-LA, CHIEF. From “McKenney and
Hall’s Indians.” 308
WESTBROOK, REV. SAMUEL, of Capt. Holliday’s
Company. Still alive, and who has furnished much
information for this book. 193
WARREN, CAPT. PETER. From a very rare tintype,
owned by a grandson, W.W. Warren, of Windsor,
Ill. 126
WAU-BAN-SE, or WAU-BAN-SEE. From “McKenney and
Hall’s Indians.” 166
WHEELER, CAPT. ERASTUS. From old tintype owned by
his daughter, Mrs. W.W. Erwin, of Minneapolis,
Minn. 97
WHISTLER, MAJOR WILLIAM. From “Kirkland’s
Chicago.” 246
WHITESIDE, GEN. SAMUEL. From the only picture ever
made of him–a very rare tintype–owned by his
daughter, Mrs. J.A. Henderson, of Mt. Auburn,
and now first published. 115
WHITLOCK, MAJOR JAMES. From a beautiful ivory
miniature owned by Mrs. Eliza A. Greenough, of
Marshall, Ill. 124
WILLIAMS, ARCHIBALD, of Capt. Flood’s Company. One
of Illinois’ most distinguished men. From old
portrait owned by his son, John H. Williams, of
Quincy, Ill. 127
WILLIAMS, GEN. JOHN R. From oil painting in rooms
of Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, at
Lansing. 255
WILSON, LIEUT. GEORGE, chum of Lieut. Jefferson
Davis, who carried the note from Lieut. Davis to
Miss Taylor which arranged for their marriage.
From portrait owned by son, Capt. George Wilson,
of Lexington, Mo. 293
WINTERS, CAPT. NATHAN. From photograph owned by
grandson, G.L. Winters, of Trenton, Mo. 126
WISCONSIN HEIGHTS, BATTLEFIELD. From the picture
owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, at
Madison. 216
WISCONSIN HEIGHTS–Plan of the battlefield. From
the “Life of Henry Dodge,” by William Salter. 216
WOOD, JOHN. Later Governor of Illinois. Private in
Capt. Flood’s Company. From photograph owned by
D.C. Wood, of Quincy, Ill. 217
WOOD, MAJ. JOHN D. From photograph furnished by
Hon. George Vernor, of Nashville, Ill. 197
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: BLACK HAWK.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER I.
BIRTH–PERSONAL DESCRIPTION AND CHARACTER OF BLACK HAWK–NOT A CHIEF–MADE
A BRAVE–EXPEDITIONS AGAINST THE OSAGES–DEATH OF PY-E-SA–PERIOD OF
MOURNING–EXPEDITION AGAINST THE OSAGES–EXPEDITION AGAINST THE
CHEROKEES–EXPEDITION AGAINST THE CHIPPEWAS, OSAGES AND
KICKAPOOS–THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE AMERICANS.
Black Hawk’s name, as given in his autobiography, was
Ma-ka-tai-she-kia-kiak[1], and, without reference to the many renditions
of it by various writers, is the version that will be adopted in this
work as nearest authentic. He was born in the year 1767 at the Sac or
Sauk village, located on the north bank of Rock River in the State of
Illinois, about three miles above its confluence with the Mississippi.
His father, Py-e-sa, a grandson of Na-na-ma-kee or Thunder (a descendant
of other Thunders), was born near Montreal, Canada, where the Great
Spirit was reputed in Indian lore to have first placed the great Sac
nation. Black Hawk was a full blood Sac, five feet eleven inches tall in
his moccasins; of broad but meager build[2] and capable of great
endurance. His features were pinched and drawn, giving unusual
prominence to the cheek bones and a Roman nose, itself pronounced. The
chin was sharp. The mouth was full and inclined to remain open in
repose. His eyes were bright, black and restless, glistening as they
roamed during a conversation. Above these rested no eyebrows. The
forehead was given the appearance of unusual fullness and height from
the fact that all hair was plucked from the scalp, with the single
exception of the scalp lock, to which, on occasions of state, was
fastened a bunch of eagle feathers. In his later years it was his boast
that he had worn the lock with such prominence to tempt an enemy to
fight for it and to facilitate its removal should he be slain in the
encounter. This statement, however, must be received as a boast and
nothing more, because among the Sacs the custom of plucking from the
scalp all hairs save the scalp lock was general and not confined to
Black Hawk’s redoubtable person, as he would have us believe. J.C.
Beltrami, the Italian traveler, who ascended the Mississippi in 1823,
stopping at all the Indian villages, particularly Black Hawk’s upon Rock
River, which he reached May 10th, has this to say, which is interesting:
“The faces of the Saukees, although exhibiting features characteristic
of their savage state, are not disagreeable, and they are rather well
made than otherwise. Their size and structure, which are of the middle
kind, indicate neither peculiar strength nor weakness. Their heads are
rather small; that part called by French anatomists _voute orbitaire_
has in general no hair except a small tuft upon the pineal gland, like
that of the Turks; this gives the forehead an appearance of great
elevation. Their eyes are small and their eyebrows thin; the cornea
approaches rather to yellow, the pupil to red; they are the link between
those of the orang-outang and ours. Their ears are sufficiently large to
bear all the jewels, etc., with which they are adorned; two foxes’ tails
dangled from those of the Great Eagle. I have seen others to which were
hung bells, heads of birds and dozens of buckles, which penetrated the
whole cartilaginous part from top to bottom. Their noses are large and
flat, like those of the nations of eastern Asia; their nostrils are
pierced and ornamented like their ears. The maxillary bones, or
pommettes, are very prominent. The under jaw extends outwards on both
sides. Their mouths are rather large; their teeth close set, and of the
finest enamel; their lips a little inverted. Their necks are regularly
formed; they have large bellies and narrow chests, so that their bodies
are generally larger below than above. Their feet and hands are well
proportioned. Except the tuft on the head, which we have already
remarked, they have no hair on any part of the body. Books which deal
greatly in the marvelous convert this into an extraordinary phenomenon,
but the fact is that, from a superstition common to all savages, they
pluck it out, and, as they begin at an early age and use the most
perservering means for its extirpation, nothing is left but a soft
down.”
With this personal description of Black Hawk, it may be well to add the
following, published in the “Annals of Iowa,” 3rd series, Vol. 4, page
195: “Bones of Black Hawk.–These bones, which were stolen from the grave
about a year since, have been recovered and are now in the Governor’s
office. The wampum, hat,[4] etc., which were buried with the old chief,
have been returned with the bones. It appears that they were taken to
St. Louis and there cleaned; they were then sent to Quincy to a dentist
to be put up and wired previous to being sent to the East. The dentist
was cautioned not to deliver them to anyone until a requisition should
be made by Governor Lucas. Governor Lucas made the necessary requisition
and they were sent up a few days since by the Mayor of Quincy and are
now in the possession of the Governor. He has sent word to
Na-she-as-kuk, Black Hawk’s son, or to the family, and some of them will
probably call for them in a few days. Mr. Edgerton, the phrenologist,
has taken an exact drawing of the skull, which looks very natural, and
has also engraved it on a reduced scale, which will shortly appear on
his new chart. Destructiveness, combativeness, firmness and
philoprogenitiveness are, phrenologically speaking, very strongly
developed. Burlington Hawk Eye, Dec. 10, 1840.”[3]
An intimate knowledge of Black Hawk is denied us. The little known of
him prior to 1832 is derived from less than a dozen sources, the most
important being his autobiography;[5] the others, nearly all military,
are to be found in treaties and the records of the war department. A few
settlers only knew him, because settlers about his haunts in those days
were exceedingly scarce. And so it has come to pass that his character
has been universally judged by the contact with him during the last five
or six years of his long life, while he was in a sense a captive,
brooding over his fallen estate, while the drapery of an eternal evening
was fast falling about him. At such an age, shorn of power, chafing
under restrictions, disgruntled at the supremacy of his ancient enemy
Keokuk, who had answered for his good behavior, the old man’s ambitions
crushed, he was naturally a distressing object, evoking that pity which
so universally appeals to an American and is so surely allowed to cover
a multitude of sins. Those few last years have been thus carelessly
permitted to become the monument to the man, and those who drove him
from power have been harshly judged or jocularly denominated “carpet
soldiers,” as much as to say the pioneers had never suffered hardships
nor endured wrongs. Justice to those whose wives and children had been
butchered, whose fathers and brothers had been burned at the stake,
demands that all the truth be told and the reason given why those
settlers, infuriated at the loss of two successive crops from Black
Hawk’s perfidy, finally drove his band into the Mississippi River at the
mouth of the Bad Axe and almost annihilated it.
It has been written that he possessed a mind of unusual strength, but
slow and plodding, with little genius and few talents to manage a great
enterprise in war.[6] The influence to sustain such a paradox, as well
as kindred irregularities and disorders of the man’s mind, may be
attributed to the fact that he was a confirmed hypochondriac, morbidly
regarding as frivolous everything save war. He was discontented and
reckless, envious of others with greater influence or name, and in
meeting questions in or out of the council with such men as Keokuk he
was churlish to a degree unless his individual will ruled. While it must
candidly be owned that the whites have been guilty of the most revolting
injustices to other Indians, notably Shabona, the same cannot be pleaded
for Black Hawk. He was found making and breaking engagements and
treaties[7] the greater part of his very long life, and then, when
retribution was imminent, he hoisted flags of truce down to August 2d,
1832, when his power for further mischief was forever crushed.
The reputation which he has established in Indian annals comes not from
any sacrifice he made for his people, for never in his life did he make
one. Neither comes it from his struggles for an oppressed race, for he
never conceived a solitary scheme for its amelioration. He had never a
lofty aspiration for his nation. His every venture was made for personal
aggrandizement or popularity. Tecumseh dreamed of a great confederation;
not to become a leader. Cornstalk, Logan and Pontiac were ambitious for
their people, but Black Hawk never. Black Hawk said of Keokuk that the
latter was a groveling sycophant, but Keokuk was the most powerful
orator of his race, and, penetrating the inevitable destiny of the
whites, he conformed to it and used his great genius to gain for his
people the greatest good. While Black Hawk was stolidly plotting for
war, Keokuk was planning to secure for his people good homes and larger
annuities, and these he secured, to their very great benefit. Black
Hawk’s prominence comes from notoriety alone.
In his various conflicts with the whites he was invariably the
aggressor. The unfortunate affair which resulted in the death of his
so-called adopted son cannot be, by any conceivable logic, tortured into
an exception, as we shall presently see. After the treaty of 1804 he and
his band were permitted to remain unmolested upon the ceded lands year
after year and decade after decade, a license rarely allowed and, as it
proved, a thoroughly mistaken policy. He received his yearly annuities
and retained the lands for which the annuities were given, literally
eating his cake and keeping it. His passions were many, but the
consuming passion of his life was hatred of the Americans, a hatred
without cause and as unjustifiable and unreasonable as man’s baser
passions are always found to be. Yet this may not be surprising, fed as
he was by his devouring gloom and restless, war-like spirit. The mantle
of charity has many a time before and since covered graver faults; so
let it be with Black Hawk’s, for it is said of him that in his domestic
life he was a kind husband and father, and in his transactions with his
people he was upright and honest,[8] if he was not ambitious for their
elevation.
Black Hawk was not a chief of the Sac nation.[9] He was simply a brave.
His father was the tribal medicine man, and whatever standing Black Hawk
may have secured was derived from his personal bravery and daring as a
warrior, which have never been questioned. Possessed, as we have seen,
of a martial spirit, he was ever ready and eager to lead war parties of
young companions to battle, and one or two engagements alone were
sufficient firmly to establish him in that leadership which bravery
fitted him to hold over his followers in war.
At fifteen, having distinguished himself by wounding an enemy, he was
permitted to paint and wear feathers and join the rank of the
Braves.[10] About the year 1783 he united in an expedition against the
Osages and had the fortune to kill and scalp one of the enemy, for which
youthful act of valor he was for the first time permitted to mingle in
the scalp-dance. As one exploit followed another his desire for blood
became insatiable, and from his own account, the number of the enemy
slain by him staggers credulity.
A short time after the ’83 tragedy–“a few moons,” as he puts it–Black
Hawk was leader of a party of seven which attacked a band of one hundred
Osages, killed one of their number and retreated without loss, Black
Hawk taking the credit for this fatality to his personal valor. His
taste for war, coupled with his prowess, attracted notice from others,
and very presently he was found marching at the head of one hundred and
eighty braves against the Osage village on the Missouri. Finding it
deserted, the greater number of his young followers became dissatisfied,
abandoned the enterprise and returned home, but Black Hawk continued,
and, with but five followers, came upon the Osages, killed and scalped
one man and a boy and then returned home. In consequence of this mutiny
he has told us he was not again able to raise sufficient force to move
against the Osages until his nineteenth year, during which interim, it
was claimed, the Osages committed many outrages on his nation.
In 1786 his restless spirit had planned another attack of a retaliatory
nature against the Osages. Setting out with two hundred followers, he
met a party of the enemy about equal in strength, which for a time
stubbornly resisted Black Hawk’s attack, but, unable to maintain an
unequal contest with the fierce Sac fighters, the Osages were finally
routed and the band almost annihilated. One hundred of them were killed
outright and the remnant which remained was left to be scalped while
helplessly wounded, or driven from the country, while, on the other
hand, Black Hawk’s loss was but nineteen men. Six of the enemy were
killed by Black Hawk–five men and one squaw–and in alluding to this he
adds these words: “I had the good fortune to take all their scalps.” In
recording his glorious enterprise his interpreter doubtless insisted
that the murder of a female by a great warrior was not creditable, for,
once the enormity of his offense is cited, he pleads in extenuation that
the squaw was accidentally killed; yet he scalped her.
The severe cost to the Osages of this battle brought about a treaty of
peace between the belligerents which lasted for a considerable period,
as peaceful times between Indian nations seem then to have been
reckoned.
The stormiest periods of Black Hawk’s life were all born of tranquil
times, and this interval of peace served to incubate a plan of campaign
against his ancient and inveterate enemy, the Cherokees, which was to be
fraught with consequences more serious than all his former campaigns
together.
Py-e-sa, Black Hawk’s father, the hereditary medicine man of his tribe,
had held the medicine bag for many years and his ability as a discreet,
fearless and upright man cannot be controverted. Regarding a campaign by
the young men so far from home as hazardous in the extreme, he joined
this expedition, and with his people paddled his canoe night and day
down the Mississippi River until the enemy was reached upon the Merameg
River, south of St. Louis, in vastly superior forces. The battle which
followed was stubbornly waged, but in it, as in so many others, the
ferocity of the attack put the Cherokees to flight, leaving twenty-eight
of their number dead upon the field, while the Sacs lost but seven
braves. But one of those seven was Py-e-sa, whose loss was never
thereafter supplied to the great Sac nation. Had he been spared to treat
of subsequent questions with the whites, his moderation had
unquestionably sustained Keokuk’s position and the campaigns of 1831 and
1832, with their trains of slaughter, would have been averted. In this
engagement Black Hawk himself killed three outright and wounded many
more.
By the death of Py-e-sa, Black Hawk fell heir to the medicine bag, with
its attendant responsibility. He immediately returned to his village,
blackened his face and remained tranquil for the succeeding five years
of his life, with no more stimulating employment than hunting, fishing
and meditation. During this period of inaction, Black Hawk maintains,
the Osages were constantly harassing his people by incursions into his
country, carrying with each invasion a predatory warfare extremely
distressing and galling. These became so frequent and offensive that, as
Black Hawk has told us, “the Great Spirit took pity on them” (the Sacs),
upon which event he took to the field. Here, at the head of a small
party, he overtook a few struggling Osages, so feeble that he simply
made them prisoners and handed them over to the Spanish father at St.
Louis. With this famous act of clemency he continued his plan of total
destruction of the offending Osages.
About the year 1800, the Iowa nation, having accumulated many grievances
against the Osages, made common cause with the Sacs for the purpose of
waging a war of extermination. Raising a force of about one hundred,
which joined the Sac forces, numbering now about five hundred more, the
two allies marched upon the unsuspecting Osages, who were unarmed and
wholly unprepared for defense. They valiantly defended their homes and
families and fought with the desperation known only to those who have
waged such defenses against overpowering odds. One by one and dozen by
dozen and score by score fell dead before the terrific attacks of the
most terrible of Indian fighters, until there was none left to fill the
gaps made in their ranks by the tomahawk and spear. Forty lodges were
destroyed and every inhabitant save two squaws was put to death. Then,
returning home, a great feast was made, at which Black Hawk exploited
his personal valor to his friends. In this engagement he killed seven
men and two boys with his own hand.
During those five years of meditation following his father’s death
resentment had but slumbered. They killed his father, ’tis true, but it
had been done defending themselves. The Sacs as a nation had no quarrel
with the Cherokees. But immediately he returned from his war upon the
unsuspecting Osages, Black Hawk collected another party and moved down
the river against them. In due season the enemy’s country was reached
and invaded, but, roam as they would, no more than five unknown people
could be found, four men and one squaw. The men, after a short
detention, were released, and the squaw was taken back to Black Hawk’s
village on Rock River.
The futility of this campaign rankled in Black Hawk’s heart for a time,
and to recoup his lost, or at least suspended reputation, he planned, in
the year 1803, about the ninth moon, the most extensive campaign of his
life against the combined forces of the Chippewas, Osages and
Kaskaskias. No just reason existed for this war; none of the tribes of
these nations had trespassed on Sac territory or rights, and none had
offended in any other particular. Black Hawk was piqued at his last
miscarriage and he simply made war against these people for the sake of
war, and bloody indeed it proved to be. During its continuance seven
pitched battles were fought, together with numerous skirmishes, in all
which more than one hundred of the enemy perished. Here again Black Hawk
boasts of personally killing with his own hands thirteen of the bravest
warriors in the enemy’s ranks. His ferocity in these engagements is the
best evidence for the statement that the glory of Black Hawk was placed
above every other consideration.
In 1763 France ceded Louisiana to Spain, though Senor Rious, the Spanish
agent, did not formally take possession of St. Louis and the upper
Louisiana country until 1768, and even then St. Ange, the French
Governor, continued to perform official acts until 1770. In 1800
Napoleon took it away again, retaining it until 1803, when it was
purchased by the United States.[11] During the Spanish domination Black
Hawk had been a periodical visitor to St. Louis, accepting frequent
presents and forming what might be termed a devotion to the Governor,
whom he designated as his “Spanish Father.”
After the conclusion of his last war, he paid this Spanish father a
friendly visit at St. Louis. Spanish and French domination had ended and
the Americans were just then taking possession of the country, much to
his regret and, as might be imagined, disgust. Here are his comments:
“Soon after the Americans arrived I took my band and went to take leave
for the last time of our father. The Americans came to see him also.
Seeing them approach, we passed out of one door as they entered another
and immediately started in our canoes for our village on Rock River, not
liking the change any more than our friends appeared to at St. Louis. On
arriving at St. Louis, we were given the news that strange people had
taken St. Louis and that we should never see our Spanish father again.
This information made all our people sorry.”
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