Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-05-08

tated by nlmSelI Vol. OOStoH: RUSSELL, VII
ONE g. METcALF.
This is the first specimen, we believe, known
to orr literature, of a savage's autobiography.
II was dictated by Black Hawk, after his tour in
the United States, to Aatoine Lectaar, the Uni
ted States Interpreter to the Sacs and Foxes,
who youches for the care and fidelity with Whlch
il is rendered into English. 1t is dedicated by
Black Hawk in the Sac tongue, 10 General AT
kinson his conquerer. 1t refers the cause OF the
hostility of the Sacs against the Americans, 10
the fact oftreates surreptitiously made by them,
with unauthorized agents of the Sac nation,
which, when attempted to be carriedinto effect,
were felt as grievouS wrongs and outfages-
We do not doubt if there were historians among
the Indians, that such or similar would be the
origin of most, ifnot of all, of what are called
Indian wars, but which are, in fact, mere preda-
tory excursions to seize by the force ldnuS we
coyet and do not own.
The following notice of some Of the most in
teresting points in this history we take from the
New England Magazine, for this month";:
~ Y Amer
"Behold Black Hawk, then, general, in the
British service, and more respectable one than
Sir Hudson Lowe. Firearms, ammunition,
tomahawks, and clothing, were distributed and
General Black Hawk started on the next morn
ing, with five hundred braves, to join the allied
army, below Detroit. There was, soon after, a
fight, in which, says the general, "the Americans
fought WELL and drove us with considerable loss.
| was surprised at this, as had been told that
they would not fight" The same success fol-
lowed the attack of fort, and Black Hawk be-
came tired of his new service, =" the success be
ing so bad, and having got no plumber" He
remarks that G the Americans shot better than
the British, but are not so well provided for"-
In fact, our friend Bull always fights best with
belly full; but Yankee is more pugnacous
when hungry Having left the service, Black
Hawk C humbled himself before the Great Spl-
rit and returned thanks for preservation through
the war" He was never ferocious, and he has
recorded, that he often spared the unWarned
and helpless. When on an excursion against
the whites. to avenge the death of his adopted
son, he spared those he came to kill. " We had
not proceeded far, before we met the man whom
we supposed we had killed, as he was scalped,
staggering like drunkard, all covered with
blood. This was the most terrible sight had
ever seen. ] told my comrade to Kill him, TO put
him out of misery,-I could not look at him. l
heard a rusting in the bushes, ana dlstincuY
saw two little boys concealing themselves
I thought of my own children, and passed on
without noticing them"
"Black Hawk was ever good dreamer
The Great Spirit in dream, gave him partl-
cular directions where to find large snake, VIZ:
down the bluff, at a creek, in the top OF "a mol
low tree that had been cut down. The snake
an enemy. These were two American offlcers
cat conference with American agents at
ST. Louis. Black Hawk and other chiefs, replied
to the Commissioners, that what they had SAID
was lie,n and he seems to have been surprised
that such form of speech should excite re-
sentiment "Here" said he, I" for the first time
| touched goose-quill to paper, not knowing,
however, that by that act consented to give
away my village" Jack Cade was similarly
taken in "Some say" said he, that it is the
bee that stings; but say it is the bees wax; for
/ did but seal bit of paper, and have not been
my own man since"
"The loss of two children brought much sor
row upon Black Hawk. He built secluded
hut and reduced himself to poverty He black,
ed his face for two years; drank water in the
middle of the day, and ate little boiled corn
at sunset. This he did hoping the Great Spirit
would take pity on him; and, said he, i never
take drink of water from spring without be-
ing mindful Of his goodness"
But the treaty was to be executed, and the
Indians were called upon to leave their village.
AS the chiefs did not admit that they had know
ingly sold it, there difficulty in getting
them away. Besides, said Black Hawk my
reason teaches me that land cannot be sold;
nothing can be sold but such things as can be
carried away" He was the "Vilage Hamp-
den," and resisted all encroachments on his
field. He resolved not to quit, and the Prophet
General Gaines, however, defeated the predlc-
ton, and Black Hawk "touched the goose
quill'' to another treaty, and crossed the Mis-
sissippi.
But Black Hawk and the Prophet were
making ready for war, and the {" White Beaver"
General Atknson) received message. ~
you wish to fight us, you may come on" The
events of war have been detailed in the news
papers Pressed on all sides, vanqushed but not
Inundated, he gave himselfup to the enemy like
Weathersford, Themstocles, and Napoleon
He was carried to Washington, and visited
other cities. He was astonished at the good
trail which he found for his carriage-meaning
the Cumberland road: he saw many wigwams
and villages, but could see nothing in the coun-
try to induce the people to live in it. The Rail
road was yet more astonishing, though Black
Hawk preferred to travel on horseback.
The Great Father at Washington he sup
poses has seen as many winters as himself Ills
wgwam is well furnished with every thing
good and pretty" At Washington, Black
Hawk was well received by the people, and es-
pecialy, as he says, by the sqaws
"He was surprized at the size of Baltimore,
and of the "big village where they make me-
nj ,,kk~