The Black Hawk War Including a Review of Black Hawk's Life
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THE
BLACK HAWK WAR
INCLUDING A REVIEW OF
BLACK HAWK’S LIFE
_Illustrated with upward of three hundred rare and interesting
portraits and views_
BY
FRANK E. STEVENS
FRANK E. STEVENS
1205 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BLDG.
CHICAGO . . ILLINOIS
1903
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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1903, by
FRANK E. STEVENS
in the office of the Librarian of Congress at
Washington, D.C.
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DEAR MOTHER–
This book represents long years
of patient toil from which a
corresponding return is not
expected; it has been a labor of
love. To whom, then, should it be
dedicated but yourself, who spent
so many toilsome years to rear
its author, who may never repay a
fraction of the debt he owes you.
F.E.S.
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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
APPENDIX: Jefferson Davis in the Black Hawk War 290
LIST OF PORTRAITS AND OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
ABERCROMBIE, LIEUT. J.J. From photograph deposited
by Hon. A.J. Turner, of Portage, Wis., in the
Wisconsin Historical Collections. 293
ALEXANDER, GEN. M.K. From daguerreotype owned by
his daughter, Mrs. J.A. Judson, of Paris, Ill. 192
ANDERSON, LIEUT. ROBERT. From ivory miniature
owned by his daughter, Mrs. E.M.C.A. Lawton,
Washington, D.C.; by her copyrighted in 1901,
and now first published. 293
ARCHER, COL. WILLIAM B. From a steel plate owned
by F.J. Bartlett, Marshall, Ill. 225
ARENZ, FRANCIS. From an oil painting owned by his
son, Albert W. Arenz, of Jacksonville, Ill. 93
ATKINSON, GEN. HENRY. From oil painting owned by
his grandson, Captain B.W. Atkinson, U.S.A Now
first published. 112
BAD AXE BATTLEFIELD. From oil painting owned by
Wisconsin Historical Society. 224
BAILEY, MAJOR DAVID. From oil painting owned by
his son, D.G. Bailey, of Delavan, Ill. Now first
published. 133
BAKER, LIEUT. E.D. U.S. Senator, Hero of Ball’s