The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-04-15

over into Illinois with some 1000 Indnans, Of
whom it was estimated more than 500 were
warriors. Immediately the widest rumors
spread along the Illinois frontier BLACK Hawk
and 1000 bloodthirsty savages were descending
upon the settlements to kill, scalp and burn
Such was the talk.
The Indian side of the story is rather diff
ferent Under the terms of the treaty which
Black Hawk had signed with General Gaines the
Indians were to be supplied with corn in place
of that which they had left in their fields when
they went to Iowa. What had happened is a
familiar incident in the history of our relations
with the Indians. The government failed TO
keep its promise The amount of corn turned
over to them was so meager that they began to
suffer from hunger. In that emergency a party
of the Sank, in the words of Black Hawk crossed
the river ito steal some corn from their own
fields"
Moving with his band up the Rock river, Black
Hawk was overtaken by a messenger from Gen.
eral Atkinson, ordering him to return and re-
cross the Mississippi Black Hawk replied that
he had not taken the warpath but was going on
friendly visit TO the village of White Cloud,
the Winnebago prophet, and continued his
journey. Atkinson then sent imperative orders
for him to return at once or he would pursue
with his army and drive him back. To this the
Indian leader protested that the general had no
right to utter such threat so long as his mis-
sion to the Winnebagoes was a peaceable one
and that he intended to continue on his way
Continue he did, until he was met by some
Winnebago and Pottawatome chiefs In a coun-
Gil they made it plain that they had no intention
of joining with Black Hawk in any war upon
the Americans Feeling that he had been be-
trayed by his Indian friends the Sank leader
resolved to send flag of truce to Atkinson,
asking permission TO descend the Rock river
recross the Mississippi and return to his reserva-
ton in Iowa.
In the meantime Governor Reynolds had called
out the militia and one Of the captains of the
hastily organized companies elected by his own
men, was a lanky young storekeeper from New
Salem named Abraham Lincoln. At about the
time Black Hawk was holding his council with
the other tribes, a large force of the militia
had modified under General whifesides near
Dixon's Ferry. At the request of Mai Isaiah
Stillman, Whitesdes sent scouting party Of
about 30 men under Stillman to try to locate
the Indians. This party assembled the Rock
river to the mouth of Sycamore creek and
camped there. ignorant of the fact that they
were only short distance from Black Hawks
camp
Then occurred tragic error-the first In
war filed with tragic blunders. Black Hawk
sent three Of his warriors under flag of truce
to ask for conference. Stillmans undisciplined
volunteers fred on them killing one Then fol-
lowed the opera bouffe battle which has come
DOWN in history as ''Stillman's Run" In which 40
Indians sent go white men into headong fight
infcting loss Of about dozen on the militia
at loss of only two or three themselves and
those were killed by the treachery of the whites.
The news of this defeat spread even greater
terror through the state Governor REYNOLDS
called out more troops and from Washington
came word that Gen. Winfield Scott, "Old Fuss