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

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He then placed a medal around my neck and gave me a paper, which I
lost in the late war, and a silk flag, saying: "You are to command all
the braves that will leave here the day after to-morrow, to join our
braves at Detroit."

I told him I was very much disappointed, as I wanted to descend the
Mississippi and make war upon the settlements. He said he had been
ordered to lay in waste the country around St. Louis. But having been
a trader on the Mississippi for many years himself, and always having
been treated kindly by the people there, he could not send brave men
to murder helpless women and innocent children. There were no
soldiers there for us to fight, and where he was going to send us
there were a great many of them. If we defeated them the Mississippi
country should be ours. I was much pleased with this speech, as it
was spoken by a brave.

I inquired about my old friend, the trader at Peoria, and observed,
"that I had expected that he would have been here before me." He
shook his head and said, "I have sent express after express for him,
and have offered him great sums of money to come and bring the
Pottawatomies and Kickapoos with him." He refused, saying, "Your
British father has not enough money to induce me to join you. I have
now laid a trap for him. I have sent Gomo and a party of Indians to
take him prisoner and bring him here alive. I expect him in a few
days."

The next day arms and ammunition, knives, tomahawks and clothing were
given to my band. We had a great feast in the evening, and the
morning following I started with about five hundred braves to join the
British army. We passed Chicago and observed that the fort had been
evacuated by the Americans, and their soldiers had gone to Fort Wayne.
They were attacked a short distance from the fort and defeated. They
had a considerable quantity of powder in the fort at Chicago, which
they had promised to the Indians, but the night before they marched
away they destroyed it by throwing it into a well. If they had
fulfilled their word to the Indians, they doubtless would have gone to
Fort Wayne without molestation. On our arrival, I found that the
Indians had several prisoners, and I advised them to treat them well.
We continued our march, joining the British below Detroit, soon after
which we had a battle. The Americans fought well, and drove us back
with considerable loss. I was greatly surprised at this, as I had
been told that the Americans would not fight.

Our next movement was against a fortified place. I was stationed with
my braves to prevent any person going to, or coming from the fort. I
found two men taking care of cattle and took them prisoners. I would
not kill them, but delivered them to the British war chief. Soon
after, several boats came down the river fail of American soldiers.
They landed on the opposite side, took the British batteries, and
pursued the soldiers that had left them. They went too far without
knowing the strength of the British and were defeated. I hurried
across the river, anxious for an opportunity to show the courage of my
braves, but before we reached the scene of battle all was over.

The British had taken many prisoners and the Indians were killing
them. I immediately put a stop to it, as I never thought it brave,
but base and cowardly to kill in unarmed and helpless foe. We
remained here for some time. I can not detail what took place, as I
was stationed with my braves in the woods. It appeared, however, that
the British could not take this fort, for we marched to another, some
distance off. When we approached it, I found a small stockade, and
concluded that there were not many men in it. The British war chief
sent a flag of truce. Colonel Dixon carried it, but soon returned,
reporting that the young war chief in command would not give up the
fort without fighting. Colonel Dixon came to me and said, "you will
see to-morrow, how easily we will take that fort." I was of the same
opinion, but when the morning came I was disappointed. The British
advanced and commenced the attack, fighting like true braves, but were
defeated by the braves in the fort, and a great number of our men were
killed. The British army was making preparations to retreat. I was
now tired of being with them, our success being bad, and having got no
plunder. I determined on leaving them and returning to Rock river, to
see what had become of my wife and children, as I had not heard from
them since I left home. That night I took about twenty of my braves,
and left the British camp for home. On our journey we met no one
until we came to the Illinois river. Here we found two lodges of
Pottawattomies. They received us in a very friendly manner, and gave
us something to eat. I inquired about their friends who were with the
British. They said there had been some fighting on the Illinois
river, and that my friend, the Peoria trader, had been taken prisoner.
"By Gomo and his party?" I immediately inquired. They replied, "no,
but by the Americans, who came up with boats. They took him and the
French settlers prisoners, and they burned the village of Peoria."
They could give us no information regarding our friends on Rock river.
In three days more we were in the vicinity of our village, and were
soon after surprised to find that a party of Americans had followed us
from the British camp. One of them, more daring than his comrades,
had made his way through the thicket on foot, and was just in the act
of shooting me when I discovered him. I then ordered him to
surrender, marched him into camp, and turned him over to a number of
our young men with this injunction: "Treat him as a brother, as I have
concluded to adopt him in our tribe."

A little while before this occurrence I had directed my party to
proceed to the village, as I had discovered a smoke ascending from a
hollow in the bluff, and wished to go alone to the place from whence
the smoke proceeded, to see who was there. I approached the spot, and
when I came in view of the fire, I saw an old man sitting in sorrow
beneath a mat which he had stretched over him. At any other time I
would have turned away without disturbing him, knowing that he came
here to be alone, to humble himself before the Great Spirit, that he
might take pity on him. I approached and seated myself beside him.
He gave one look at me and then fixed his eyes on the ground. It was
my old friend. I anxiously inquired for his son, my adopted child,
and what had befallen our people. My old comrade seemed scarcely
alive. He must have fasted a long time. I lighted my pipe and put it
into his mouth. He eagerly drew a few puffs, cast up his eyes which
met mine, and recognized me. His eyes were glassy and he would again
have fallen into forgetfulness, had I not given him some water, which
revived him. I again inquired, "what has befallen our people, and
what has become of our son?"

In a feeble voice he said, "Soon after your departure to join the
British, I descended the river with a small party, to winter at the
place I told you the white man had asked me to come to. When we
arrived I found that a fort had been built, and the white family that
had invited me to come and hunt near them had removed to it. I then
paid a visit to the fort to tell the white people that my little band
were friendly, and that we wished to hunt in the vicinity of the fort.
The war chief who commanded there, told me that we might hunt on the
Illinois side of the Mississippi, and no person would trouble us.
That the horsemen only ranged on the Missouri side, and he had
directed them not to cross the river. I was pleased with this
assurance of safety, and immediately crossed over and made my winter's
camp. Game was plenty. We lived happy, and often talked of you. My
boy regretted your absence and the hardships you would have to
undergo. We had been here about two moons, when my boy went out as
usual to hunt. Night came on and he did not return. I was alarmed
for his safety and passed a sleepless night. In the morning my old
woman went to the other lodges and gave the alarm and all turned out
to hunt for the missing one. There being snow upon the ground they
soon came upon his track, and after pursuing it for some distance,
found he was on the trail of a deer, which led toward the river. They
soon came to the place where he had stood and fired, and near by,
hanging on the branch of a tree, found the deer, which he had killed
and skinned. But here were also found the tracks of white men. They
had taken my boy prisoner. Their tracks led across the river and then
down towards the fort. My friends followed on the trail, and soon
found my boy lying dead. He had been most cruelly murdered. His face
was shot to pieces, his body stabbed in several places and his head
scalped. His arms were pinioned behind him."

The old man paused for some time, and then told me that his wife had
died on their way up the Mississippi. I took the hand of my old
friend in mine and pledged myself to avenge the death of his son. It
was now dark, and a terrible storm was raging. The rain was descending
in heavy torrents, the thunder was rolling in the heavens, and the
lightning flashed athwart the sky. I had taken my blanket off and
wrapped it around the feeble old man. When the storm abated I kindled
a fire and took hold of my old friend to remove him nearer to it. He
was dead! I remained with him during the night. Some of my party
came early in the morning to look for me, and assisted me in burying
him on the peak of the bluff. I then returned to the village with my
friends. I visited the grave of my old friend as I ascended Rock
river the last time.

On my arrival at the village I was met by the chiefs and braves and
conducted to the lodge which was prepared for me. After eating, I gave
a fall account of all that I had seen and done. I explained to my
people the manner in which the British and Americans fought. Instead
of stealing upon each other and taking every advantage to kill the
enemy and save their own people as we do, which, with us is considered
good policy in a war chief, they march out in open daylight and fight
regardless of the number of warriors they may lose. After the battle
is over they retire to feast and drink wine as if nothing had
happened. After which they make a statement in writing of what they
have done, each party claiming the victory, and neither giving an
account of half the number that have been killed on their own side
They all fought like braves, but would not do to lead a party with us.
Our maxim is: "Kill the enemy and save our own men." Those chiefs will
do to paddle a canoe but not to steer it. The Americans shot better
than the British, but their soldiers were not so well clothed, nor so
well provided for.

The village chief informed me that after I started with my braves and
the parties who followed, the nation was reduced to a small party of
fighting men; that they would have been unable to defend themselves if
the Americans had attacked them. That all the children and old men and
women belonging to the warriors who had joined the British were left
with them to provide for. A council had been called which agreed that
Quashquame, the Lance, and other chiefs, with the old men, women and
children, and such others as chose to accompany them, should descend
the Mississippi to St. Louis, and place themselves under the American
chief stationed there. They accordingly went down to St. Louis, were
received as the friendly band of our nation, were sent up the Missouri
and provided for, while their friends were assisting the British!

Keokuk was then introduced to me as the war chief of the braves then
in the village. I inquired how he had become chief? They said that a
large armed force was seen by their spies going toward Peoria. Fears
were entertained that they would come up and attack the village and a
council had been called to decide as to the best course to be adopted,
which concluded upon leaving the village and going to the west side of
the Mississippi to get out of the way. Keokuk, during the sitting of
the council, had been standing at the door of the lodge, not being
allowed to enter, as he had never killed an enemy, where he remained
until old Wacome came out. He then told him that he heard what they
had decided upon, and was anxious to be permitted to speak before the
council adjourned. Wacome returned and asked leave for Keokuk to come
in and make a speech. His request was granted. Keokuk entered and
addressed the chiefs. He said: "I have heard with sorrow that you
have determined to leave our village and cross the Mississippi, merely
because you have been told that the Americans were coming in this
direction. Would you leave our village, desert our homes and fly
before an enemy approaches? Would you leave all, even the graves of
our fathers, to the mercy of an enemy without trying to defend them?
Give me charge of your warriors and I'll defend the village while you
sleep in safety."

The council consented that Keokuk should be war chief. He marshalled
his braves, sent out his spies and advanced with a party himself on
the trail leading to Peoria. They returned without seeing an enemy.
The Ameicans did not come by our village. All were satisfied with the
appointment of Keokuk. He used every precaution that our people
should not be surprised. This is the manner in which and the cause of
his receiving the appointment.

I was satisfied, and then started to visit my wife and children. I
found them well, and my boys were growing finely. It is not customary
for us to say much about our women, as they generally perform their
part cheerfully and never interfere with business belonging to the
men. This is the only wife I ever had or ever will have. She is a
good woman, and teaches my boys to be brave. Here I would have rested
myself and enjoyed the comforts of my lodge, but I could not. I had
promised to avenge the death of my adopted son.

I immediately collected a party of thirty braves, and explained to
them the object of my making this war party, it being to avenge the
death of my adopted son, who had been cruelly and wantonly murdered by
the whites. I explained to them the pledge I had made to his father,
and told them that they were the last words that he had heard spoken.
All were willing to go with me to fulfill my word. We started in
canoes, and descended the Mississippi, until we arrived ear the place
where Fort Madison had stood. It had been abandoned and burned by the
whites, and nothing remained but the chimneys. We were pleased to see
that the white people had retired from the country. We proceeded down
the river again. I landed with one brave near Cape Gray, the
remainder of the party went to the mouth of the Quiver. I hurried
across to the tail that led from the mouth of the Quiver to a fort,
and soon after heard firing at the mouth of the creek. Myself and
brave concealed ourselves on the side of the road. We had not
remained here long before two men, riding one horse, came at full
speed from the direction of the sound of the firing. When they came
sufficiently near we fired; the horse jumped and both men fell. We
rushed toward them and one rose and ran. I followed him and was
gaining on him, when he ran over a pile of rails that had lately been
made, seized a stick and struck at me. I now had an opportunity to
see his face, and I knew him. He had been at Qaashquame's village to
teach his people how to plow. We looked upon him as a good man. I
did not wish to kill him, and pursued him no further. I returned and
met my brave. He said he had killed the other man and had his scalp
in his hand. We had not proceeded far before we met the man supposed
to be killed, coming up the road, staggering like a drunken man, and
covered all over with blood. This was the most terrible sight I had
ever seen. I told my comrade to kill him to put him out of his
misery. I could not look at him. I passed on and heard a rustling in
the bushes. I distinctly saw two little boys concealing themselves in
the undergrowth, thought of my own children, and passed on without
noticing them. My comrade here joined me, and in a little while we
met the other detachment of our party. I told them that we would be
pursued, and directed them to follow me. We crossed the creek and
formed ourselves in the timber. We had not been here long, when a
party of mounted men rushed at full speed upon us. I took deliberate
aim and shot the leader of the party. He fell lifeless from his
horse. All my people fired, but without effect. The nemy rushed upon
us without giving us time to reload. They surrounded us and forced us
into a deep sink-hole, at the bottom of which there were some bushes.
We loaded our gum and awaited the approach of the enemy. They rushed
to the edge of the hole, fired on us and killed one of our men. We
instantly returned their fire, killing one of their party. We
reloaded and commenced digging holes in the side of the bank to
protect ourselves, while a party watched the enemy, expecting their
whole force would be upon us immediately. Some of my warriors
commenced singing their death songs. I heard the whites talking, and
called to them to come out and fight. I did not like my situation and
wished the matter settled. I soon heard chopping and knocking. I
could not imagine what they were doing. Soon after they ran up a
battery on wheels and fired without hurting any of us. I called to
them again, and told them if they were brave men to come out and fight
us. They gave up the siege and returned to their fort about dusk.
There were eighteen in this trap with me. We came out unharmed, with
the exception of the brave who was killed by the enemy's fist fire,
after we were entrapped. We found one white man dead at the edge of
the sink-hole, whom they did not remove for fear of our fire, and
scalped him, placing our dead brave upon him, thinking we could not
leave him in a better situation than on the prostrate form of a fallen
foe.

We had now effected our purpose and concluded to go back by land,
thinking it unsafe to use our canoes. I found my wife and children,
and the greater part of our people, at the mouth of the Iowa river. I
now determined to remain with my family and hunt for them, and to
humble myself before the Great Spirit, returning thanks to him for
preserving me through the war. I made my hunting camp on English
river, which is a branch of the Iowa. During the winter a party of
Pottawattomies came from the Illinois to pay me a visit, among them
was Washeown, an old man who had formerly lived in our village. He
informed as that in the fall the Americans had built a fort at Peoria
and had prevented them from going down the Sangamon to hunt. He said
they were very much distressed. Gomo had returned from the British
army, and brought news of their defeat near Malden. He told us that
he went to the American chief with a flag, gave up fighting, and told
him he desired to make peace for his nation. The American chief gave
him a paper to the war chief at Peoria, and I visited that fort with
Gomo. It was then agreed that there should be no more hostilities
between the Americans and the Pottawattomies. Two of the white
chiefs, with eight Pottawattomie braves, and five others, Americans,
had gone down to St. Louis to have the treaty of peace confirmed.
This, said Washeown, is good news; for we can now go to our hunting
grounds, and, for my part, I never had anything to do with this war.
The Americans never killed any of our people before the war, nor
interfered with our hunting grounds, and I resolved to do nothing
against them. I made no reply to these remarks as the speaker was old
and talked like a child.

We gave the Pottawattomies a great feast. I presented Washeown with a
good horse. My braves gave one to each of his party, and, at parting,
said they wished us to make peace, which we did not promise, but told
them that we would not send out war parties against the settlements.

A short time after the Pottawattomies had gone, a party of thirty
braves belonging to our nation, from the peace camp on the Missouri,
paid us a visit. They exhibited five scalps which they had taken on
the Missouri, and wished us to join in a dance over them, which we
willingly did. They related the manner in which they had taken these
scalps. Myself and braves showed them the two we had taken near the
Quiver, and told them the cause that induced us to go out with the war
party, as well as the manner in which we took these scalps, and the
difficulty we had in obtaining them.

They recounted to us all that had taken place, the number that had
been slain by the peace party, as they were called and recognized to
be, which far surpassed what our warriors, who had joined the British,
had done. This party came for the purpose of joining the British, but
I advised them to return to the peace party, and told them the news
which the Pottawattomies had brought. They returned to the Missouri,
accompanied by some of my braves whose families were there.

After "sugar-making" was over in the spring, I visited the Fox village
at the lead mines. They had nothing to do with the war, and
consequently were not in mourning. I remained there some days,
spending my time very pleasantly with them in dancing and feasting. I
then paid a visit to the Pottawattomie village on the Illinois river,
and learned that Sanatuwa and Tatapuckey had been to St. Louis. Gomo
told me that "peace had been made between his people and the
Americans, and that seven of his band remained with the war chief to
make the peace stronger." He then told me: "Washeown is dead! He had
gone to the fort to carry some wild fowl to exchange for tobacco,
pipes and other articles. He had secured some tobacco and a little
flour, and left the fort before sunset, but had not proceeded far when
he was _shot dead_ by a white war chief, who had concealed himself
near the path for that purpose. He then dragged him to the lake and
threw him in, where I afterwards found him. I have since given two
homes and a rifle to his relatives, not to break the peace, to which
they have agreed."

I remained for some time at the village of Gomo, and went with him to
the fort to pay a visit to the war chief. I spoke the Pottawattomie
tongue well, and was taken for one of their people by him. He treated
us friendly, and said he was very much displeased about the murder of'
Washeown. He promised us he would find out and punish the person who
killed him. He made some inquiries about the Sacs, which I answered.
On my return to Rock river, I was informed that a party of soldiers
had gone up the Mississippi to build a fort at Prairie du Chien. They
stopped near our village, appearing very friendly, and were treated
kindly by our people.

We commenced repairing our lodges, putting our village in order, and
clearing our cornfields. We divided the fields belonging to the party
on the Missouri among those who wanted them, on condition that they
should be relinquished to their owners on their return from the peace
establishment. We were again happy in our village. Our women went
cheerfully to work and all moved on harmoniously.

Some time afterward, five or six boats arrived loaded with soldiers on
their way to Prairie du Chien to reinforce the garrison at that place.
They appeared friendly and were well received, and we held a council
with the war chief. We had no intention of hurting him or any of his
party, for we could easily have defeated them. They remained with us
all day and gave oar people plenty of whisky. Doing the night a party
arrived, by way of Rock river, who brought us six kegs of powder.
They told us that the British had gone to Prairie du Chien and taken
the fort. They wished us to again join them in the war, which we
agreed to do. I collected my warriors and determined to pursue the
boats, which had sailed with a fair wind. If we had known the day
before, we could easily have taken them all, as the war chief used no
precaution to prevent it.

I started immediately with my party, by land, in pursuit, thinking
that some of their boats might get aground, or that the Great Spirit
would put them in our power, if he wished them taken and their people
killed. About half way up the rapids I had a full view of the boats
all sailing with a strong wind. I discovered that one boat was badly
managed, and was suffered to be drawn ashore by the wind. They landed
by running hard aground and lowered their sail. The others passed on.
This boat the Great Spirit gave to us. All that could, hurried
aboard, but they were unable to push off, being fast aground. We
advanced to the river's bank undercover, and commenced firing on the
boat. I encouraged my braves to continue firing. Several guns were
fired from the boat, but without effect. I prepared my bow and arrows
to throw fire to the sail, which was lying on the boat. After two or
three attempts, I succeeded in setting it on fire. The boat was soon
in flames. About this time, one of the boats that had passed
returned, dropped anchor and swung in close to one which was on fire,
taking off all the people except those who were killed or badly
wounded. We could distinctly see them passing from one boat to the
other, and fired on them with good effect. We wounded the war chief
in this way. Another boat now came down, dropped her anchor, which
did not take hold, and drifted whore. The other boat cut her cable
and drifted down the river, leaving their comrades without attempting
to assist them. We then commenced an attack upon this boat, firing
several rounds, which was not returned. We thought they were afraid
or only had a few aboard. I therefore ordered a rush toward the boat,
but when we got near enough they fired, killing two of our braves--
these being all we lost in the engagement. Some of their men jumped
out and shoved the boat off, and thus got away without losing a man.
I had a good opinion of this war chief, as he managed so much better
than the others. It would give me pleasure to shake him by the hand.

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