Autobiography of Ma ka tai me she kia kiak, or Black Hawk

B >> Black Hawk >> Autobiography of Ma ka tai me she kia kiak, or Black Hawk

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The loss of my father, by the Cherokees, made me anxious to avenge his
death by the utter annihilation, if possible, of the last remnant of
their tribe. I accordingly commenced collecting another party to go
against them. Having succeeded in this, I started with my braves and
went into their country, but I found only five of their people, whom I
took prisoners. I afterwards released four of them, the other, a
young squaw, we brought home. Great as was my hatred of these people,
I could not kill so small a party.

About the close of the ninth moon, I led a large party against the
Chippewas, Kaskaskias and Osages. This was the commencement of a long
and arduous campaign, which terminated in my thirty-fifth year, after
having had seven regular engagements and numerous small skirmishes.
During this campaign several hundred of the enemy were slain. I
killed thirteen of their bravest warriors with my own hands.

Our enemies having now been driven from our hunting grounds, with so
great a loss as they sustained, we returned in peace to our village.
After the seasons of mourning and burying our dead braves and of
feasting and dancing had passed, we commenced preparations for our
winter's hunt. When all was ready we started on the chase and
returned richly laden with the fruits of the hunter's toil.

We usually paid a visit to St. Louis every summer, but in consequence
of the long protracted war in which we had been engaged, I had not
been there for some years.

Our difficulties all having been settled, I concluded to take a small
party and go down to see our Spanish father during the summer. We
went, and on our arrival put up our lodges where the market house now
stands. After painting and dressing we called to see our Spanish
father and were kindly received. He gave us a great variety of
presents and an abundance of provisions. We danced through the town
as usual, and the inhabitants all seemed well pleased. They seemed to
us like brothers, and always gave us good advice. On my next and last
visit to our Spanish father, I discovered on landing, that all was not
right. Every countenance seemed sad and gloomy. I inquired the cause
and was informed that the Americans were coming to take possession of
the town and country, and that we were to lose our Spanish father.
This news made me and my band exceedingly sad, because we had always
heard bad accounts of the Americans from the Indians who had lived
near them. We were very sorry to lose our Spanish father, who had
always treated us 'with great friendship.

A few days afterwards the Americans arrived. I, in company with my
band, went to take leave for the last time of our father. The
Americans came to see him also. Seeing their approach, we passed out
at one door as they came in at another. We immediately embarked in
our canoes for our village on Rock river, not liking the change any
more than our friends at St. Louis appeared to.

On arriving at our village we gave out the news that a strange people
had taken possession of St. Louis and that we should never see our
generous Spanish father again. This information cast a deep gloom
over our people.

Sometime afterwards a boat came up the river with a young American
chief, at that time Lieutenant, and afterwards General Pike, and a
small party of soldiers aboard. The boat at length arrived at Rock
river and the young chief came on shore with his interpreter. He made
us a speech and gave us some presents, in return for which we gave him
meat and such other provisions as we could spare.

We were well pleased with the speech of the young chief. He gave us
good advice and said our American father would treat us well. He
presented us an American flag which we hoisted. He then requested us
to lower the _British colors_, which were waving in the air, and to
give him our British medals, promising to send others on his return to
St: Louis. This we declined to do as we wished to have two fathers.

When the young chief started we sent runners to the village of the
Foxes, some miles distant, to direct them to treat him well as he
passed, which they did. He went to the head of the Mississippi and
then returned to St. Louis. We did not see any Americans again for
some time, being supplied with goods by British traders.

We were fortunate in not giving up our medals, for we learned
afterwards, from our traders, that the chiefs high up the Mississippi,
who gave theirs, never received any in exchange for them. But the
fault was not with the young American chief. He was a good man, a
great brave, and I have since learned, died in his country's service.

Some moons after this young chief had descended the Mississippi, one
of our people killed an American, was taken prisoner and was confined
in the prison at St. Louis for the offence. We held a council at our
village to see what could be done for him, and determined that
Quashquame, Pashepaho, Ouchequaka and Hashequarhiqua should go down to
St. Louis, see our American father and do all they could to have our
friend released by paying for the person killed, thus covering the
blood and satisfying the relations of the murdered man. This being
the only means with us for saving a person who had killed another, and
we then thought it was the same way with the whites.

The party started with the good wishes of the whole nation, who had
high hopes that the emissaries would accomplish the object of their
mission. The relations of the prisoner blacked their faces and
fasted, hoping the Great Spirit would take pity on them and return
husband and father to his sorrowing wife and weeping children.

Quashquame and party remained a long time absent. They at length
returned and encamped near the village, a short distance below it, and
did not come up that day, nor did any one approach their camp. They
appeared to be dressed in fine coats and had medals. From these
circumstances we were in hopes that they had brought good news. Early
the next morning the Council Lodge was crowded, Quashquame and party
came up and gave us the following account of their mission:

On our arrival at St. Louis we met our American father and explained
to him our business, urging the release of our friend. The American
chief told us he wanted land. We agreed to give him some on the west
side of the Mississippi, likewise more on the Illinois side opposite
Jeffreon. When the business was all arranged we expected to have our
friend released to come home with us. About the time we were ready to
start our brother was let out of the prison. He started and ran a
short distance when he was SHOT DEAD!

This was all they could remember of what had been said and done. It
subsequently appeared that they had been drunk the greater part of the
time while at St. Louis.

This was all myself and nation knew of the treaty of 1804. It has
since been explained to me. I found by that treaty, that all of the
country east of the Mississippi, and south of Jeffreon was ceded to
the United States for one thousand dollars a year. I will leave it to
the people of the United States to say whether our nation was properly
represented in this treaty? Or whether we received a fair
compensation for the extent of country ceded by these four
individuals?

I could say much more respecting this treaty, but I will not at this
time. It has been the origin of all our serious difficulties with the
whites.

Sometime after this treaty was made, a war chief with a party of
soldiers came up in keel boats, encamped a short distance above the
head of the Des Moines rapids, and commenced cutting timber and
building houses. The news of their arrival was soon carried to all
our villages, to confer upon which many councils were held. We could
not understand the intention, or comprehend the reason why the
Americans wanted to build homes at that place. We were told that they
were a party of soldiers, who had brought great guns with them, and
looked like a war party of whites.

A number of people immediately went down to see what was going on,
myself among them. On our arrival we found that they were building a
fort. The soldiers were busily engaged in cutting timber, and I
observed that they took their arms with them when they went to the
woods. The whole party acted as they would do in an enemy's country.
The chiefs held a council with the officers, or head men of the party,
which I did not attend, but understood from them that the war chief
had said that they were building homes for a trader who was coming
there to live, and would sell us goods very cheap, and that the
soldiers were to remain to keep him company. We were pleased at this
information ad hoped that it was all true, but we were not so
credulous as to believe that all these buildings were intended merely
for the accommodation of a trader. Being distrustful of their
intentions, we were anxious for them to leave off building and go back
down the river.

By this time a considerable number of Indians had arrived to see what
was doing. I discovered that the whites were alarmed. Some of our
young men watched a party of soldiers, who went out to work, carrying
their arms, which were laid aside before they commenced. Having
stolen quietly to the spot they seized the guns and gave a wild yell!
The party threw down their axes and ran for their arms, but found them
gone, and themselves surrounded. Our young men laughed at them and
returned their weapons.

When this party came to the fort they reported what had been done, and
the war chief made a serious affair of it. He called our chiefs to
council inside his fort. This created considerable excitement in our
camp, every one wanting to know what was going to be done. The
picketing which had been put up, being low, every Indian crowded
around the fort, got upon blocks of wood and old barrels that they
might see what was going on inside. Some were armed with guns and
others with bows and arrows. We used this precaution, seeing that the
soldiers had their guns loaded and having seen them load their big
guns in the morning.

A party of our braves commenced dancing and proceeded up to the gate
with the intention of, going in, but were stopped. The council
immediately broke up, the soldiers with their guns in hands rushed out
from the rooms where they had been concealed. The cannon were hauled
to the gateway, and a soldier came running with fire in his hand,
ready to apply the match. Our braves gave way and retired to the
camp. There was no preconcerted plan to attack the whites at that
time, but I am of the opinion now that had our braves got into the
fort all of the whites would have been killed, as were the British
soldiers at Mackinac many years before.

We broke up our camp and returned to Rock river. A short time
afterward the party at the fort received reinforcements, among whom we
observed some of our old friends from St. Louis.

Soon after our return from Fort Madison runners came to our village
from the Shawnee Prophet. Others were despatched by him to the
village of the Winnebagoes, with invitations for us to meet him on the
Wabash. Accordingly a party went from each village.

All of our party returned, among whom came a prophet, who explained to
us the bad treatment the different nations of Indians had received
from the Americans, by giving them a few presents and taking their
land from them.

I remember well his saying: "If you do not join your friends on the
Wabash, the Americans will take this very village from you!" I little
thought then that his words would come true, supposing that he used
these arguments merely to encourage us to join him, which we concluded
not to do. He then returned to the Wabash, where a party Of
Winnebagoes had preceded him, and preparations were making for war. A
battle soon ensued in which several Winnebagoes were killed. As soon
as their nation heard of this battle, and that some of their people
had been killed, they sent several war parties in different
directions. One to the mining county, one to Prairie du Chien, and
another to Fort Madison. The latter returned by our village and
exhibited several scalps which they had taken. Their success induced
several parties to go against the fort. Myself and several of my band
joined the last party, and were determined to take the fort. We
arrived in the vicinity during the night. The spies that we had sent
out several days before to watch the movements of those at the
garrison, and ascertain their numbers, came to us and gave the
following information: "A keel arrived from below this evening with
seventeen men. There are about fifty men in the fort and they march
out every morning to exercise." It was immediately determined that we
should conceal ourselves in a position as near as practicable to where
the soldiers should come out, and when the signal was given each one
was to fire on them and rush into the fort. With my knife I dug a
hole in the ground deep enough that by placing a few weeds around it,
succeeded in concealing myself. I was so near the fort that I could
hear the sentinels walking on their beats. By day break I had
finished my work and was anxiously awaiting the rising of the sun.
The morning drum beat. I examined the priming of my gun, and eagerly
watched for the gate to open. It did open, but instead of the troops,
a young man came out alone and the gate closed after him. He passed
so close to me that I could have killed him with my knife, but I let
him pass unharmed. He kept the path toward the river, and had he gone
one step from it, he must have come upon us and would have been
killed. He returned immediately and entered the gate. I would now
have rushed for the gate and entered it with him, but I feared that
our party was not prepared to follow me.

The gate opened again when four men emerged and went down to the river
for wood. While they were gone another man came out, walked toward
the river, was fired on and killed by a Winnebago. The others started
and ran rapidly towards the fort, but two of them were shot down dead.
We then took shelter under the river's bank out of reach of the firing
from the fort.

The firing now commenced from both parties and was kept up without
cessation all day. I advised our party to set fire to the fort, and
commenced preparing arrows for that purpose. At night we made the
attempt, and succeeded in firing the buildings several times, but
without effect, as the fire was always instantly extinguished.

The next day I took my rifle and shot in two the cord by which they
hoisted their flag, and prevented them from raising it again. We
continued firing until our ammunition was expended. Finding that we
could not take the fort, we returned home, having one Winnebago killed
and one wounded during the siege.

I have since learned that the trader who lived in the fort, wounded
the Winnebago while he was scalping the first man that was killed.
The Winnebago recovered, and is now living, and is very friendly
disposed towards the trader, believing him to be a great brave.

Soon after our return home, news reached us that a war was going to
take place between the British and the Americans.

Runners continued to arrive from different tribes, all confirming the
reports of the expected war. The British agent, Colonel Dixon, was
holding talks with, and making presents to the different tribes. I
had not made up my mind whether to join the British or remain neutral.
I had not discovered yet one good trait in the character of the
Americans who had come to the country. They made fair promises but
never fulfilled them, while the British made but few, and we could
always rely implicitly on their word.

One of our people having killed a Frenchman at Prairie du Chien, the
British took him prisoner and said they would shoot him next day. His
family were encamped a short distance below the mouth of the
Wisconsin. He begged for permission to go and see them that night, as
he was to die the next day. They permitted him to go after he had
promised them to return by sunrise the next morning.

He visited his family, which consisted of his wife and six children.
I can not describe their meeting and parting so as to be understood by
the whites, as it appears that their feelings are acted upon by
certain rules laid down by their preachers, while ours are governed by
the monitor within us. He bade his loved ones the last sad farewell
and hurried across the prairie to the fort and arrived in time. The
soldiers were ready and immediately marched out and shot him down. I
visited the stricken family, and by hunting and fishing provided for
them until they reached their relations.

Why did the Great Spirit ever send the whites to this island to drive
us from our homes and introduce among us poisonous liquors, disease
and death? They should have remained in the land the Great Spirit
allotted them. But I will proceed with my story. My memory, however,
is not very good since my late visit to the white people. I have
still a buzzing noise in my ear from the noise and bustle incident to
travel. I may give some parts of my story out of place, but will make
my best endeavors to be correct.

Several of our chiefs were called upon to go to Washington to see our
Great Father. They started and during their absence I went to Peoria,
on the Illinois river, to see an old friend and get his advice. He
was a man who always told u the truth, sad knew everything that was
going on. When I arrived at Peoria he had gone to Chicago, and was
not at home. I visited the Pottawattomie villages and then returned
to Rock river. Soon after which our friends returned from their visit
to the Great Father and reported what had been said and done. Their
Great Father told them that in the event of a war taking place with
England, not to interfere on either side, but remain neutral. He did
not want our help, but wished us to hunt and supply our families, and
remain in peace. He said that British traders would not be allowed to
come on the Mississippi to furnish us with goods, but that we would be
well supplied by an American trader. Our chiefs then told him that
the British traders always gave us credit in the fall for guns, powder
and goods, to enable us to hunt and clothe our families. He replied
that the trader at Fort Madison would have plenty of goods, and if we
should go there in the autumn of the year, he would supply us on
credit, as the British traders had done. The party gave a good
account of what they had seen and the kind treatment they had
received. This information pleased us all very much. We all agreed
to follow our Great Father's advice and not interfere in the war. Our
women were much pleased at the good news. Everything went on
cheerfully in our village. We resumed our pastimes of playing ball,
horse-racing and dancing, which had been laid aside when this great
war was first talked about. We had fine crops of corn which were now
ripe, and our women were busily engaged in gathering it and making
caches to contain it.

In a short time we were ready to start to Fort Madison to get our
supply of goods, that we might proceed to our hunting grounds. We
passed merrily down the river, all in high spirits. I had determined
to spend the winter at my old favorite hunting ground on Skunk river.
I left part of my corn and mats at its mouth to take up as we returned
and many others did the same.

The next morning we arrived at the fort and made our encampment.
Myself and principal men paid a visit to the war chief at the fort.
He received us kindly and gave us some tobacco, pipes and provisions.

The trader came in and we all shook hands with him, for on him all our
dependence was placed, to enable us to hunt and thereby support our
families. We waited a long time, expecting the trader would tell us
that he had orders from our Great Father to supply us with goods, but
he said nothing on the subject. I got up and told him in a short
speech what we had come for, and hoped he had plenty of goods to
supply us. I told him that he should be well paid in the spring, and
concluded by informing him that we had decided to follow our Great
Father's advice and not go to war.

He said that he was happy to hear that we had concluded to remain in
peace. That he had a large quantity of goods, and that if we had made
a good hunt we should be well supplied, but he remarked that he had
received no instructions to furnish us anything on credit, nor could
he give us any without receiving the pay for them on the spot!

We informed him what our Great Father had told our chiefs at
Washington, and contended that he could supply us if he would,
believing that our Great Father always spoke the truth. The war chief
said the trader could not furnish us on credit, and that he had
received no instructions from our Great Father at Washington. We left
the fort dissatisfied and went to camp. What was now to be done we
knew not. We questioned the party that brought us the news from our
Great Father, that we could get credit for our winter supplies at this
place. They still told the same story and insisted on its truth. Few
of us slept that night. All was gloom and discontent.

In the morning a canoe was seen descending the river, bearing an
express, who brought intelligence that La Gutrie, a British trader,
had landed at Rock Island with two boat loads of goods. He requested
us to come up immediately as he had good news for us, and a variety of
presents. The express presented us with tobacco, pipes and wampum.
The news ran through our camp like fire through dry grass on the
prairie. Our lodges were soon taken down and we all started for Rock
Island. Here ended all hopes of our remaining at peace, having been
forced into war by being deceived.

Our party were not long in getting to Rock Island. When we came in
sight and saw tents pitched, we yelled, fired our guns and beat our
drums. Guns were immediately fired at the island, returning our
salute, and a British flag hoisted. We loaded, were cordially
received by La Gutrie, and then smoked the pipe with him. After which
he made a speech to us, saying that he had been sent by Col. Dixon.
He gave us a number of handsome presents, among them a large silk flag
and a keg of rum. He then told us to retire, take some refreshments
and rest ourselves, as he would have more to say to us next day.

We accordingly retired to our lodges, which in the meantime had been
put up, and spent the night. The next morning we called upon him and
told him we wanted his two boat loads of goods to divide among our
people, for which he should be well paid in the spring in furs and
peltries. He consented for us to take them and do as we pleased with
them. While our people were dividing the goods, he took me aside and
informed me that Colonel Dixon was at Green Bay with twelve boats
loaded with goods, guns and ammunition. He wished to raise a party
immediately and go to him. He said our friend, the trader at Peoria,
was collecting the Pottawattomies and would be there before us. I
communicated this information to my braves, and a party of two hundred
warriors were soon collected and ready to depart. I paid a visit to
the lodge of an old friend, who had been the comrade of my youth, and
had been in many war parties with me, but was now crippled and no
longer able to travel. He had a son that I had adopted as my own, and
who had hunted with me the two winters preceding. I wished my old
friend to let him go with me. He objected, saying he could not get
his support if he did attend me, and that I, who had always provided
for him since his misfortune, would be gone, therefore he could not
spare him as he had no other dependence. I offered to leave my son in
his stead but he refused to give his consent. He said that he did not
like the war, as he had been down the river and had been well treated
by the Americans and could not fight against them. He had promised to
winter near a white settler above Salt river, and must take his son
with him. We parted and I soon concluded my arrangements and started
with my party for Green Bay. On our arrival there we found a large
encampment; were well received by Colonel Dixon and the war chiefs who
were with him. He gave us plenty of provisions, tobacco and pipes,
saying that he would hold a council with us the next day. In the
encampment I found a great number of Kickapoos, Ottawas and
Winnebagoes. I visited all their camps and found them in high
spirits. They had all received new guns, ammunition and a variety of
clothing.

In the evening a messenger came to visit Colonel Dixon. I went to his
tent, in which them were two other war chiefs and an interpreter. He
received me with a hearty shake of the hand; presented me to the other
chiefs, who treated me cordially, expressing themselves as being much.
Pleased to meet me. After I was seated Colonel Dixon said: "General
Black Hawk, I sent for you to explain to you what we are going to do
and give you the reasons for our coming here. Our friend, La Gutrie,
informs us in the letter you brought from him, of what has lately
taken place. You will now have to hold us fast by the hand. Your
English Father has found out that the Americans want to take your
country from you and has sent me and my braves to drive them back to
their own country. He has, likewise, sent a large quantity of arms
and ammunition, and we want all your warriors to join us."

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