The Black Hawk War Including a Review of Black Hawk's Life
their old allies of the Pottawatomie, Winnebago and Kickapoo nations:
“WITNESSETH: That, Whereas, the said British Band of Sac Indians have,
in violation of the several treaties entered into between the United
States and the Sac and Fox nations in the years 1804, 1816 and 1825,
continued to remain upon and to cultivate the lands on Rock River,
ceded to the United States by the said treaties, after the said lands
had been sold by the United States to individual citizens of Illinois,
and other states. And, Whereas, the said British Band of Sac Indians,
in order to sustain their pretensions to continue upon the said Rock
River lands, have assumed the attitude of actual hostility towards the
United States, and have had the audacity to drive citizens of the
State of Illinois from their homes, to destroy their corn, and to
invite many of their old friends of the Pottawatomies, Winnebagoes and
Kickapoos to unite with them (the said British Band of Sacs) in war,
to prevent their removal from said lands: And, Whereas, many of the
most disorderly of these several tribes of Indians did actually join
the said British Band of Sac Indians, prepared for war against the
United States, and more particularly against the State of Illinois,
from which purpose they confess that nothing could have restrained
them but the appearance of force far exceeding the combined strength
of the said British Band of Sac Indians, with such of their aforesaid
allies as had actually joined them; but being now convinced that such
a war would tend speedily to annihilate them, they have voluntarily
abandoned their hostile attitude and sued for peace.
“First–Peace is therefore given to them upon the following conditions,
to which the said British Band of Sac Indians, with their aforesaid
allies, do agree; and for the faithful execution of which the
undersigned chiefs and braves of the said band, and their allies,
mutually bind themselves, their heirs and assigns forever.
“Second–The British Band of Sac Indians are required peaceably to
submit to the authority of the friendly chiefs and braves of the
United Sac and Fox nations, and at all times hereafter to reside and
hunt with them upon their own lands west of the Mississippi River, and
to be obedient to their laws and treaties; and no one or more of the
said band shall ever be permitted to recross this river to the place
of their usual residence, nor to any part of their old hunting grounds
east of the Mississippi, without the express permission of the
President of the United States or the Governor of the State of
Illinois.
“Third–The United States will guarantee to the united Sac and Fox
nations, including the said British Band of Sac Indians, the integrity
of all the lands claimed by them westward of the Mississippi River
pursuant to the treaties of the years 1825 and 1830.
“Fourth–The United States require the united Sac and Fox nation,
including the aforesaid British Band, to abandon all communication,
and cease to hold any intercourse with any British post, garrison, or
town; and never again to admit among them any agent or trader who
shall not have derived his authority to hold commercial or other
intercourse with them by license, from the President of the United
States or his authorized agent.
“Fifth–The United States demand an acknowledgment of their right to
establish military posts and roads within the limits of the said
country guaranteed by the third article of this agreement and
capitulation, for the protection of the frontier inhabitants.
“Sixth–It is further agreed by the United States, that the principal
friendly chiefs and head-men of the Sacs and Foxes bind themselves to
enforce, as far as may be in their power, the strict observance of
each and every article of this agreement and capitulation; and at any
time they may find themselves unable to restrain their allies, the
Pottawatomies, Kickapoos, or Winnebagoes, to give immediate
information thereof to the nearest military post.
“Seventh–And it is finally agreed by the contracting parties, that
henceforth permanent peace and friendship be established between the
United States and the aforesaid band of Indians.
“In Witness Whereof, we have set our hands, the date above mentioned.
“EDMUND P. GAINES,
“Major-General by Brevet, Commanding.
“JOHN REYNOLDS,
“Governor of the State of Illinois.”
CHIEFS.
Pash-e-pa-ho Stabbing Chief his X mark
Washut Sturgeon Head his X mark
Cha-kee-pax-he-pa-ho Little Stabbing Chief his X mark
Chick-a-ka-la-ko Turtle Shell his X mark
Pem-e-see the one that flies his X mark
WARRIORS AND BRAVES.
Ma-ca-la-mich-i-ca-tak the Black Hawk his X mark
Men-a-con the Seed his X mark
Ka-ke-ka-mah all Fish his X mark
Nee-peek Water his X mark
A-sam-e-saw the one that flies too his X mark
fast
Pan-see-na-nee Paunceman his X mark
Wa-wap-o-la-sa White Walker his X mark
Wa-pa-qunt White Hare his X mark
Ke-o-sa-tah Walker his X mark
FOX CHIEFS.
Wa-pa-la the Prince his X mark
Kee-tee-see the Eagle his X mark
Pa-we-sheek one that sifts through his X mark
Na-mee one that has gone his X mark
FOX BRAVES AND WARRIORS.
Al-lo-tah Morgan his X mark
Ka-ka-kew the Crow his X mark
She-she-qua-nas Little Gourd his X mark
Koe-ko-skee his X mark
Ta-ko-na the Prisoner his X mark
Na-kis-ka-wa the one that meets his X mark
Pa-ma-ke-tah the one that stands about his X mark
To-po-kia the Night his X mark
Mo-lan-sat the one that has his hair his X mark
pulled out
Ka-ke-me-ka-peo sitting in the grease his X mark
WITNESSES.
Joseph M. Street, U.S. Indian Agent at Prairie du Chien.
W. Morgan, Colonel 1st Infantry.
J. Bliss, Brevet Major 1st Infantry.
Geo. A. M’Call, aid-de-camp to Maj.-Gen. Gaines.
Sam’l Whiteside.
Felix St. Vrain, Indian Agent.
John S. Greathouse.
M.K. Alexander.
A.S. West.
Antoine LeClaire, Interpreter.
Jos. Danforth.
Dan S. Witter.
Benj. F. Pike.[83]
During the progress of this treaty the women and children remained
encamped on the west bank of the river, reduced by the improvidence of
the men to the extremity of starvation. In many cases they had nothing
to cover their nakedness, presenting a spectacle so appealing to Gaines
and Reynolds that the former took from the general store of provisions
and delivered to Black Hawk and his band a quantity sufficient to tide
them over until another crop should have been gathered. Black Hawk
accepted them and went his way with many protestations of satisfaction.
Black Hawk in his book has stated that at this time he was perfectly
willing to remove to the west bank of the river for a cash consideration
of $10,000 to himself, and thus abandon his village and the graves of
his fathers. Rather a sordid ultimatum for a patriot!
The regular troops reached Jefferson Barracks on their return, July 6th,
and the volunteers, in riding to their various counties, required a
little more time. The latter, who had hoped to end the controversies
with Black Hawk in an open fight, were loud in their protests when they
discovered that instead of bullets the Indians were to receive
provisions, calling the expedition a corn war and other names of
ridicule, but the sober judge of all the circumstances will render his
opinion in favor of the justness of Gaines’ and Reynolds’ actions.
-----
Footnote 74:
Fulton’s “Red Men of Iowa,” p. 194; Davidson & Stuvé Hist. Ill., p.
377.
Footnote 75:
Reynolds’ “My Own Times,” p. 334.
Footnote 76:
Subsequently Governor of Illinois.
Footnote 77:
On the election of Henry to be colonel, John Dement was made aide to
Reynolds.
Footnote 78:
Wakefield.
Footnote 79:
The name of George F. Kennedy has at times been confused with that of
Samuel F. Kendle.
Footnote 80:
40 Niles, 341, says June 19.
Footnote 81:
Ford, 112.
Footnote 82:
Ford, 115.
Footnote 83:
Ex. Doc. B, 1st Sess. 22d Congress, p. 187.
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CHAPTER XIV.
UNREST–MESSENGERS AND WAR PARTIES SENT OUT–ATTACK ON THE SIOUX–THEY
RETALIATE–ATTACK ON THE MENOMINEES–A COUNCIL.
The Sioux and Sacs and Foxes had been enemies for generations. Predatory
excursions by each nation into the other’s country had decimated the
ranks of both, until the Government found it necessary to interfere and
demand a treaty of peace between them. Accordingly, on the 19 of August,
1825, William Clark and Lewis Cass, as commissioners on behalf of the
United States, met representatives from the Chippewas, Sacs and Foxes,
Sioux, Menominees, Winnebagoes, Iowas and portions of the Ottawas and
Pottowattomies at Prairie du Chien, where the first step toward a
general peace was taken by making a treaty wherein it was finally agreed
(Article 2) that the United States should run a boundary line between
the Sioux on the north and the Sacs and Foxes on the south, as follows:
Commencing at the mouth of Upper Iowa River, on the west bank of the
Mississippi, and ascending said Iowa River to its left fork; thence up
the fork to its source; thence crossing the fork of Red Cedar River in a
direct line to the second or upper fork of the Des Moines River; thence
in a direct line to the lower fork of the Calumet (Big Sioux) River, and
down that river to its junction with the Missouri River.[84]
Article 1 provided for a perpetual peace between the Sioux and Chippewas
and confederated tribes of Sacs and Foxes and between the Iowas and
Sioux.
Article 7 determined the boundaries of the Winnebago country in Illinois
and Wisconsin, most of which, including the lead mines, the Sacs and
Foxes had claimed and ceded by the treaty of 1804, and which fact, when
considered, brings the consideration for the lands actually acquired
within reason.
Article 9 defined the boundaries of the territory of the Ottawas,
Chippewas and Pottowattomies, none of which the Sacs and Foxes ever
owned, though they conveyed it by the treaty of 1804.
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This treaty of 1825, recognizing the right of the United States to
sundry other lands theretofore ceded by the Sacs and Foxes, over which
they had some shadow of authority, drew the line immediately north of