Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-07-27
From Mc 81. Louiis Beacon.
THE LATE INDIAN DJSTU r

LIE LATE INDIAN DISTURBANCE.
:, MIR, EDIroR-Tranquillity having been restored TO
the illinois frontier the scene of the late Indian die
tubance, 1T may be satisfactory to many of your read
ers to know what has occurred and how the matter has
been finally concluded.
The authors of the disturbance consti,ute n ir;, Of
the Sac nation of Indians, usually called the Britsh
Band, residing the mouth of Rock river and com
ohded Dy Black Hawk the persevering and vindctive
ehey OF the United States, and the firm ally of the
British So long as 1904, the lands now claimed bv
TINS band and on which their village is situated was
ceded by treaty, to the United States which cesson
was confirmed by two subsequent treaes-one in Is16
and the other in 1925 BY the 9Th article of the treaty
Oh lool, the Indians belonging to the above mentioned
tribes, were permitted to enjoy the privilege of living
ana hunting upon the lands therein coded as long as
tne SAID lands should remain the property of the II
States a portion of those lands Including n part of
the village claimed by Black Hawk and his band have
peen sold by the government, and the Indians have
repeatedly notified OF the fact by authorized apents
and required TO in compliance with the treaty
Inns they have not only refused to do but have during
te last Twelve months, proceeded to commit many acts
OF aggression and hostility upon the citizens of Illinois
setted near them-such drive some of them from
their housesrow down their fences-turn their horse.
IN upon ther wheat and corn fiedssteal and destroy
their hogs ana cattle, &c. &c. In word, they had
assumed the attitude of actual hostility against the IL
states, and, as has recently come to pht have been
active for the last year in trying TO persuade many other
tribes OF Indians to join them-such as the Wnneba-
goes, fottawattames Kickapoes, &c and have even
sent runners throughout all the soutw tribes of
Indians as far IS Texas. There is now abundant evil
dence OF the fact and yet such has been the
WIN winch they have proceeded, that nobody suspect
ed that Black Hawk depended upon any other resources
than the exertions of his own band
Such was the situation of things when the Govern
or OF Illinois conceived it his duty order out seven
hundred militia for the protection of the frontier settlers
We consider this step of the Governor without anv
previous consultation with the commanding general Of
the Western Department of the army, as premature
inasmuch as Gen. Gaines, we understand from rood
authority had the subject then under consideration and
was about making such arrangements as TO afford reIe
TO the citizens OF Illinois, and protection against any fur
Me dsturbancenot surprising the emergency so great
as 10 require immediate 0eSioe operations before adj
vlsng the President of the United States of the sa
uon OF things which he DESTROYS of doing and re-
ceVing ms instructions relative thereto. The prema-
ture step of the Governor of Illinois left him no other
alternative than to anticipate the necessity of call upon
the militia, by promptly ordering that point six COM
panies OF the United States troops stationed at Jeer
son Barracks-a force which deemed quite suffi-
clent to restore tranquility and to effect removal of
the hostile Indians the west of the Missssinni II;
compliance with the treaty.
In several councils which were held at Rock Island
after the arrival of the troops, by Gen Gaines after
fully explaining TO them the above mentioned treaties
he required them to act in pursuance Herewith and to
remove TO the left Bank of the Mississippi; but with
few exceptions they obstinately refused and declared
their resolution TO live die the ground where their
fathers slept.
1t was not until things had progressed thus far that
undoubed evidence received of the active exertons
whch they mad been nakng Tor the last twelve months
to enlist III their many other tribes and that thew
had actually been joined by considerable numbers of the
Winnebagoes, kickapoos, &c. with additional pros
poets OF speedy assistance in they were attacked
making their numerical force least double that of the
United States on that frontier aided whal by the natu-
raj strength of their position. Under these circum-
Stances and anxious, no doubt, TO spare the euson of
blood, if possible, General Gaines made a requisition
upon the Governor of Illinois for detachment mount
ed militia, the first order for militia having been coun
termanded Shortly after the appearance of the mount
ed militia, fifteen hundred strong, Black Hawk with his
of HE Scsif,n
sent over white flag of truce, and sued for peace.
1t is probable, iii the Indians had been attacked
previous to the arrival of the militia, that the United
States troops might have succeeded in driving them
from their villages; but this would have been attended
with considerable sacrifice, as the Indians were well
armed with rifles and other weapons and were enrench
ed In ravines from the fire of artillery II would
moreover in all probability, have increased the very
evil which it desirable prevent for Black Hawk
and his band thus liberated and being for the most mart
mounted, would have committed the most terrible out
RACES on the Illinois frontier which, for three hundred
miles In extent totally unprovded with rifles or
muskets, any temporary Notifications places of re-
tuge, nor was there single mounted company on the
line which might have afforded protection and present.
ed formidable barrier to the encroachmens of the In
dans. Black Hawk would moreover have been Joined
by number of other dsafeced tribes and thus pe-
neral hostility would inevitably have been produced
throughout the whole northern and western frontier
They afterwards confessed, that nothing would have
restrained them but the appearance of forces far
ceeding their own combined strength The sudden APP
Ol Inilltla nad ule effect 10
Black Hawk and his band into immediate submission
and at once to break the confederacy however
sive, between that aud other Indian tribes.
treaty finally concluded with them by Gs-
neral Gaines and Governor Reynolds the part of the
United States, by which several important objects have
been effected
l. Hitherto this band has in great degree been
isolated from the other tribes of the Sac nation friendly
TO The United States and have annually visited the Br
fish posts and traders in Canada, where doubt that
Sassorous hostility, which they have svineed owuJds