The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-07-05
The Black Hawk War.

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brave simply. He was born in 1867, on
Rock river in Illinois. When the war of
1912 began the Sacs and Foxes within
the claimed territory of the United States
thought that the claim was only ON paper.
ton, which included the Pottawatomies
and Musduakies, to adhere to the treaty
made with Lieut.. Pike in 1904, but Black
Hawk who had never been satisfied with
that treaty, and who had been cajoled
with presents and fiattered by the Brit
ish agents, joined the British flag
through three years Of that war, and saw
the capture of Fort Erie. He also shared
in the unsuccessful raid on Detroit. and
was present ut the battle of the Thames,
where he witnessed the death of Tecum
sch. But when that war ended Black
Hawk returned to Rock river. With the
exception OF his share in the raid on Fort
Madison, which occurred just before the
war of 1872, and in which four soldiers
we're killed, this covered the whole of
Black Hawks hostility toward the Amer
leans, and his subsequent residence for
seventeen years along Rock river was alb
solutely without any collision with the
whites.
The origin of the ''Black Hawk war"
was somewhat complex. In 1880 some
braves of Black Hawks band made an in
cursion on the Menominees, killing sew
eral. The government officers ut Prairie
du Chen demanded that the perpetrators
be given mp, but Black Hawk peremp.
torily refused. Before this. however,
Black Hawk had been in camp near Fort
Madison, willing to go to Washington to
adjust his grievances, but also anxious
to return to his old home on Rock river
to raise crop of corn. The whites tax
ing advantage of the building of Fort
Armstrong and the sale Of few sections
of land on Rock river, had hurried into
Black Hawks lands and began pre- empt-
ing claims while the Indian title was
still unextinguished. When Black Hawk
returned to Rock river collisions began,
for which the settlers were equally re-
sponsible. That Black Hawk did not in
tend war was certain from the fact that
the sauaws and children went to Illinois
with the band, which was in April, 1882.
There is no doubt this was in violation
of the treaty of 1925, and Gen. Atkinson
sent him o notice that he must recross
to Iowa. He marched on, however, and
Gov. Reynolds militia joined Atkinson
at Rock Island. May IA, while Black
Hawk and some Pottawa.tomie visitors
were enjoying dog feast. Major Still
mans party drew near his camp, and
Black Hawks messengers, bearing
white flag. we're taken prisoners. An
other party, sent to see what had be-
come OF the others, were fired on, and
two were killed. Black Hawk says he
Was himself ready to 60 to meet Still
man when this occurred, but, seeing
this, he raised the war cry and Stillmans
disgraceful defeat followed. Stillman
had about 275 men and Black Hawk less
than 200. This defeat served to terror
ize ell Illinois, and besides the militia
forces called out, one thousand regulars
were sent from tho seaboard. Black
Hawks band, now cager for blood.
made attacks ON several frontier settle
ments. The formal pursuit began July
4. Gen. Atkinson having 1000 men, and
Black Hawk about 400. July 81. about
shutdown, Black Hawk was overtaken
on the Wisconsin river, and from sixteen
to forty OF his band were killed. He
clai ms that he had only forty braves in
this action, the rest being engaged for
tho safety OF the women. Part under
took to escape ON o raft down the Wis
consin, but nearly all persisted. Tho
chief and the rest. who had no chance
with the RATS. then aed through the
wooded bluffs that line the kicIapoo,
and reached the Mississippi at the mouth
of the Bad Axe, nearly opposite Lam
sing, Aug. l, several Of the PARTY having
died Of starvation on the way. Here he
raised . white h"g to the steamboat War.
rior, which was woodinR up and on the
lookout for the band. The captain says
he called 70 the Indians 70 send boat.
which vas refused. He waited . few