Original
Inhabitants
(page 255-263)
The original inhabitants of this
section were various tribes of Indians, particularly
the Winnebagoes, the Sauks or Sacs, and the
Musquakees or Foxes. For centuries it is probable
that they hunted and fished, and fought each other,
tribe conquering tribe, until finally near the
beginning of the present century it was in peaceable
possession of the Sacs and Foxes.
IN 1804 the Sacs and Foxes ceded to the United
States, through General Harrison, all their lands
lying upon Rock River, and much elsewhere. The
principal Sac village was at a point of land between
the junction of the Mississippi and Rock Rivers, a
point just below the present site of Davenport, on
the Illinois side. There, according to tradition, had
been a village for 150 years. The entire country
belonging to the tribes bordered on the Mississippi
and extended aobut 700 miles down the river from the
mouth of the Wisconsin, reaching very nearly to the
Missouri River. In 1820 they numbered about 3,000
persons in all, of whom, perhaps, 600 were warriors.
The Sac village alluded to was commanded by the
celebrated Black Hawk, alias
Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak. The Musquakees, or Foxes,
lived further north, and had, near the lead mines,
their principal village. Still, notwithstanding the
separation of the Sacs and Foxes, they were, in
reality, but one tribe, as they hunted together, had
similar customs, and so far as unity of purpose was
concerned in their enmity to the Sioux and other
nations, they were indissoluble.
Black Hawk was the most celebrated "brave"
of his nation. He had been in the service of England
in 1812; had been an intimate friend of Tecumseh; was
ranked among the braves at the early age of sixteen,
and at the age of twenty, or thereabouts, succeeded
his father as chief, the latter having been killed in
a bloody battle with the Cherokees. With such a life,
scarcely if ever defeated in battle -- proud,
imperious, and with a deep tinge of melancholy in his
later years -- venerated by his braves, and feared by
his enemies, he was no common man, nor would his
nature admit of such treatment as might be endured
patiently by ordinary or less strongly marked men.
Black Hawk would never acknowledge the validity of
the treaty of 1804. As the whites did not desire to
occupy the country ceded until about the year 1830,
the Indians were permitted peacefully to remain. At
that time they were ordered across the Mississippi
River, and took up their abode on the Iowa side. But
the spirit of discontent was in Black Hawk, and the
same spirit permeated many others among his tribe.
They therefore crossed the river into Illinois, took
possession of their old villages and murdered several
white persons. This movement of Black Hawk excited
alarm among the white people who had settled in that
part of Illinois, and complaint was made to Governor
Reynolds, of that State, against their presence. The
complaints represented that the Indians were
insolent, and had committed many acts of violence.
Governor Ford says the Indians ordered the white
settlers away, threw down their fences, unroofed
their houses, cut up their grain, drove off and
killed their cattle, and threatened the people with
death if they remained. These acts of the Indians
were considered by Governor Reynolds to be an
invasion of the State. He immediately addressed
letters to General Gaines, of the United States army,
and to General Clark, the Superintendent of Indian
Affairs, calling upon them to use the influence of
the Government to procure the peaceful removal of the
Indians, if possible; at all events, to protect the
American citizens who had purchased those lands from
the United States, and were now about to be ejected
by the Indians. General GAines repaired to Rock
Island, and becoming convinced the Indians were
intent upon war, he called upon Governor Reynolds for
700 mounted volunteers. The Governor obeyed the
requisition, and issued a call upon the northern and
central counties, in obedience to which 1,500
volunteers rushed to his standard at Beardstown, and
about the 10th of June were organized and ready to be
marched to the seat of war. The whole force was
divided into two regiments, an odd battalion and a
spy battalion.
Black Hawk, becoming convinced that he could do
nothing against the force sent against him, retreated
across the river, and, fearing pursuit from General
GAines, returned with his chiefs and braves to Fort
Armstrong and sued for peace. A treaty was here
formed with them by which they agreed forever to
remain on the west side of the river and never to
recross it without the permission of the President or
the Governor of the State. The treaty of 1804 was
thus at last ratified by these Indians.
Notwithstanding this treaty, early in the spring of
1832 Black Hawk and the disaffected Indians prepared
to reassert their right to the disputed territory,
and therefore again crossed the river, and thus was
brough on the celebrated Black Hawk war, which
resulted so disastrously to himself and tribe.
Speaking of the Black Hawk war, Ford, in his
"History of Illinois," says:
"The united Sac and Fox nations
were divided into two parties. Black Hawk commanded
the warlike band, and Keokuk, another chief, headed
the band which was in favor of peace. Keokuk was a
bold, sagacious leader of his people; was gifted with
a wild and stirring eloquence, sure to be found, even
among Indians, by means of which he retained a great
part of his nation in amity with the white people.
But nearly all the bold, turbulent spirits, who
delighted in mischief, arranged themselves under the
banner of his rival. Black Hawk had with him the
chivalry of his nation, with which he recrossed the
Mississippi in the spring of 1832.
"He directed his march to the Rock River
country, and this time aimed, by marching up the
river into the countries of the Pottawatomies and
Winnebagoes, to make them his allies. Governor
Reynolds, upon being informed of the facts, made
another call for volunteers. In a few days 1,800 men
rallied under his banner at Beardstown. This force
was organized into four regiments and a spy
battalion. The whole brigade was put under the
command of Brigadier General Samuel Whiteside, of the
State militia, who had commanded the spy battalion of
the first campaign.
"On the 27th of April General Whiteside,
accompanied by Governor Reynolds, took up his line of
march. The army proceeded by way of the Oquawka, on
the Mississippi, to the mouth of Rock River, and here
it was agreed between General Whiteside and General
Atkinson, of the reuglars, that the volunteers should
march up Rock River about fifty miles, to the
Prophet's town, and there encamp to feed and rest
their horses and await the arrival of the regular
troops in keep boats, with their provisions. Judge
William Thomas, who again acted as Quartermaster to
the volunteers, made an estimate of the amount of
provisions required until the boats could arrive,
which were supplied, and then General Whiteside took
up his line of march. But when he arrived at the
Prophet's town, instead of remaining there, his
brigade marched on in the direction of Dixon, forty
miles higher up the river. When the volunteers had
arrived within a short distance of Dixon, orders were
given to leave the baggage wagons behind, so as to
reach there by a forced march. And for the relief of
the horses, the men left large quantities of
provisions behind with the wagons.
"At Dixon General Whiteside came to a halt, to
wait a junction with General Atkinson, with
provisions and the regular forces; and from here
parties were sent out to reconnoiter the enemy and
ascertain his position. The army here found, upon its
arrival, two battalions of mounted volunteers,
consisting of 275 men, from the counties of McLean,
Tazewell, Peoria and Fulton, under the command of
Majors Stillmand and Bailey. The officers of this
force begged to be pur forward upon some dangerous
service in which they could distinguish themselves.
"To gratify them they were ordered up Rock River
to spy out the Indians. Major Stillman began his
march on the 12th of May, and pursuing his way on the
southeast side he came to 'Old Man's' Creek, since
called 'Stillman's Run,' a small stream which rises
in White Rock Grove, in Ogle County, and falls into
the river near Bloomingdale. Here he encamped just
before night; and in a short time a party of Indians
on horseback were discovered on a rising ground about
a mile distant from the encampment. A party of
Stillman's men mounted their horses without orders or
commander, and were soon followed by others,
stringing along for a quarter of a mile, to pursue
the Indians and attack them.
"The Indians retreated after displaying a red
flag, the emblem of defiance and war, but were
overtaken and three of them slain. Here Major
Hackelton, being dismounted in the engagement,
distinguished himself by a combat with one of the
Indians in which the Indian was killed, and Major
Hackelton afterward made his way onfoot to the camp
of General Whiteside. Black Hawk was near with his
main force, and being prompt to repel an assault,
soon rallied his men, amounting then to about 700
warriors, and moved down upon Major Stillman's camp,
driving the disorderly rabble, the recent pursuers,
before him. These valorous gentlemen, lately so hot
in pursuit, when the enemy were few, were no less
hasty in their retreat when coming in contact with
superior numbers. They came with their horses ina
full run, and in this manner broke through the camp
of Major Stillman, spreading dismay and terror among
the rest of his men, who immediately began to join in
the flight, so that no effort to rally them could
possibly have succeeded. Major Stillman, now too late
to remedy the evils of insubordination and disorder
in his command, did all that was practicable, by
ordering his men to fall back in order and form on
higher ground; but as the prairie rose behind them
for more than a mile, the ground for a rally was
never discovered; and besides this, when the men once
got their backs to the enemy, they commenced a
retreat without one thought of making a futher stand.
"A retreat of undisciplined militia from the
attack of a superior, is apt to be a disorderly and
inglorious fight; and so it was here -- each man
sought his own individual safety, and in the
twinkling of an eye the whole detachment was in utter
confusion. They were pursued in their flight by
thirty or forty Indians, for ten or twelve miles, the
fugitives in the rear keeping up a flying fire as
they ran, until the Indians ceased pursuing. But
there were some good soldiers and brave men in
Stillman's detachment, whose individual efforts
succeeded in checking the career of the Indians,
whereby many escaped that night who would othewise
have been easy victims of the enemy. Among these were
Major Perkins and Captain Adams, who fell in the
rear, bravely fighting to cover the retreat of their
fugitive friends. But Major Stillman and his men
pursued their flight without looking to the right or
left until they were safely landed at Dixon. The
party came straggling into camp all nigh long, four
or five at a time, each fresh arrival confident that
all who had been left behind had been massacred by
the Indians. The enemy was stated to be just behind
in full pursuit, and their arrival was looked for
every moment. Eleven of Stillman's men were killed,
and it is only astonishing that the number was so
few. This was about the only engagement, if
engagement it could be called, in which the Indians
were victorious. They at once retreated, and were
followed for weeks by the whites."
Dispatches were received from General
Atkinson, dated Blue Mounds, July 25, 1832, stating
that General Henry with his brigade and General Dodge
with a regiment of Michigan volunteers, succeeded by
forced marches in overtaking Black Hawk on the banks
of the Wisconsin on the evening of the 21st of July,
1832; they immediately attacked the Indians, killing
about forty men and wounding a much larger number, as
the Indians were seen during the action bearing a
great many wounded off the field. The loss on our
part was trifling, amounting to one man killed and
nine wounded. Night coming on no pursuit could be
attempted, and thus the enemy was saved from entire
destruction. Black Hawk passed over to an island in
the Wisconsin, to which place he had sent his women.
Generals Henry and Dodge remained on the ground the
succeeding day and nigh, unable to renew the attack,
having neither boats, canoes, nor the means of
constructing rafts across the river. ***The troops
under Generals Henry and Dodge are represented to
have behaved with great gallantry, resisting with
firmness a charge from the enemy on horseback, and in
turn charging him with great promptness, routing the
Indians at every point, to which is attributable the
very small loss on our side. While our men deserve
great credit for gallantry and steadiness, the
Indians are entitled to no less consideration for the
skill and perserverance displayed by them in their
retreat. *** A squaw captured stated that Black Hawk
had lost 200 warriors in the different skirmishes
before the battle with General Dodge -- that many of
those embarking in canoes had been lost in
consequence of bad canoes.
Battle of Bad Axe, Aug. 2, 1832. ***At 2 o'clock
precisely the bugle sounded, and in a short time all
were ready to march. General Dodge's squadron was
honored by being placed in front, the infantry
followed next, General Henry's brigade next, General
Alexander's next, and General Posey's brigade formed
the rear guard. General Dodge called for, and soon
received, twenty volunteer spies to go ahead of the
whole army.
In this order the march commenced. They had not gone
more than five miles, however, before one of our
spies came back, announcing that they had come in
sight of the enemy's picket guard. The intelligence
was quickly conveyed to General Atkinson and by him
to all the commanders of the brigade, and the clerity
of the march was instantly increased. In a few
minutes more the fire commenced about 500 yards in
front of the army between our spies and the Indian
picket guard. The Indians were driven by our spies
from hill to hill, but kept up a tolerably brisk fire
from every situation commanding the ground over which
our spies had to march. But they were charged and
routed from their hiding places, and sought safety by
retreating to the main body on the bank of the
Mississippi, and joined in one general effort to
defend themselves or die on the ground.
Lest some might escape up or down the river, General
Atkinson very judiciously ordered Generals Alexander
and Posey to join the right wing of the army and
march down to the river above the Indian encampment
on the bank, and then move down. General Henry formed
the left wing, and marched in the main trail of the
enemy. The United States Infantry and General Dodge's
squadron of the mining troops marched in the center.
With this order our whole force descended the almost
perpendicular bluff into a low valley, heavily
timbered, with a large growth of underbrush, weeds
and grass. Sloughs, deep ravines and old logs were so
plentiful as to afford every facility for the enemy
to make a stong defense.
General Henry first commences a heavy fire, which was
returned by the enemy. The Indians being routed from
their first hiding places, sought others. General
Dodge's squadron and the United States troops soon
came into action, and with General Henry's men,
rushed into the defiles of the enemy and killed all
in their way, except a few who succeeded in swimming
a slough of the Mississippi, 150 yards wide.
During this time Alexander's and Posey's brigades
were marching down the river and fell in with another
part of the enemy's army, and killed and routed all
that opposed them. The battle lasted upward of three
hours. About fifty of the enemy's women and children
were taken prisoners, and many were killed in the
battle. The loss of the Indians can never be
ascertained exactly, but according to the best
computation it must have exceeded 150. Our loss in
killed and wounded was twenty seven.°
From the official report of General Atkinson to
Major-General W. Scott, dated Aug. 9, 1832, I make
the following extracts:
"I marched at 2 o'clock A.M.
with the regular troops under Colonel Taylor and
General Dodge's battalion, leaving the brigades of
Generals Posey, Alexander and Henry to follow, as
they were not yet ready to march -- their horses
having been turned out before the order of the night
before had been received by them. After marching
about three miles the advance of Dodge's batalion
came up with a small part of the enemy and killed
eight of them and dispersed the residue." After
giving a lengthly report of the events of the battle
General Atkinson says: "Both the regular and
volunteer troops conducted themselves with the
greatest zeal, courage and patriotism, and are
entitled to the highest approbation of their country.
To Brigadier-General Henry, of the Third Brigade of
Illinois volunteers; to General Dodge of the Michigan
volunteers, and to Colonel Taylor of the United
States INfantry, the greatest praise is due for the
gallant manner in which they brought their respective
corps in, and conducted them through the action. ***
Of the United States Infantry five privates were
killed and four wounded. Of General Posey's and
Alexander' brigades one private in each was wounded.
Of General Henry's, one Lieutenant and five privates
were wounded. Of General Dodge's, one Captain, one
Sergeant, and four privates were wounded."
The historian (not Gen. Atkinson)
says:
"Black Hawk, while the battle
waxed warm, had gone up the river on the east side.
His valuables, many of them, together with
certificates of good character and hof his having
fought bravely against the United States, in the war
of 1812, signed by British officers, were found on
the battle ground.
"Black Hawk was captured by some Winnebagoes at
the Dalles on the Wisconsin River, and delivered to
General Street at Prairie du Chien, on the 27th of
August, 1832. Among the number captured was a son of
Black Hawk, and also the Prophet, a noted chief, who
formerly resided in Prophet's town, in Whiteside
County, and who was one of the principal instigators
of the war. Thus ended the Black Hawk war. The
militia were sent to Dixon and discharged. Black Hawk
and the Prophet were taken east and confined in
Fortress Monroe for a time. On the 4th day of June
they were set free. Before leaving the fort, Black
Hawk delivered the following farewell speech to the
commander:
"Brother, I have come on my
own part, and in behalf of my companions, to bid
you farewell. Our great father has at length been
pleased to permit us to return to our hunting
grounds. We have buried the tomahawk, and the
sound of the rifle hereafter will only bring
death to the deer and the buffalo. Brother, you
have treated the red man very kindly. Your squaws
have made them presents; you have given them
plenty to eat and drink. The memory of your
friendship will remain till the Great Spirit says
it is time for Black Hawk to sing his death song.
Brother, your houses are as numerous as the
leaves on the trees, and your young warriors like
the sands upon the shore of the big lake that
rolls before us. The red man has but few houses
and few warriors, but the red man has a heart
which throbs as warmly as the heart of his white
brother. The Great Spirit has given us our hnting
grounds, and the skin of the deer which we kill
there is his favorite, for its color is white,
and this is the emblem of peace. This hunting
dress and these feathers of the eagle are white.
Accept them, my brother. I have given one like
this to the White Otter. Accept it as a memorial
of Black Hawk. When he is far away this will
serve to remind you of him. May the Great Spirit
bless you and your children. Farewell."
"After their release from prison
they were conducted, in charge of Major Garland,
through some of the principal cities, that they might
witness the power of the United States and learn
their own inability to cope with them in war. Great
multitudes flocked to see them wherever they were
taken, and the attention paid them rendered their
progress through the country a triumphal procession,
instead of the trasportation of prisoners by an
officer. At Rock Island the prisoners were given
their liberty, amid great and impressive ceremony. In
1838 Black Hawk built him a dwelling near Des Moines,
Iowa, and furnished it after the manner of the
whites, and engaged in agricultural pursuits and
hunting and fishing. Here, with his wife, to whom he
was greatly attached, he passed the few remaining
days of his life. To his credit, it may be said that
Black Hawk remained true to his wife, and served her
with a devotion uncommon among Indians, living with
her more than forty years."
Black Hawk died Oct. 3, 1838.
_______________________________________________________
ºFrom the History of the United States, published by
C.B. Taylor, in 1837
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