Chapter I: Introduction

In the autumn of 1871, I began the collection of materials for the book which is just completed; at a time when many original sources existed from which to draw. Since that time, no opportunity wherein I might see and talk with persons who were in the Black Hawk campaigns has been lost, and from those interviews I have been able to gather information, old letters, commissions, muster rolls and papers obtainable by no possible system of correspondence.

I have endeavored to be thorough, and to be thorough has required space. I deplore the necessity which forbids an expression of thanks to each individual by name who has contributed documents, valuable portraits and information from which this work has been constructed. I thank them all as generously as I have borrowed, which has been much. Especially must I thank Mrs. Catherine Buckmaster Curran, of Alton, Illinois, who furnished me with a complete set of papers, without which I could never have finished my work as it should be finished.

Mrs. Colonel William Preston Johnston, of New Orleans, who, at great inconvenience and sacrifice of time, secured a copy of the journal kept by Lieut. Albert Sidney Johnston during his service in those campaigns.

Dr. J.F. Snyder, Virginia, Illinois, President State Historical
Society.
Prof. B.F. Shambaugh, Iowa City, Iowa.
Mr. R.G. Thwaites, Madison, Wisconsin.
Charles Aldrich, Des Moines, Iowa.
Miss Caroline M. McIlvaine, Librarian Chicago Historical Society,
Chicago.

CONTENTS

PAGE

CHAPTER I.–Birth, Personal Description and Character of
Black Hawk. Not a Chief. Made a Brave. Expeditions
against the Osages. Death of Py-e-sa. Period of Mourning.
Expedition against the Osages. Expedition against the
Cherokees. Expedition against the Chippewas, Osages and
Kickapoos. The first Appearance of the Americans 17

CHAPTER II.–British Intrigue against the Frontiers. Hatred
of the Americans. Treaty of 1804 25

CHAPTER III.–Treaty of 1804 and Black Hawk’s Version 31

CHAPTER IV.–Treaty of 1804 34

CHAPTER V.–Erection of Fort Madison. Rumors of Indian
Attack. Black Hawk joins Tecumseh. Returns to his Village.
Attacks Fort Madison. The Siege 37

CHAPTER VI.–Black Hawk enlists with the British in the War
of 1812. Deserts. Foster Son story. Keokuk made Chief 41

CHAPTER VII.–Expedition of Governor Clark to Prairie du
Chien. Lieut. Campbell’s Battle 46

CHAPTER VIII.–Major Taylor’s Battle. Battle of the Sink
Hole. Various Murders. British Agents withdrawn from Rock
River Country 52

CHAPTER IX.–Treaty of Portage des Sioux, 1815. Treaty of St.
Louis, 1816 60

CHAPTER X.–Fort Armstrong built. Black Hawk as a Fault
Finder. Annihilation of the Iowas 66

CHAPTER XI.–Treaties of 1822-4-5. Winnebago Outbreak. Attack
on the Boats. Arrest and Discharge 71

CHAPTER XII.–The Military Tract. Perils of Frontier Life.
Gathering Settlements about Black Hawk’s village.
Friction. Attempted Compromise. Complaints. Gov. Reynolds
calls out Militia. Notifies Clark and Gaines.
Correspondence. Gaines at Fort Armstrong 77

CHAPTER XIII.–Council. Militia Organized. March to Black
Hawk’s Village. Flight. Village Burned. Treaty of 1831 92

CHAPTER XIV.–Unrest. Messengers and War Parties sent out.
Attack on the Sioux. They Retaliate. Attack on the
Menominees. A Council 100

CHAPTER XV.–Ne-a-pope’s Mission. Keokuk’s Village. Council.
Black Hawk Moves down Iowa River and up the Mississippi to
Rock River. Atkinson Moves up to Ft. Armstrong 109

CHAPTER XVI.–Council. Atkinson calls for Troops. Reynolds’
Proclamation. Black Hawk Defiant. Gratiot’s Journey 112

CHAPTER XVII.–The Militia Moves to Rock River 116

CHAPTER XVIII.–Roster. Movement up Rock River Begun. The
Prophet’s Village Burned. Forced March to Dixon’s Ferry 122

CHAPTER XIX.–Dixon’s Ferry. Plight of Reynolds’ Messengers.
Stillman’s Defeat 129

CHAPTER XX.–Call for Additional Troops. Burial of the Dead.
Arrival of Atkinson. Lead Mines Militia. Erection of
Forts. Dodge’s March to the Four Lakes Country 139

CHAPTER XXI.–Atkinson Moves up Rock River. Indian Creek
Massacre. Narratives 145

CHAPTER XXII.–General Panic. Independent Companies Raised.
Atkinson’s March Continued. Insubordination. Army
Disbanded. Interim Regiment Raised 159

CHAPTER XXIII.–Various Illinois Murders, including those of
Sample, Payne and the St. Vrain Party 165

CHAPTER XXIV.–Atkinson’s March to Mouth of Fox River.
Dodge’s March to Meet Him. Capt. Iles’ March 172

CHAPTER XXV.–Capt. Snyder’s Battle. Murders in the Lead
Mines Country. Battle of Pecatonica. Capt. Stephenson’s
Battle 176

CHAPTER XXVI.–Attack on Apple River Fort 185

CHAPTER XXVII.–Organization of Forces at Ft. Wilbourn and
Disposition of Same. Murder of Phillips. March to Dixon’s
Ferry 188

CHAPTER XXVIII.– March to Dixon’s Ferry. Dement’s Battle 197

CHAPTER XXIX.–Murders near Ottawa. Posey’s Division Ordered
Forward. Alexander’s Division Ordered to Plum River.
Henry’s Division, with Regulars, Moved 202

CHAPTER XXX.–Consolidation of the Divisions. Capt. Dunn
Shot. Henry, Alexander and Dodge Detached to Move to Ft.
Winnebago. Posey sent to Ft. Hamilton. Disintegration of
Army. Alexander’s Return 208

CHAPTER XXXI.–Ft. Winnebago Reached. Stampede. Henry’s
Treatment of Disobedient Officers. Black Hawk’s Trail to
Westward Discovered. Forced March. Battle of the
Wisconsin. At Blue Mounds 213

CHAPTER XXXII.–Pursuit Resumed. Battle of the Bad Axe 221

CHAPTER XXXIII.–Throckmorton’s Narrative. Atkinson’s Report.
Black Hawk’s Flight. Capture. Delivery to Gen. Street.
Council 226

CHAPTER XXXIV.–Stambaugh’s Expedition 234

CHAPTER XXXV.–Examination of the Indians. Black Hawk a
Prisoner 238

CHAPTER XXXVI.–Scott’s Expedition. Treaty 242

CHAPTER XXXVII.–Movements of the Michigan Militia 243

CHAPTER XXXVIII.–Prison Life. Eastern Trip. Return. Council
at Ft. Armstrong. Black Hawk’s Apology. Black Hawk
Released 259

CHAPTER XXXIX.–Second Trip East. A Quiet Life. July Fourth
Toast at Ft. Madison. Interview with Iowas. Death. Burial.
His Grave Robbed. Bones Recovered. Consumed by Fire. Death
of Madam Black Hawk 268

APPENDIX: Abraham Lincoln in the Black Hawk War 277