CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BLACK HAWK - BLACK HAWK DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF AS A WARRIOR BLACK HAWK JOINS THE BRITISH - THE SACS DRIVEN BEYOND THE MISSISSIPPI BLACK HAWK REMON STRATES DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL SAC VILLAGE AT ROCK RIVER.

WE WILL now turn our course westward to the more recent, and perhaps the more interesting incidents of border warfare in that direction. The life and times of Black Hawk will next engage the reader's attention. One writer has truthfully said, "Black Hawk may die, his name may be forgotten, and the smoke of his wigwam be seen no more, but 'The Black Hawk War' will long form a page of deep interest in the history of this country."

Black Hawk, the Sac chieftain, was born at the principal Sac village on Rock river, in the year 1767. As with many other distinguished warriors, he was not a chief's son, but rose to that station through his own ability. At the early age of fifteen he distinguished himself by killing an enemy, and was at once permitted to paint himself after the custom of the Sac braves. At a later day he was also permitted to wear feathers according to the ancient customs of his tribe.

As early as 1783, he united in an expedition against the Osages, and had the high fortune to kill several of the enemy. For this brave act he was now permitted, for the first time, to join in the scalp dance. Subsequently he became the leader of a small band of his own tribe, and again performed acts of great valor. His band was soon increased, and presently he found himself at the head of more than a hundred braves. With this band he marched to an Osage village on the Missouri, but finding it deserted, most of his followers became dis

couraged and returned home. Black Hawk, however, with only half a dozen followers, pursued the enemy, and after several day's march, succeeded in overtaking a small party and killing one man and a boy. Securing their scalps, he returned home, being greeted with additional respect.

In 1786 he was again marching at the head of two hundred braves into the country of the enemy. On this occasion he met a party quite equal to his own in numbers, and a battle took place in which he was victorious, having killed one hundred and losing only nineteen. Nearly a score of the enemy fell by his own hand. This successful event had a two-fold result that of keeping the Osages in check and winning glory for Black Hawk. The Sacs, with this brave at their head, now turned their attention to the Cherokees, who had committed several depredations upon them. A battle was fought between these tribes upon the Merrimack river, below St. Louis, in which Black Hawk's father was killed, but the Cherokees were defeated and compelled to retreat with a loss of twenty-eight men, the Sacs losing but seven. So great was his success at this battle that he was immediately promoted to the high station of chief.

In the year 1800,"he made another excursion," says Mr. Conclin, "against the Osages, at the head of about five hundred Sacs and Foxes, and a hundred Iowas, who had joined him as allies. After a long march they reached and destroyed about forty lodges of the enemy, killing many of their bravest warriors, five of whom were slain by the leader of the invading army." In 1802, he waged a successful war against the Chippewas, Kaskaskias and Osages, killing over one hundred warriors.

In 1803, Black Hawk made a visit to St. Louis, to see his "Spanish father." He was well received, but found many sad faces because the United States were about to take possession of their country. Soon after, Lieut. Pike visited the camp of Black Hawk, made several presents, and delivered a speech to the Sacs, telling them that their American father would treat them well. He presented them with an American flag, which was hoisted, and requested them to pull down the British flag

and give him their British medals, promising to give them others from their American father. This, however, Black Hawk declined, saying that his people wished to have two fathers.

Soon after, the building of Fort Edwards near the head of the Des Moines rapids, gave great uneasiness to the Sacs. They sent a deputation to that point, which returned with unsatisfactory reports. Black Hawk now placed himself at the head of a strong force and marched to Fort Madison, which stood on the west bank of the Mississippi, some distance down the Des Moines. This fort was garrisoned with about fifty men. Black Hawk's spies having ascertained that the soldiers marched out of the fort every morning for exercise, he determined to conceal his party near the place and shoot them down. On the morning of the proposed attack several soldiers defiled out upon the plain, and three of their number was instantly shot down. The Indians then opened fire upon the fort, but being unable to accomplish anything in this way they returned to their village.

Upon the opening of the war of 1812, the Sacs tendered their services to the United States, but their offer was declined. They had not been as liberally supplied with presents by the Americans as they had anticipated, and in the meantime the British agents had "artfully fomented their discontent, and labored to win their confidence by the most liberal distribution among them of goods and ardent spirits." Soon after the declaration of war a British trader appeared among them with two boats loaded with goods. The British flag was immediately hoisted, and the trader told Black Hawk that he had been sent by Col. Dixon, who was then at Green Bay, with a large quantity of goods, and who was desirous that the Sac chieftain should raise a party of warriors and join him. Black Hawk had but little difficulty in raising two hundred braves. At the head of this band he marched to Green Bay, where he found Col. Dixon encamped with a large body of Indians from various tribes, who had already been furnished with arms and ammunition.

Dixon received Black Hawk with many marks of respect, told him that the English were about to drive the Americana

from their hunting grounds, and placing a medal about his neck he said, "you are to command all the braves that will leave here the day after to-morrow to join our braves near Detroit." Arms, clothing, knives and tomahawks were now distributed among Black Hawk's band, and at the appointed time five hundred warriors left, Green Bay on their march to Detroit to join the British army. This was in August, 1812, shortly after the massacre at Fort Dearborn.

Black Hawk was unsuccessful among the British, and being tired with successive defeats he returned to his village on Rock river, where, in all probability, he would have remained neutral had it not been for the murder of his adopted son. By this lawless act he was again roused to vengeance against the Americans, and after remaining a few days at the village, and raising a band of braves, prepared for offensive operations upon the frontiers. The party, consisting of about thirty, descended the Mississippi in canoes to the site of old Fort Madison, which had been abandoned by the American troops and burned. Continuing their course they landed near Cap au Gis, where they killed one of the United States rangers, but were finally dispersed by a detachment from Fort Howard. The Indians, however, returned to the contest and a battle ensued between Black Hawk's party and the troops of Fort Howard, under Lieut. Drakeford of the United States Rangers. In this battle the Americans lost ten killed and several wounded, the loss being about equal on both sides.

In 1815, when the Indians along the Mississippi valley had been notified of the peace between the United States and England, they, for the most part, ceased hostilities; but Black Hawk and his band, and some of the Pottawatomies, were not inclined to live in peace. In the spring of 1816 they, in connection with the British, captured the garrison at Prairie du Chien, and attacked some boats that were ascending the Mississippi to that point with troops and provisions. One of the boats was captured and several of the crew killed. The boats were compelled to return. In 1816, however, Black Hawk and his tribe concluded a peace with the Americans, by which the hatchet was

buried; and now, we hear but little of this wonderful Indian until the hostilities which broke out in 1832.

Soon after this treaty the United States government built Fort Armstrong, upon Rock Island, in the Mississippi river, and but a few miles from the Indian village where Black Hawk resided. The Sac Indians were jealous of this movement, for they loved to look upon Rock Island as one of their choicest resorts. They had a traditionary belief that this island was the favorite residence of a good spirit which dwelt in a cave in the rocks on which Fort Armstrong was afterwards built. This spirit had often been seen by the Indians, but after the erection of the fort, alarmed by its noise and intrusion of the white man, it spread its beautiful wings and departed.

In the autumn of 1818, Black Hawk and some of his band went on a visit to their British father at Malden, and received many presents from him. A medel was given to Black Hawk for his fidelity to the British, and he was requested to make annual visits with his band, and receive such presents as had been promised him by Col. Dixon in 1812. These visits were regularly made down to 1830. In the latter year Black Hawk and his party encamped at two rivers for the purpose of hunting, and while there was so badly treated by some white men, that his prejudices against the Americans were greatly revived.

In the ensuing summer the Americans urged the whole of the Sacs and Foxes to remove to the west side of the Mississippi. This policy was urged upon them by the agent at Fort Armstrong. The principal Fox chief, and several of the Sac chiefs, among whom was Keokuk, assented to the removal. The latter sent a message through the village informing the Indians that it was the wish of their great father, the President, that they should all go to the west side of the Mississippi, and he pointed out the Iowa river as a suitable place for their new village. There was a party among the Sacs called the "British Band," who were bitterly opposed to a removal; and they appealed to their old leader, Black Hawk, for his decision on the question. He claimed the ground on which their village stood had never been sold, and that, therefore, the Americans had no right to insist upon the measure.