The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13


The daughter of an old chief was sent to
the fort to ask that her people could re-
main long enough to gather their crops in
the fields, and another deputation was
sent with the same request, but it was de-
MED. Then steamboat was anchored
near them full of soldiers. The Indians
crossed the river in the night. To COM
pensate them for their crops, corn was
promised them, which, however, was en-
tirely inadequate to their wants. The
women and children lamented being de-
prived of the vegetables and in the night
a party went across the river to secure
vegetables from the fields which they had
planted. The whites had no regard for a
flag of truce frequently shooting down the
bearer.
The war which terminated with the bat
tie of Bad Ak, in 1882. was then at an
end, after great reduction of the war;
riors of Black Hawks band. The Ameri-
can forces were in command OF General
Scott.
1t has been said that Black Hawks mar
rative is somewhat apocryphal, but /
think it is in the main true. 1t is very
sad story. Antoine LIE Claire, to whom it
was dictated, was a respectable citizen of
Davenport, held in equal esteem by whites
and Indians. In his affidavit appended to
the narrative, he says:
"In accordance with Black Hawks re-
quest l acted as his interpreter. l was
particularly cautious 10 understand the
narrative throughout and have no hesi-
tation in pronouncing it true in every par
ticular."
Black Hawks dedication OF the work to
his captor, General Atkinson. is pathetic,
and translation is here given. He was
prisoner at Jefferson barracks, and at the
time he was 81 years old. He says to Gen
eral Atknson:
'Sir The changes of fortune have
made you my conqueror. The story of my
life is intimately connected with part of
the history of your own. / have, there
fore, dedicated it to you. Before set out
on my journey to the land of my fathers
l have determined to give my motives and
reasons for my former hostilities to the
whites, and to vindicate my character
from Misrepresentation. l am now an
obscure member of nation that formerly
honored and respected my opinions. May
you never experience the humility that
the power of the American Government
has reduced me to is the wish OF him who
in his native forests was once as proud
and bold as yourself. Black Hawk, tenth
moon, 1885,"
This sketch is not history of the war,
but more of character sketch. That in
nate nobility and religious feeling of the,
Sac as nation is exemplified by an Incl
dent which occurred in 1S41. 1t is told in
the souvenirs of the Prince de Joinvile,
when he made the descent of the Mis-
sissippi The Territory of Iowa, which
belonged 10 the Sacs and Foxes, was in
dispute between the whites and Indians
The Prince says in his book:
"a party of Indians came on board at
st. Louis. They were on their way to.
Washington to lay their grievances before
the President. They had the most reso-
lutte and impassive countenances and be-
haved with the greatest dignity, never
showing any excitement, except when we
passed the confluence of the Mississippi
with the Missouri River. There was a
splendid sunset The Indians assem- bed
in the stern of the boat and repeated
kind of invocatory prayer. 1t was per-
feet picture"
The history of the wrongs inflicted on
the Indians of the Rock River country
is only repetition of those inflicted on
the tribes elsewhere. 1t is the testimony
of those who have lived among them that
they are. en- in state of nature, re-
markabiy free from the vices usually at
tributed to savages.