148

BLACK-HAWK RETIRES UP ROCK RIVER.

[BOOK V. and that Governor Reynolds was of the same opinion. But in this they were both mistaken, although when the treaty was made, Black-hauk without doubt intended strictly to observe it; yet he could not foresee what would happen. He had been promised corn to supply the wants of his people, instead of that which they had been obliged to abandon; but what they received was far from sufficient, and they began to feel the encroachment of famine. In this state of things, a party of Sacs, as the old chief says, went over the river to steal corn from their own fields! and thus began a new series of troubles which ended in bloodshed.

Black-hawk, with his chief men, had signed the treaty, and it was broken the same year by both parties. It was dated on the 30 June, 1831, five days after the "flight," and among the signers we recognize, besides MUCATA-MUHI-EATAK (Black-hawk), as his name was then written, PASHEPAHO (Stabbingchief), WEES HEAT (Sturgeon-head), KAKEKAMAH (All-fish), and several others. It was in the course of the same summer, that the party from Black-hawk's band killed the 28 Menomonies, of which we have before given an account, and although the whites considered it their concern, seem not to have undertaken to revenge it until the spring of 1832; and the probability is, they would hardly then have undertaken it, had not some of the Sacs intruded themselves again into their old village, by which a new cry was raised against them. Be this as it may, General Atkinson set out for the Upper Mississippi, about the first of April, at the head of the sixth regiment of United States infantry, at whose approach Black-hawk and his party abandoned their camp on the Mississippi, where Fort Madison had been built, and ascended Rock River. It was in this direction he expected to be reinforced by the Pottowattomies, Winnebagos, and Kikapoos, but who in the end declined the hazardous and unequal conflict.

As Black-hawk moved leisurely up Rock River, he received several expresses from General Atkinson, ordering him in a peremptory manner to leave the country; but he constantly said he would not, and said he was going to the Prophet's village to make corn, to which he had been invited, and the whites might attack him if they dared; that they might come on if they chose, but they would not find him unprepared; yet he would not begin with them.

Meanwhile General Atkinson, not judging it expedient to pursue the Indians up Rock-River, made a stand at Dixon's Ferry, and waited for a reinforcement.

March of Major Stillman-Kills some of BLACK-HAWK's men-Stillman's defeatTalk with the Winnebagos-Menomonies join the whites-Settlement on Indian Creek destroyed-Captivity of two young women-Murders—Plum River settlement broken up-Congress orders out troops-Murders near Galena-Indians cut off by General Dodge-Snider's defeat-Stevenson's defeat-Attack on the fort at Buffalo Grove-On that at Apple River-Defeat of Major Dement-Murder at Cincinawa Mound-Ravages of the cholera among the regular troops-Battle of the Quisconsin-Action with the steam-boat Warrior-Battle of the 2d of August, and end of the war.

BEFORE the arrival of General Atkinson at Ogee's or Dixon's Ferry, General Whitesides had proceeded there with a considerable body of mounted men, and a march of discovery was resolved upon. Accordingly, about the 13th of May, a company of 270 men proceeded on towards Sycamore Creek, under Major Stillman. BLACK-HAWK being apprized of the march of this detachment, sent out three young warriors with a white flag to meet them, and invite them to his camp; but the whites, paying no regard to the flag, took the bearers of it prisoners. Five others had been sent after the first, to see what ensued, and to report what might take place. These five were discovered and pursued by a small party of the whites, and, being overtaken, two of

CHAP. IX.]

STILLMAN'S DEFEAT.

149

them were killed, and the rest escaped. It was now near night, on the 14th of May. The party that had killed the two Indians returned to the main body, which, it seems, was preparing to encamp for the night when this circumstance took place; all immediately mounted their horses and rushed forward in confusion. It does not appear that Black-hawk had any thoughts that the whites would attack him, for he had not but about 40 of his men with him at this time, the others being out upon a hunting excursion; but when his spies returned, and reported that two of their number had been barbarously murdered, the war-whoop was sounded, and the best preparations were made, that the time would allow to meet the invaders.

When they approached Sycamore Creek, the whites proceeded to cross it in the same disorderly manner they came to it, although the country was very favorable for ambushes. The Indians stood firm, and were doubtless sure of a victory, seeing the enemy pass the creek man by man as they arrived; and when a sufficient number had crossed, the Indians rushed upon them with their usual fury of attack. The whites say the Indians “showed themselves on every quarter, mounted and armed. They commenced the attack with guns," and continued it with knives and tomahawks. Their situation became in a moment desperate, and Major Stillman, who was in the rear, learning the situation of the advance column, immediately ordered a retreat, but none was effected-it was a most disorderly and wretched flight! scarce two flying together; and it was owing to the smallness of Black-hawk's force that any were so fortunate as to escape.

Thus Bluck-hawk with about 40 men had put 270 to flight, and dispersed them in such a manner, that it was reported at first by themselves, that 60 or 70 had been killed; but, as it proved afterwards, it was their great fear of the Indians, that had driven them so far from their companions, that they did not all arrive at Dixon's Ferry for several days after the fight, although the battle-ground was only 30 miles from that place. They generally came in, one at a time, as they had crossed Sycamore Creek on the evening of the 14th; and in the end, all but 12 were accounted for, and 11 of these were found afterwards on the battle-ground and interred. A letter from that country says, "The dead that were found were cut and mangled in a most shocking and indecent manner; their hearts cut out, heads off, and every species of indignity practised upon their persons. One alone escaped this treatment: he was found dead, with his head nearly cut off, embraced by the arms of an Indian who had been shot through the body, but yet had strength enough remaining to tomahawk the man who had shot him, and partly to cut off his head, dying in the very act-his last convulsive struggle being an embrace of his enemy even in death." From Black-hawk's own account, it appears he lost but three men in the whole transaction, and that these were killed who were sent out to meet the whites in their approach to Sycamore Creek.

Hence it appears that the whites were guilty of the first blood shed in this war. The affair of Sycamore Creek caused a dire alarm to be sounded throughout the western region. Black-hawk's 40 warriors were magnified into 1500, and only the next day after Stillman's defeat, Governor Reynolds issued a proclamation calling on the militia to assemble at Hennepin, on Illinois River, by the 10 of June, to the number of 2000 men; which number, he said, he "considered necessary to subdue those Indians, and drive them out of the state." Although the news of Major Stillman's disaster flew over the country among the whites with great rapidity, yet it is mentioned as a circumstance well worthy of remark, that messengers from the hostile Sacs, bearing to the Missouri Indians the news of their victory, arrived at the Des Moines Rapids 24 hours before the express sent by Governor Reynolds at the same place.

About the time the proclamation of the 15th of May was issued, calling for 2000 militia, an attempt was made by the whites to secure or draw off the Winnebagos, and prevent their joining the war party. On the 26 May, Mr. Gratoit, a sub-Indian agent, held a council at the head of the Four Lakes with a number of the Winnebago chiefs, and they all signified their desire of remaining at peace with the white people. At this council, the chief, called the Little-black, made a speech, and among other things said,

150

MURDERS ON INDIAN CREEK.

[Book V. "Father, what you have heard of us is from forked tongues, and what you have heard of Man-eater is false. Man-eater is sick; but he has sent his sister and daughter here to speak for him. Father, since I knew you, I have always heard your counsel, and did what you told me. My father, the Great Spirit, has sent you both here. You have taken me by the hand, and you have held it fast in yours. We hope, in the name of the Great Spirit, and all our women and children, that you will hold it fast, and we will hold on to you so hard that you cannot shake us off. My father, I ask nothing but a clear sky over our heads, which have been hanging down lately, and the sky has been dark, and the wind has been blowing continually, and trying to blow lies in our ears, but we turn our ears from it; but when we look towards you, the weather is clear, and the wind does not blow. My father, our young men do not travel much, for they are afraid of the Sacs, and afraid they will be taken for Sacs by the troops. My father, we wish you to give us a paper like the one General Atkinson gave us, that we may show it to the whites whom we meet, that they may know we are friends and for peace."

As soon as the troubles began, there were many of the Menomonies and Sioux, who, thirsting for the blood of the Sacs, came and offered themselves to the whites, to fight for them, but their services were refused; now they had had a fight, and being beaten, they were glad to call upon the Indians for assistance, and it was granted. Yet it should not be supposed that it was from any love they bore towards the whites that they were glad to fight for them, but from their natural inclination to war, and to seek revenge for injuries they had received from the Sacs during their former troubles. Consequently several hundreds of them were soon upon the march in various directions to surprise those belonging to the war party, and others attached themselves to the army.

Blood had now been shed, and no, one had any right to expect but that the Indians would retaliate upon any whites, according to their manner, whether in arms or the cradle. There was a small settlement upon Indian Creek, near its confluence with Fox River, about 25 miles from the town of Hennepin, the rendezvous of the army. On the 20th of May, this settlement was fallen upon by a small band of warriors, led by a Pottowattomie, who, after killing 15 persons, took considerable plunder, and proceeded to Black-hawk's camp.

The Indians gave as a reason for their attack upon this place, that not long before, a man who lived there by the name of Hall, had severely beaten the Pottowattomie who led the party that committed the murder. Yet the family of this man, if not the man himself, had been told by a friendly Indian, that a party would come and murder them, and advised them to fly for their lives. They immediately did so, but as vengeance had decreed, they appear to have returned again very soon, as they were there found and murdered, as before stated. Two daughters of Mr. Hall were led away captive, one about 16, and the other about 18 years of age; two brothers of these young women, who were at work in the field when the massacre began, made their escape and arrived safe at Dixon's Ferry. Black-hawk said the young women would have been killed by the Pottowattomies when they were taken, but were spared at the intercession of two of his men, who were with them. The following account was written immediately after they were delivered from captivity, by a person at Dixon's Ferry, where they were delivered, and is probably correct.

"Of the Misses Halls, whose case seems to interest every body, (and who are now at Galena,) it may not be uninteresting to hear the following, as the best information that could be collected from the Indians who succeeded in procuring their liberation. After the bloody scene of despatching such of the family as were about the house, (to which they could not avoid being eye-witnesses,) those young women were each placed on a horse, which was led by a man-other men walked alongside, to guard and keep them from falling off

The editor of the American Annual Register is under a great mistake_in_placing_this affair a month earlier. It changes the whole aspect of affairs; making the Indians the first murderers, which is not fact.