St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-12-04


handful of Braves, with their wive,
and children, on the 26th of June, 1881
were driven from their village and cul
tivated fields, to the west bank Of the
river.
After this, (1s32) commenced ths
Black Hawk War characterized by
bloody incidents and savage slaugh
ter /; the battle of Sycamore creek
the attack upon Fort Buffalo Gener
al Dodge's battle on the Wisconsin
the flight of the Indians to the Missis
sippi the slaughter of Braves, wo
men aud children, while floating OF
RATS, down the Wisconsin the battle
Of the Bad Axe the capture of Black
Hawk and his warriors the arriva
of General Scott at Rock Island with
additional troops the ravages of the
Asiatic cholera among them-all re-
sulting in the destruction of four or
FIVE hundred Indian men, women, and
children, about two hundred citizens
of the United States, and a cost to the
government of about two millions OF
dollars. And all this sacrifice of blood
and treasure might have been prevent
ed, by the payment to the Indians of
six thousand dollars, as compensa-
ton for abandoning their village and
corn-felds, and to enable them to buy
provisions for the fall and winter.
Black Hawk, his two sons, and the
Prophet, were at first confined at JEFF
ferson, Missouri, then at Fortress Mum
roe, at Old Point Comfort, and after
wards, as hostages and captives, cx-
hibited through many of the principal
cities and villages of the Union Wis
iting theatres and public places, and
equally dividing with President Jack
son, the popular applause and atten-
ton.
Fort Armstrong, was selected as the
most appropriate place, for the liberia
ton of Black Hawk and his associates,
and there they were taken. Fort Arm
strong, that was constructed upon and
over the cave wherein the Good Spirit
dwelt, that had watched over the Sac
village, and protected the hunting
grounds. Rock Island, SO prolific, in
former years, of fruits, nuts, flowers,
and delicious fish, which had for half
a century, witnessed the captive Chiefs
power and influence, was now to be-
come the scene of his formal liberia
ton, but reluctant submission to his
rival, Keokuk.
A commodious room in the Fort was
fitted up for the occasion; Keokuk,
and one hundred followers, gayly and
gaudily dressed in their savage trap
pings, entered the room and were seat
ed then Black Hawk and his associ-
ate captives appeared and took their
seats, detected. Major Garland arose
and addressed the council, and instead
of being interpreted that the President
requested, he was made to say, that
Black Hawk "must listen to the coun-
sells of Keokuk." Whereupon, the old
Chief, with indignant expression and
vehemence of manner, exclaimed, II
am a man-an old mani will not
conform to the counsels Of any one
l viii act for myself-no one shall
govern me. I am old--my hair is
grey shall soon go to the Great
Spirit, when l shall be at rest" Af-
forwards, when the true interpreta-
ton was given, he desired IF his
speech had been put upon paper, a
line might be drawn over it," and then
said, what said to our Great Faith
er at Washington, ! say again, will
always listen to him-l am DONE"
Progressive civilization has now
reached, extended beyond, and over
spread the ancient city of the Sacs
and Foxes, and their favorite River
Islet and Fort Armstrong, it's spa
cious courts and pleasant halls, its ele-
vated towers and frowning parapets
are deserted and dismantled. Popu-
lous cities and villages cover this in
land place, and the shrill whistle of
the locomotive reverberates among the
undulating hills, where, whilom, the
war-whoop Of the savage was heard.