Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-04-29
GENERAL BLACK HAWK.
The Famous Indian of Our Early
History.
The Great Chieftain and How He
Earned His Fame---His First En-.
pieits aud After Experiences I'm
War.

Under the head of Famous Indians,
the St. Louis Globe Democrat has an ex>
tended reference to each of number of
ldian chieftains in the early history of
the west. and Black Hawk, the once
great general, among the red men OF
this community, after which Black Hawks
tower and township take their names, ap,
pears among the rest. as follows:
The British gave Black Hawk his title
of General" When Cstlin painted the
old chief he was a prisoner at Jefferson
Barracks, below St. Louis, and his race
was almost run. When he sat for his
picture he wore plain suit of buckski in
He had strings of wampum in his ears and
around his neck. His medicine bag,
which be held upon his arm, was the skin
of a black hawk, with the tail so ar
ranged as to make a fan, which he waved
almost constantly.
Black Hawk was not born chief He
made his way to generalship by hard
ticks. When he was Is he wounded an
enemy; that made him brave. Then he
killed a brave and wss qualified to join in
wsr dance. Before he was 20 his ex.
ploits had won him place in the ranks
of the famous warriors of the Sacs. He
became known as General" Black Hawk
when he joined the British in the war of
1912 and fought along the American
frontier His followers were known as
British band" When peace was de-
clared, Black Hawk only yielded reluc>
family. He objected particularly TO the
building of the fort at Rock Island, H.
Along in 1924 murders were frequent on
the Illinois frontier. and Black Hawk
was suspected. Three years afterwsrd
he was made q prisoner for an attack on
some boats, but was released. Soon al,
forwards the Sacs and Foxes, through
their chief Keokuk. released all of their
lands in Illinois. But Black Hawk and
his people refused TO abide by the treaty.
They crossed the Mississippi for short
time. but went back to their old homes at
the mouth of Rock river, and declared
that they were going to stay there. This
was the occasion of the Black Hawk war
The regulars and the militia assembled at
John Dixon's ferry, now the city of Dix
on. Some men were there who after
wards became famous in the history of
the country. Gen. Atkinson commanded
the troops. Zachary Taylor, who be-
came president. was lieutenant colonel
OF regulars. Robt. Anderson, who COM
manded Fort Sumpter when fired upon.
was lieutenant of regulars. Jefferson
Davis was lieutenant of regulars, and
Abraham Lincoln was private in the Il
linois mounted rangers. All of them
served together in the Black Hawk cam
paign. The war was a short one, and
ended in the capture of Black Hawk
When taken into the presence of Gen
Street. Black Hawk said:
BLACK Hawk is an Indian; he has done
nothing of which an Indian need be
ashamed; he has fought the battles of his
country against the white man. whO came
year after year to cheat his people and
take away his lands. You know the
cause of our making wsr; it is known to
all white men; they ought to be ashamed
Oft The white men despise the Indians
and drive them from their homes; but the
Indians are not deceitful; Indians do not
steal. Black Hawk is satisfied; be will
go the world Of spirits contented; he has
done his duty; his father will meet him
and reward him; the white men do not
scalp the heads, but they do worse-they
poison the heart 1t is not pure with
them"
The old general was kept prisoner at
Jefferson barracks awhile, and then he
was taken to Washington. When he
was presented 10 President Jackson he
looked at old hickory se1rchingly, and
said:
81 am man and you are another"
When it was thought that Black Hawk
had been sufficiently impressed with the
strength OF the white people so that he
would see the uselessDess Of war, he was
set at liberty.
The burial Of Black Hawk was in ac>
cordance with his instructions. His body
rested on plank at such an angle that
while his feet had sixteen inches of soil
on them his head was fully foot above
ground. His burial clothes were the full
dress uniform of colonel, with hat and
sword, given him by President Jackson.
Blankets were wrapped around him. A
feather pillow was placed under his head.
There was no coffin, but over the halls
buried body was raised roof made by
laying planks against a ridge-pole, which
was supported upon crotched sticks. The
sepulcher was further protected By q
picket fence. Beside the body were
placed two canes. one of them the gift of
Henry Clay. A flag pole thirty or forty
feet high was planted and from the top
OF 1t an American flag flOated until the
elements wore it out. The medals, OF
which Blackhawk had received, one from
President Jackson, another from Presi-
dent Adams, and a third from the city of
Boston, were buried with him.
No general was ever buried with more
unique honors of war. But in spite of
the picket fence twelve feet high. the
vault was disturbed. About a year after
the queer burial Black Hawks head disap-
pesred. The skeleton followed, but was
recovered. Black Hawks bones found a
resting place in the office of the governor
of the Territory Of Iowa for some years,
but were finally burned up in the collec-
ton of local historical society. At
least that is the conclusion of Indian His.
torian Donaldson, of the Smithsonian In
stitutiOn.
Black Hawk is described by the artist as
having had remarkably well shaped head
on his shoulders. Perhaps that is why
the skull was stolen, for it was traced to
the possession of an Illinois doctor.