The Black Hawk War Including a Review of Black Hawk's Life
act and execute any military movement deemed necessary for the
protection of the frontier. I shall also furnish him with such
information regarding the Sacs and Foxes as I am possessed of, and
would beg leave to refer you to him for any further proceedings in
relation to this subject. I have the honor to be, with great respect,
“Your obedient servant,
“WM. CLARK.
“His Excellency, JOHN REYNOLDS, Governor of Illinois.”
The fact that Governor Reynolds did not immediately hear from General
Gaines or the Indian agents led him into the mistaken belief that they
were entirely inactive and unsympathetic as to the fate of the settlers.
The contrary is the truth, as the following letters, mentioned in the
foregoing, from Agent St. Vrain, a most courteous and conscientious man,
will disclose. This same good man was subsequently butchered in a most
shocking manner by the Indians:[71]
“Rock Island, May 15, 1831.
“Respected Sir:–I have again to mention to you that the Black Hawk (a
Sac chief) and his party are now at their old village on Rock River.
They have commenced planting corn and say they will keep possession. I
have been informed that they have pulled down a house and some fences,
which they have burned. They have also turned their horses in wheat
fields and say they will destroy the wheat, so that the white people
shall not remain among them.
“This is what I expected from their manner of acting last fall, and
which I mentioned to you in my letter of the 8th October last. I would
not be at a loss were it not for the 7th article of the treaty with
the Sacs and Foxes of 3d November, 1804.
”I respectfully ask, would it not be better to hold a treaty with
those Indians and get them to remove peaceably, than to call on the
military to force them off? None of this band has as yet called on me
for information. A few have been at my agency to have work done at the
smith’s shops. I have the honor to be,
“Your obedient servant,
“FELIX ST. VRAIN, Indian Agent.
“GEN. WILLIAM CLARK, Supt. Ind. of St. Louis.”
“St. Louis, May 28, 1831.
“Respected Sir:–Since my last of the 15th inst. on the subject of the
band of Sac Indians, etc., the Indian village on Rock River near Rock
Island, I have heard from the Indians and some of the whites, that a
house had been unroofed instead of pulled down and burned and that the
fence had caught fire by accident. As regards the destroying of the
wheat, etc., the Indians say that a white man hauled some timber
through a field and left the fence down, by which means their horses
got into the field. This, however, has been contradicted by the white
inhabitants of that place. They say that the Indians are constantly
troubling them by letting their horses into their fields and killing
their hogs, etc., etc. This, however, I am confident is occasioned in
a great measure by whisky being given to the Indians in exchange for
their guns, traps, etc.
“I had a talk with the principal chief and braves of that band of
Indians. I spoke to the Black Thunder, who is the principal of that
band. The Black Hawk is only a brave, but has considerable influence
with them. I told them that they had sold those lands to the
government of the United States, and that they ought to remove to
their own lands. They then said that they had only sold the lands
south of the river. I then produced the treaties and explained to them
that they had relinquished their right as far as the Ouisconsin.
Quash-quam-me (the jumping fish) then said that he had only consented
to the limits being Rock River; but that a Fox chief agreed (as he
understands, afterwards) for the Ouisconsin; that he (Quash-quam-me)
had been deceived, and that he did not intend it to be so. I had
considerable talk with them on this subject, and could discover
nothing hostile in their disposition, unless their decided conviction
of their right to the place could be construed as such. I have been
informed that a white man and his family had gone to an Indian village
on the borders of Rock River, about forty miles from Rock Island, for
the purpose of establishing a ferry, and that the Indians at that
place had driven them away, at the same time saying to them that they
would not hurt them, but they should not live there. This village is
occupied by a mixture of Winnebago, Sac and Fox bands and headed by
the Prophet, a chief. I have the honor to be
“Your obedient servant,
“FELIX ST. VRAIN, Indian Agent.
“GEN. WILLIAM CLARK, Supt. Indian Affairs, St. Louis.”
That General Clark was more active than credited by Reynolds will also
be learned from the ensuing letter, which he at once dispatched to
General Gaines:
“Superintendency of Indian Affairs,
“St. Louis, May 28, 1831.
“Sir:–I have the honor to inclose to you a copy of a letter of 26th
inst. just received from the Governor of Illinois, by which you will
perceive he has thought it necessary to call out a force of about 700
militia for the protection of the citizens of that State, who reside
near Rock River, and for the purpose of removing a band of Sacs which
he states are now about Rock Island.
“As the commanding General of this division of the army, I have
thought it my duty to communicate to you the above information; and
for the purpose of putting you in possession of the views of the
Government in relation to this subject, as well as to inform, you of
the means which have been heretofore employed for the removal of the
Sacs now complained of, I enclose to you herewith copies of my
correspondence with the War Department and with the agent for those
tribes, also extracts from such of their reports as had immediate
relation to the subject.[72]
“The Sacs and Foxes have been counseled with on the subject of their
removal from the lands which they had ceded to the United States. The
prospect of collisions with the white settlers who were then
purchasing those lands, and the interminable difficulties in which
they would be involved thereby were pointed out, and had the effect of
convincing a large majority of both tribes of the impropriety of
remaining at their old villages. They, therefore, acquiesced in the
justice of the claim of the United States and expressed their
willingness to comply with my request to remove to their new village
on Ioway river, west of the Mississippi, all but parts of two bands
headed by two inconsiderable chiefs, who, after abandoning their old
village, have, it appears, returned again, in defiance of all
consequences.
“Those bands are distinguished and known by the name of ‘The British
Party,’ having been for many years in the habit of making annual
visits at Malden in Upper Canada for the purpose of receiving their
presents, and it is believed to be owing in a great measure to the
counsels they have there received, that so little influence has been
acquired over them by the United States agents.
“In justice to Keokuk, Wapello, The Stabbing Chief, and, indeed, all
the other real chiefs and principal men of both tribes, it should be
observed that they have constantly and zealously co-operated with the
Government agents in furtherance of its views, and in their endeavors
to effect the removal of all their property from the ceded lands.
“Any information in my possession which you may deem necessary in
relation to this subject will be promptly afforded. With high respect,
I have the Honor to be
“Your most obedient servant,
“WILLIAM CLARK.
“MAJOR-GEN. EDMUND P. GAINES, Commanding Western Department, U.S.A”
“P.S. The agent for the Sacs and Foxes (Mr. St. Vrain) has received
his instructions and will perform any service you may require of him
with the Sacs and Foxes.”
Reynolds must have received General Clark’s letter on the date of
writing, since he concurrently addressed General Gaines as follows:
“Belleville, May 28, 1831.
“GENERAL GAINES.
“Sir:–I have received undoubted information that the section of this
State near Rock Island is actually invaded by a hostile band of the
Sac Indians, headed by Black Hawk; and in order to repel said
invasion, and to protect the citizens of the State I have, under the
provisions of the Constitution of the United States and the laws of
this State, called on the militia, to the number of seven hundred men,
who will be mounted and ready for service in a very short time. I
consider it my duty to lay before you the above information, so as
you, commanding the military forces of the United States in this part
of the Union, may adopt such measures in regard to said Indians as you
deem right.
“The above-mentioned mounted volunteers (because such they will be)
will be in readiness immediately to move against said Indians, and, as
Executive of the State of Illinois, I respectfully solicit your
co-operation in this business. Please honor me with an answer to this
letter.
“With sincere respect for your character,
“I am, your obedient servant,
“JOHN REYNOLDS.”
To which rather tart epistle General Gaines replied instanter:
“H.Q. Western Department, May 29, 1831.
“His Excellency, GOVERNOR REYNOLDS.
“Sir:–I do myself the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of yesterday’s date, advising me of your having received undoubted
information that the section of the frontier of your State near Rock
Island is invaded by a hostile band of Sac Indians, headed by a chief
called Black Hawk. That in order to repel said invasion, and to
protect the citizens of the State, you have called on the militia to
the number of seven hundred militiamen, to be in readiness immediately
to move against the Indians, and you solicit my co-operation.
“In reply, it is my duty to state to you, that I have ordered six
companies of the regular troops stationed at Jefferson Barracks to
embark to-morrow morning and repair forthwith to the spot occupied by
the hostile Sacs. To this detachment I shall, if necessary, add four
companies. With this force I am satisfied that I shall be able to
repel the invasion and give security to the frontier inhabitants of
the State. But should the hostile band be sustained by the residue of
the Sac, Fox and other Indians, to an extent requiring an augmentation
of my force, I will, in that event, communicate with your Excellency
by express, and avail myself of the co-operation which you propose.
But, under existing circumstances, and the present aspect of our
Indian relations on the Rock Island section of the frontier, I do not
deem it necessary or proper to require militia, or any other
description of force, other than that of the regular army at this
place and Prairie du Chien.
“I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
“Your obedient servant,
“EDMUND P. GAINES,
“Major-Gen. by Brevet, Commanding.”