The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-20
From the Rock Island Advertiser, Of 1851.
Leaves from the History Of Rock
Island,
BY ALBERT G. BRACKETT.

Nos.
On the morning Cf the End of August,
the whole force of General Atkinson was
put in motion; the dragons we're placed
in the advance, the regular infantry follow
ed next, and the mounted volunteers
brought up the rear They had proceed
ed nearly FIVE miles, when the advance
discovered a small party of Indians, who
gave way and retreated towards the Bad
Axe river. Soon after this Atkinson gave
orders for Brigadier Generals Alexander
and Posey to move to the right with their
commands of volunteers, and after reach
ing the banks of the Bad Axe, to continue
down that stream and drive the enemy to
the point OF land formed by the junction
with the Mississippi. Bragadier General
Henry moved to the left with a strong body
of volunteers, and Atkinson with the
dragons and United States soldiers moved
steadily onward to the front The Indians,
numbering about one thousand, with a
few women and children still remaining
with them, quietly awaited for the attack,
and being newly painted with war paint.
these grim warriors presented marital
aud picturesque appearance. As the
soldiers approached, Black Hawk divided
his command, Neopope taking charge of
portion and moving dowuJ the river
short distance, while he with the remainder
stayed near his encampment. The ground
which they occupied was covered with
growth of rank weeds, bushes and heavy
timber.
After they had taken their positions
many Of the Sank warriors commenced
singing their wild death songs, and pre-
pared to die fighting for the graves and
homes Of their ancestors,
Black Hawk moved about among them,
melting them to meet death fearlessly, and
telling them that the Great Spirit knew
that their cause was just, aud the whites
would some day atone for spilling their
blood 1t was hardly necessary TO exhort
them to stand tirm-they knew it was their
dernier resort, aud no beings exist on
earth that can meet death more composed
" than the dark sons of the forests.
Henry's command was the first that
came into action. As they moved down a
bluff, near the Mississippi, they were fred
upon by Neopope's command, This fire
they Immediately returned and advanced
rapidly upon the position Of the Indians,
who being sheltered by the trees were en-.
abled TO pick off quite number of the
volunteers. Atkinson, with the regulars
and Dragons, coming up in a short time, a
charge was made by the whole American
line, and the Indians retreated in all direc-
tons While Atkinson was engaged Oh
the left, Generals Alexander and Posey
came in contact with Black Hawks party,
who, in spite of all the old chiefs efforts,
gave way. The whole Indian force was
now completely routed. Some broke
through the American lines aud escaped
others jumped into the Mississippi and
swan across or were killed in the river.
The steamboat Warrior, which had fired
upon them the preceding day,h had returned
to it's position, and many were shot by the
troops from this boat.
To complete the slaughter, the Sioux
Indians, enemies of the Sauks, had sta
toned themselves on the west bank of the
river and killed many of Black Hawk s
men, after they had landed. The Ameri-
cans lost &c, killed and wounded; the In
dian loss amounted to 1913.
Drake, in his life of Black Hawk, men
tons an affecting incident that occurred
during the battle. He says:
young squaw was standing in the grass,
short distance from the American line, holding
her child, little girl Of four years old, in her
arms. In this position ball struck the right arm
OF the child, just above the elbow and SCATTERING
the bone, passed into the breast OF its young
mother, and instantly killed her, She fell upon
the child and confined 1t to the ground. When
the battle was nearly over, and the Indians had
been driven from this point, Lieutenant Anderson,
of the United States army, hearing the cries of the
child went to the spot and taking II from under
It's dead mother carried 1t to the place for surgical
aid The arm was amputated and during the
operation, the half-starved child did not cry, but
sat quietly eating piece of hard biscuit It was
seEt TO Prairie du Chen, and entirely recovered
from the wound.
one squaw swan across the Mississippi, and
carried her child with her. She held Il in her
teeth.
The day after the battle the troops
marched down the river and Black
Hawks band being entirely dispersed,
the volunteers were discharged.
On the 9th of August, Black Hawk
and his two sons, with Wabokieshiek, the
prophet, voluntarily surrendered them
selves prisoners to General Street, the
Indian agent at Prairie du CHEN. On
this OCCASION, he made he following elo-
quent speech,
YOu have taken me prisoner with all nv war
riors. l am much grieyed, for expected, i'll did
not defeat you, TO hold out much longer, and give
you more trouble before l surrendered. L tried
hard to bring you into ambush. but your last gen.
era! understands Indian fighting, determined to
rush on you, and fight you face to FACET fought
nard but your guns were well aimed. The bull
lets new Ike birds In the air and whizzed by our
ears like the wind through the trees in winter. My
warriors fell around me; 1t began to look dismal
saw my eVl uhy At nAno Inc sun rose aim
on us in the morning, and at night
1t sunk In dark cloud, and looked
like n ball OF hre. That the last sun
that shone on Black Hawk. His heart Is dead, and
no longer beats quick in his bosom, lie is now q
prisoner TO the white men; they will do with him
as they wish. But he can stand torture and lie moi
afraid of death. He is no coward Black Hawk
Is an lndlAn. He has done nothing for which an
indlan ought to be ashamed. He has fought foI
MS couhtrynen, the squaws and papooses, against
white men, who come, year after year, to cheat
mem ana take away their lands. You know the
Ia Lnnxw m all
white men. They ought 10 be ashamed Of 1t. The