The Black Hawk War Including a Review of Black Hawk's Life
commandant of Prairie du Chien to Governor Clark, who informed them of
the departure of Captain Duncan Graham, deputy scalping master
general, from Rock River, after bestowing on his worthy comrades, the
Sacks, 10 barrels of gunpowder and 20 fuses as a reward for their
services in butchering the helpless women and children on the
frontiers.
“As usual, the Sacks received the news of peace with ‘unbounded joy,’
and even sent a British flag to protect our messengers on their
return. They acknowledged they had 200 warriors on the frontiers, but
could not tell the number of their killed and wounded. They said they
would attend the treaty and bury the tomahawk.”[41]
A treaty of peace was finally in sight–the treaty of Portage des Sioux!
And now up to this time, it must be owned by the impartial mind that
rather than receiving any wrong from the Americans, Black Hawk, without
any provocation and contrary to his promises, had waged a merciless war
on the feeble settlements simply because he hated the Americans–the
enemy of his friends, the British. Drake, to condone those atrocities,
has stated on page 90 of his “Life of Black Hawk:” “Some palliation for
these outrages may be found in the fact that the British on the
northwest frontier, long after they were officially notified of the
peace, continued to excite the Indians to acts of violence against the
United States, and, indeed, participated in them likewise.” This
statement, from a man snugly ensconced in an upholstered chair, must be
regarded as magnanimous! We have found here Black Hawk the cold-blooded
aggressor and murderer, and when he subsequently stated that the treaty
signed by him in 1816 was not made known to him, can he be believed?
Armstrong, another apologist for the “poor Indian,” stated that Black
Hawk was a truthful Indian, though he “withheld facts that were
material.”[42] The frightful plight of the settlers can never be
realized by the present generation; neither can the actions of the
British be justly comprehended in the face of present amity. Plotting
destruction, Black Hawk was invariably found to the front, and while
successful, he found no fault with the defense of the Americans. That
remained for the time when he felt the heel of the conqueror, resenting
his years of blood-shedding. Where one man is invariably the offender,
it is safe to pronounce him an incorrigible quarreler. Black Hawk was
this and more–he was a British mercenary.
-----
Footnote 32:
Copy of letter to Gen. Howard, Niles Reg., Sup. to Vol. 7, p. 137.
Footnote 33:
Niles Reg., Vol. 8, p. 311.–June 10, 1815.
Footnote 34:
Black Hawk claimed the credit of being in the sink and also of killing
Capt. Craig, “the leader,” which, of course, could not be true.
Footnote 35:
Niles Reg., Vol. 8, p. 311.–July 1, 1815.
Footnote 36:
Niles Reg., Vol. 8, p. 312.–July 1, 1815.
Footnote 37:
Niles, Vol. 8, p. 312.–July 1, 1815.
Footnote 38:
Niles, Vol. 8, p. 271.–June 17, 1815.
Footnote 39:
Niles, Vol. 8, p. 348.–July 15, 1815.
Footnote 40:
Niles, Vol. 8, p. 436.–Aug. 19, 1815.
Footnote 41:
All these Indian troubles dated from Black Hawk’s return, it must be
noted. Prior to it, no record is to be found of hostile Sacs.
Footnote 42:
Armstrong’s “The Sauks, etc.,” p. 126.
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CHAPTER IX.
TREATY OF PORTAGE DES SIOUX, 1815–TREATY OF ST. LOUIS, 1816.
At the close of hostilities with England, a quietus to the horrors of
Black Hawk’s raids was demanded. The treaty with that power provided for
it. As shown in the preceding pages, all efforts had failed to get the
Indians together for that purpose until it was learned that Jackson was
on their trail. Then Duncan Graham fled from Rock River and the Indians
generally became suddenly impatient at the delay of the few days
necessary for notifications to meet the commissioners, William Clark,
Ninian Edwards and Auguste Chouteau, at Portage des Sioux, the place
designated for treaty negotiations. Promptly on the day, all the
principal Sacs and Foxes met and participated in this council save Black
Hawk and a few of his immediate followers. This Indian, dissatisfied,
sullen, malignant, declined to participate, and, lurking in the woods
near by, where he might spy upon his neighbors, sulked, claiming to be
an English citizen and subject, and notwithstanding the peremptory
nature of the provision in the treaty of Ghent for just such a council
as the present, he neither appeared in council nor signed the treaty
which followed.
Separate treaties were made, one with the Sacs and another with the
Foxes. That with the Sacs was signed on the 13th day of September, 1815,
and that with the Foxes the following day, and to forever silence all
objection and cavil to the treaty of 1804, an article was inserted in
each emphasizing and expressly ratifying it.
That with the Sacs was as follows:
“A Treaty of Peace and Friendship, made and concluded between William
Clark, Ninian Edwards and Auguste Chouteau, Commissioners
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, on the part and
behalf of the said States, of the one part; and the undersigned Chiefs
and Warriors of that portion of the Sac Nation of Indians now residing
on the Missouri River, of the other part:
“Whereas, The undersigned, chiefs and warriors, as well as that
portion of the nation which they represent, have at all times been
desirous of fulfilling their treaty with the United States, with
perfect faith; and for that purpose found themselves compelled, since
the commencement of the late war, to separate themselves from the rest
of their nation, and remove to the Missouri River, where they have
continued to give proofs of their friendship and fidelity; and,
“Whereas, The United States, justly appreciating the conduct of said
Indians, are disposed to do them the most ample justice that is
practicable; the said parties have agreed to the following articles:
“Article 1. The undersigned chiefs and warriors, for themselves and
that portion of the Sacs which they represent, do hereby assent to the
treaty between the United States of America and the united tribes of
Sacs and Foxes, which was concluded at St. Louis, on the third day of
November, one thousand eight hundred and four; and they, moreover,
promise to do all in their power to re-establish and enforce the same.
“Art. 2. The said chiefs and warriors, for themselves and those they
represent, do further promise to remain distinct and separate from the
Sacs of Rock River, giving them no aid or assistance whatever, until
peace shall also be concluded between the United States and the said
Sacs of Rock River.
“Art. 3. The United States, on their part, promise to allow the said
Sacs of the Missouri River all the rights and privileges secured to
them by the treaty of St. Louis, before mentioned, and, also, as soon
as practicable, to furnish them with a just proportion of the
annuities stipulated to be paid by that treaty; provided they shall
continue to comply with this and their former treaty.
“In witness whereof, the said William Clark, Ninian Edwards and
Auguste Chouteau, Commissioners, as aforesaid, and the aforesaid
Chiefs and Warriors, have hereunto subscribed their names and affixed
their seals, this thirteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, and of the Independence of the
United States the fortieth.
Wm. Clark.
Ninian Edwards.
Auguste Chouteau.
Shamaga, the lance.
Weesaka, the Devil.
Catchemackeseo, the big eagle.
Chekaqua, he that stands by the
tree.
Kataka, or sturgeon.
Mecaitch, the eagle.
Neshota, the twin.
Quashquammee, the jumping fish.
Chagosort, the blues’ son.
Pocama, the plumb.
Namachewana Chaha, the Sioux.
Nanochaatasa, the brave by
hazard.
“Done at Portage des Sioux, in the presence of R. Wash, Secretary of
the Commission; Thomas Levers, Lieut-Col., commanding 1st reg’t. I.T.;
P. Chouteau, agent; T. Paul, C.C.T.; Jas. B. Moore, capt.; Samuel
Whiteside, capt.; John W. Johnson, U.S. factor and Indian agent;
Maurice Blondeaux, Samuel Solomon. Noel Mograine, Interpreters; Daniel
Converse, 3d lieut. To the Indian names are subjoined a mark and
seal.”[43]
This treaty was ratified December 26th, 1815.
The treaty with the Foxes, made on the following day by the same
commissioners, and ratified December 16, 1815, while not affecting Black
Hawk in particular, was so intimately connected with him that it may be
well to repeat it here. After the caption and the recital of a desire to
re-establish peace it ran as follows:
“Article 1. Every injury or act of hostility by one or either of the
contracting parties against the other shall be mutually forgiven and
forgot.
“Art. 2. There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between the
citizens of the United States of America and all the individuals
composing the said Fox tribe or nation.
“Art. 3. The contracting parties do hereby agree, promise, and oblige
themselves reciprocally, to deliver up all the prisoners now in their
hands (by what means soever the same may have come into their
possession), to the officer commanding at Fort Clark, on the Illinois
River, to be by him restored to their respective nations as soon as it
may be practicable.
“Art. 4. The said Fox tribe or nation do hereby assent to, recognize,
re-establish and confirm the treaty of St. Louis, which was concluded
on the third day of November, one thousand eight hundred and four, to
the full extent of their interest in the same, as well as all other
contracts and agreements between the parties; and the United States
promise to fulfill all the stipulations contained in the said treaty
in favor of the said Fox tribe or nation.”[44]
This document, with its trifling exactions, was signed by twenty-two Fox
chiefs and warriors without protest or comment, forcibly demonstrating
the anxiety of all for peace when removed from ulterior influences.
Everyone who participated therein appeared gratified that hostilities
were ended; but an insecurity was still sensible which nothing but the
signature of Black Hawk could quiet. In the face of the many murders so
lately committed by Black Hawk’s band and the English, the statement by
Black Hawk that he was still an English subject and his refusal to treat
brought an issue squarely between the United States and him, and the
authorities at Washington were in no humor to allow that dissembler to
dictate the policy of the Indians and continue his crusade of crime
against helpless settlers. He was urged to sign and when pressed,
preferring plunder to peace, declined and stalked to his canoe in
dudgeon. Was he to be peacefully subdued?
While the United States authorities were actively planning to bring him
to terms, the leading men from the other Sac tribes and from the Foxes