Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-09-09

attacked, and they had to 60 armed.
Col. Taylor had an engagement in per-
son, with several hundred Indians
among the Islands just below this city.
Being overpowered by numbers he was
obliged to retire with small loss.
In the treaty which ceded the lands
of Rock River to the U. S., twas stip-
ulated that the Indians should retain
possession of them until they were
brought into market, or sold for actual
settlement. This gave to the Indians
as much right, as fee simple title, I'M
til 1929, at which time the lands were
sold, and Black Hawks tower, between
Camden and Rock Island, passed into
the hands Of the whites. On his return
from hunting in the spring Of 1880 he
was informed for the first time that his
home had passed into other hands, and
that he must remove, with the rest Of
his tribe, West of the Mississippi
This he refused to do in the strongest
terms. He visited Canada to see his
British Father, and Gen. Cass at De-
troit, who advised him if he owned the
land, to remain where he was, that he
could not be disturbed.
All efforts made by Kcokuk, or his
white friends, to induce Black Hawk,
on his return, to remove West were un-
availing. He is said to have exhibited
more attachment for his native land at
this time, than ever before or after.
In the spring of 1881, his people COM
menced planting corn at his villages,
and the whites who had laid claim to
it, ploughed it up. This aroused all
the native fire and Indignation of Black
Hawk. He at once formed his plan of
resistance. He threatened the whites.
They became alarmed. The little Fort
at Rock Island was too weak at such
remote point, and Gen. Gaines order
ed ten companies of militia to Fort
Armstrong. A conference was held
with Black Hawk but he still refused to
leave. The troops marched upon bis
town and heretired across the river and
located his village where the farm Of
Hen. E. Cook now is, just below the
city of Davenport. Another talk was
then had, and Black Hawk agreed not
to cross the river without permission.
But the following spring he is found
pressing his way up Rock River with
his whole band Of warriors, men, wo-
men and children, expecting 20 be:join-
ed by other tribes and his friends, the
British allies. But in this he was dis
appointed, and being pursued by Gen.
Atkinson with six hundred regulars, he
fled for the wilds Of Wisconsin, COM
hitting depredations and massacres
along his route. The war was now be-
gun in good earliest.
On the 18th of Sept, 1882, the Black
Hawk war being ended, a treaty Was
held with the Sacs and Foxes by Gen.
Scott, upon the ground now occupied
by the NJ. 4. NJ. Railroad Company
in this city. At this treaty small
strip of land only was ceded to the
United States, called the "Black Hawk
Purchase - 1t lay along the Missis-
sippi river, beginning at point on the
boundary line between Missouri and
Iowa, which is now the south east cor
ner Of Davis county, and running
thence to o point on the Cedar river,
near the north east corner Of Johnson
county, thence in northwest direction
to a point on the south boundary of the
Neutral Grounds, then occupied by the
Winnebagoes, and thence with said line
to point on the Mississippi river, a
short distance above Prairie du Chen,
it being only sixty miles in the widest
place and containing about six millions
of acres. The Indians peaceably re-
moved from it on the first Of June,
1888, and thus gave to the whites free
access to this beautiful land.
We now enter in detail upon the first
settlements in and around the city Of
Davenport. Twenty-Five years ago the
first cabin was erected by the white
man. The rctreating footsteps of the
red man were still heard over these
bluffs. The poles of his wigwam still
stood thick along the banks Of this no.
BILE river. The graves Of his were still
fresh upon the brow of our bluffs, and
the corn-hills and play grounds Of his
children have been covered over with
the habitations Of man!
This mighty river that once bore to
our shores the frail bark of Mar
quette and Joliet, has become the
thoroughfare of nations. Where the
light canoe Of the savage once glided
in safety, the scu-ti- chemon (fire ca
noe or steamboat Of the white man now
floats with majesty and splendor, and
this magnificent river has become the
highway Of mighty nation. The
Mackinaw trading boat with its French
voyageur, has left its moorings on AS
SHINE Man-ess, { Rock Island and old
Fort Armstrong that had stood like a
watchful sentinel on the jutting rocks
Of the Island for more than forty years,
has been burned down by sacrllegious
hands
The PULPIT AND THE MASSES. The
NewY ok Christian HteNIgencer asks
if the pulpit this day reaches the mass