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

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We now put out the fire on the captured boat to save the cargo, when a
skiff was seen coming down the river. Some of our people cried out,
"Here comes an express from Prairie du Chien." We hoisted the British
flag, but they would not land. They turned their little boat around,
and rowed up the river. We directed a few shots at them, but they
were so far off that we could not hurt them. I found several barrels
of whisky on the captured boat, knocked in the heads and emptied the
bad medicine late the river. I next found a box full of small bottles
and packages, which appeared to be bad medicine also, such as the
medicine men kill the white people with when they are sick. This I
threw into the river. Continuing my search for plunder, I found
several guns, some large barrels filled with clothing, and a number of
cloth lodges, all of which I distributed among my warriors. We now
disposed of the dead, and returned to the Fox village opposite the
lower end of Rock Island, where we put up our new lodges, and hoisted
the British flag. A great many of our braves were dressed in the
uniform clothing which we had taken from the Americans, which gave our
encampment the appearance of a regular camp of soldiers. We placed
out sentinels and commenced dancing over the scalps we had taken.
Soon after several boats passed down, among them a very large one
carrying big guns. Our young men followed them some distance, but
could do them no damage more than scare them. We were now certain
that the fort at Prairie du Chien had been taken, as this large boat
went up with the first party who built the fort.

In the course of the day some of the British came down in a small
boat. They had followed the large one, thinking it would get fast in
the rapids, in which case they were sure of taking her. They had
summoned her on her way down to surrender, but she refused to do so,
and now, that she had passed the rapids in safety, all hope of taking
her had vanished. The British landed a big gun and gave us three
soldiers to manage it. They complimented us for our bravery in taking
the boat, and told us what they had done at Prairie do Chien. They
gave us, a keg of rum, and joined with us in our dancing and feasting.
We gave them some things which we had taken from the boat,
particularly books and papers. They started the next morning,
promising to return in a few days with a large body of soldiers.

We went to work under the direction of the men left with us, and dug
up the ground in two places to put the big gun in, that the men might
remain in with it and be safe. We then sent spies down the river to
reconnoitre, who sent word by a runner that several boats were coming
up filled with men. I marshalled my forces and was soon ready for
their arrival. I resolved to fight, as we had not yet had a fair
fight with the Americans during the war. The boats arrived in the
evening, stopping at a small willow island, nearly opposite to us.
During the night we removed our big gun further down, and at daylight
next morning commenced firing. We were pleased to see that almost
every shot took effect. The British being good gunners, rarely
missed. They pushed off as quickly as possible, although I had
expected they would land and give us battle. I was fully prepared to
meet them but was sadly disappointed by the boats all sailing down the
river. A party of braves followed to watch where they landed, but
they did not stop until they got below the Des Moines rapids, where
they came ashore and commenced building a fort. I did not want a fort
in our country, as we wished to go down to the Two River country in
the fall and hunt, it being our choice hunting ground, and we
concluded that if this fort was built, it would prevent us from going
there. We arrived in the vicinity in the evening, and encamped on a
high bluff for the night. We made no fire, for fear of being
observed, and our young men kept watch by turns while others slept. I
was very tired, and was soon asleep. The Great Spirit, during my
slumber, told me to go down the bluff to a creek, that I would there
find a hollow tree cut down, and by looking in at the top of it, I
would see a large snake with head erect--to observe the direction he
was looking, and I would see the enemy close by and unarmed. In the
morning I communicated to my braves what the Great Spirit had said to
me, took one of them and went down a ravine that led to the creek. I
soon came in sight of the place where they were building the fort,
which was on a hill at the opposite side of the creek. I saw a great
many men. We crawled cautiously on our hands and knees until we got
to the bottom land, then through the grass and weeds until we reached
the bank of the creek. Here I found a tree that had been cut down; I
looked in at the top of it and saw a large snake, with his head
raised, looking across the creek. I raised myself cautiously, and
discovered nearly opposite to me, two war chiefs walking arm in arm,
without guns. They turned and walked back toward the place where the
men were working at the fort. In a little while they returned,
walking directly towards the spot where we lay concealed, but did not
come so near as before. If they had they would have been killed, for
each of us had a good rifle. We crossed the creek and crawled to a
cluster of bushes. I again raised myself a little to see if they were
coming; but they went into the fort, and by this they saved their
lives.

We recrossed the creek and I returned alone, going up the same ravine
I came down. My brave went down the creek, and I, on raising the brow
of a hill to the left of the one we came down, could plainly see the
men at work. I saw a sentinel walking in the bottom near the mouth of
the creek. I watched him attentively, to see if he perceived my
companion, who had gone toward him. The sentinel stopped for some
time and looked toward where my brave was concealed. He walked first
one way and then the other.

I observed my brave creeping towards him, at last he lay still for a
while, not even moving the grass, and as the sentinel turned to walk
away, my brave fired and he fell. I looked towards the fort, and saw
the whites were in great confusion, running wildly in every direction,
some down the steep bank toward a boat. My comrade joined me, we
returned to the rest of the party and all hurried back to Rock river,
where we arrived in safety at our village. I hung up my medicine bag,
put away my rifle and spear, feeling as if I should want them no more,
as I had no desire to raise other war parties against the whites
unless they gave me provocation. Nothing happened worthy of note
until spring, except that the fort below the rapids had been abandoned
and burned by the Americans.

Soon after I returned from my wintering ground we received information
that peace had been made between the British and Americans, and that
we were required to make peace also, and were invited to go down to
Portage des Sioux, for that purpose. Some advised that we should go
down, others that we should not. Nomite, our principal civil chief,
said he would go, as soon as the Foxes came down from the mines.

They came and we all started from Rock river, but we had not gone far
before our chief was taken sick and we stopped with him at the village
on Henderson river. The Foxes went on and we were to follow as soon
as our chief got better, but he rapidly became worse and soon died.
His brother now became the principal chief. He refused to go down,
saying, that if he started, he would be taken sick and die as his
brother had done. This seemed to be reasonable, so we concluded that
none of us would go at this time. The Foxes returned. They said, "we
have smoked the pipe of peace with our enemies, and expect that the
Americans will send a war party against you if you do not go down."
This I did not believe, as the Americans had always lost by their
armies that were sent against us. La Gutrie and other British traders
arrived at our village in the fall. La Gutrie told us that we must go
down and make peace, as this was the wish of our English father. He
said he wished us to go down to the Two River country to winter, where
game was plenty, as there had been no hunting there for several years.

Having heard the principal war chief had come up with a number of
troops, and commenced the erection of a fort near the Rapids des
Moines, we consented to go down with the traders to visit the American
chief, and tell him the reason why we had not been down sooner. When
we arrived at the head of the rapids, the traders left their goods,
and all of their boats with one exception, in which they accompanied
us to see the Americans. We visited the war chief on board his boat,
telling him what we had to say, and explaining why we had not been
down sooner. He appeared angry and talked to La Gutrie for some time.
I inquired of him what the war chief said. He told me that he was
threatening to hang him up to the yard arm of his boat. "But" said
he, "I am not afraid of what he says. He dare not put his threats
into execution. I have done no more than I had a right to do a. a
British subject."

I then addressed the chief, asking permission for ourselves and some
Menomonees, to go down to the Two River country for the purpose of
hunting. He said we might go down but must return before the ice
came, as he did not intend that we should winter below the fort.
"But," he inquired, "what do you want the Menomonee. to go with you
for?"

I did not know at first what reply to make, but told him that they had
a great many pretty squaws with them, and we wished them to go with us
on that account. He consented. We all went down the river and
remained all winter, as we had no intention of returning before spring
when we asked leave to go. We made a good hunt. Having loaded our
trader's boats with furs and peltries, they started to Mackinac, and
we returned to our village.

There is one circumstance that I did not relate at the proper place.
It has no reference to myself or people, but to my friend Gomo, the
Pottawattomie chief. He came to Rock river to pay me a visit, and
during his stay he related to me the following story:

"The war chief at Peoria is a very good man. He always speaks the
truth and treats our people well. He sent for me one day, told me he
was nearly out of provisions, and wished me to send my young men
hunting to supply his fort. I promised to do so, immediately returned
to my camp and told my young men the wishes and wants of the war
chief. They readily agreed to go and hurt for our friend and returned
with plenty of deer. They carried them to the fort, laid them down at
the gate and returned to our camp. A few days afterward I went again
to the fort to see if they wanted any more meat. The chief gave me
powder and lead and said he wanted, me to send my hunters out again.
When I returned to camp, I told my young men that the chief wanted
more meat. Matatah, one of my principal braves, said he would take a
party and go across the Illinois, about one day's travel, where game
was plenty, and make a good hunt for our friend the war chief. He
took eight hunters with him, and his wife and several other squaws
went with them. They had travelled about half the day in the prairie
when they discovered a party of white men coming towards them with a
drove of cattle. Our hunters apprehended no danger or they would have
kept out of the way of the whites, who had not yet perceived them.
Matatah changed his course, as he wished to meet and speak to the
whites. As soon n the whites saw our party, some of them put off at
full speed, and came up to our hunters. Matatah gave up his gun to
them, and endeavored to explain to them that he was friendly and was
hunting for the war chief. They were not satisfied with this but
fired at and wounded him. He got into the branches of a tree that had
blown down, to keep the horses from running over him. He was again
fired on several times and badly wounded. He, finding that he would
be murdered, and, mortally wounded already, sprang at the man nearest
him, seized his gun and shot him from his horse. He then fell,
covered with blood from his wounds, and immediately expired. The
other hunters being in the rear of Matatah attempted to escape, after
seeing their leader so basely murdered by the whites. They were
pursued and nearly all of the party killed. My youngest brother
brought me the news in the night, he having been with the party and
was slightly wounded. He said the whites had abandoned their cattle
and gone back towards the settlement. The rest of the night we spent
in mourning for our friends. At daylight I blacked my face and
started for the fort to see the chief. I met him at the gate and told
him what had happened. His countenance changed and I could see sorrow
depicted in it for the death of my people. He tied to persuade me
that I was mistaken, as he could not believe that the whites would act
so cruelly. But when I convinced him, he said to me, 'those cowards
who murdered your people shall be punished.' I told him that my
people would have revenge, that they would not trouble any of his
people at the fort, as we did not blame him or any of his soldiers,
but that a party of my braves would go towards the Wabash to avenge
the death of their friends and relations. The next day I took a party
of hunters, killed several deer, and left them at the fort gate as I
passed."

Here Gomo ended his story. I could relate many similar ones that have
come within my own knowledge and observation, but I dislike to look
back and bring on sorrow afresh. I will resume my narrative.

The great chief at St. Louis having sent word for us to come down and
confirm the treaty, we did not hesitate, but started immediately that
we might smoke the peace pipe with him. On our arrival we met the
great chiefs in council. They explained to us the words of our Great
Father at Washington, accusing us of heinous crimes and many
misdemeanors, particularly in not coming down when first invited. We
knew very well that our Great Father had deceived us and thereby
forced us to join the British, and could not believe that he had put
this speech into the mouths of those chiefs to deliver to us. I was
not a civil chief and consequently made no reply, but our civil chiefs
told the commissioner that, "What you say is a lie. Our Great Father
sent us no such speech, he knew that the situation in which we had
been placed was caused by him." The white chiefs appeared very angry
at this reply and said, "We will break off the treaty and make war
against you, as you have grossly insulted us."

Our chiefs had no intention of insulting them and told them so,
saying, "we merely wish to explain that you have told us a lie,
without any desire to make you angry, in the same manner that you
whites do when you do not believe what is told you." The council then
proceeded and the pipe of peace was smoked.

Here for the first time, I touched the goose quill to the treaty not
knowing, however, that, by the act I consented to give away my
village. Had that been explained to me I should have opposed it and
never would have signed their treaty, as my recent conduct will
clearly prove.

What do we know of the manners, the laws, and the customs of the white
people? They might buy our bodies for dissection, and we would touch
the goose quill to confirm it and not know what we were doing. This
was the case with me and my people in touching the goose quill for the
first time.

We can only judge of what is proper and right by our standard of what
is right and wrong, which differs widely from the whites, if I have
been correctly informed. The whites may do wrong all their lives, and
then if they are sorry for it when about to die, all is well, but with
us it is different. We must continue to do good throughout our lives.
If we have corn and meat, and know of a family that have none, we
divide with them. If we have more blankets than we absolutely need,
and others have not enough, we must give to those who are in want.
But I will presently explain our customs and the manner in which we
live.

We were treated friendly by the whites and started on our return to
our village on Rock river. When we arrived we found that the troops
had come to build a fort on Rock Island. This, in our opinion, was a
contradiction to what we had done--"to prepare for war in time of
peace." We did not object, however, to their building their fort on
the island, but were very sorry, as this was the best one on the
Mississippi, and had long been the resort of our young people during
the summer. It was our garden, like the white people have near their
big villages, which supplied us with strawberries, blackberries,
gooseberries, plums, apples and nuts of different kinds. Being
situated at the foot of the rapids its waters supplied us with the
finest fish. In my early life I spent many happy days on this island.
A good spirit had charge of it, which lived in a cave in the rocks
immediately under the place where the fort now stands. This guardian
spirit has often been seen by our people. It was white, with large
wings like a swan's, but ten times larger. We were particular not to
make much noise in that part of the island which it inhabited, for
fear of disturbing it. But the noise at the fort has since driven it
away, and no doubt a bad spirit has taken its place.

Our village was situated on the north side of Rock river, at the foot
of the rapids, on the point of land between Rock river and the
Mississippi.

In front a prairie extended to the Mississippi, and in the rear a
continued bluff gently ascended from the prairie.

BLACK HAWK'S TOWER.

On its highest peak our Watch Tower was situated, from which we had a
fine view for many miles up and down Rock river, and in every
direction. On the side of this bluff we had our corn fields,
extending about two miles up parallel with the larger river, where
they adjoined those of the Foxes, whose village was on the same
stream, opposite the lower end of Rock Island, and three miles distant
from ours. We had eight hundred acres in cultivation including what
we had on the islands in Rock river. The land around our village
which remained unbroken, was covered with blue-grass which furnished
excellent pasture for our horses. Several fine springs poured out of
the bluff near by, from which we were well supplied with good water.
The rapids of Rock river furnished us with an abundance of excellent
fish, and the land being very fertile, never failed to produce good
crops of corn, beans, pumpkins and squashes. We always had plenty;
our children never cried from hunger, neither were our people in want.
Here our village had stood for more than a hundred years, during all
of which time we were the undisputed possessors of the Mississippi
valley, from the Wisconsin to the Portage des Sioux, near the mouth of
the Missouri, being about seven hundred miles in length.

At this time we had very little intercourse with the whites except
those who were traders. Our village was healthy, and there was no
place in the country possessing such advantages, nor hunting grounds
better than those we had in possession. If a prophet had come to our
village in those days and told us that the things were to take place
which have since come to pass, none of our people would have believed
him. What! to be driven from our village, and our hunting grounds,
and not even to be permitted to visit the graves of our forefathers
and relatives and our friends?

This hardship is not known to the whites. With us it is a custom to
visit the graves of our friends and keep them in repair for many
years. The mother will go alone to weep over the grave of her child.
The brave, with pleasure, visits the grave of his father, after he has
been successful in war, and repaints the post that marks where he
lies. There is no place like that where the bones of our forefathers
lie to go to when in grief. Here prostrate by the tombs of our
fathers will the Great Spirit take pity on us.

But how different is our situation now from what it was in those happy
days. Then were we as happy as the buffalo on the plains, but now, we
are as miserable as the hungry wolf on the prairie. But I am
digressing from my story. Bitter reflections crowd upon my mind and
must find utterance.

When we returned to our village in the spring, from our wintering
grounds, we would finish bartering with our traders, who always
followed us to our village. We purposely kept some of our fine furs
for this trade, and, as there was great opposition among them, who
should get these furs, we always got our goods cheap. After this
trade was met, the traders would give us a few kegs of rum, which were
generally promised in the fall, to encourage us to make a good hunt
and not go to war. They would then start with their furs and
peltries, for their homes, and our old men would take a frolic. At
this time our young men never drank. When this was ended, the next
thing to be done was to bury our dead; such as had died during the
year. This is a great medicine feast. The relations of those who
have died, give all the goods they have purchased, as presents to
their friends, thereby reducing themselves to poverty, to show the
Great Spirit that they are humble, so that he will take pity on them.
We would next open the caches, take out the corn and other provisions
which had been put up in the fall. We would then commence repairing
our lodges. As soon as this was accomplished, we repair the fences
around our corn fields and clean them off ready for planting. This
work was done by the women. The men during this time are feasting on
dried venison, bear's meat, wild fowl and corn prepared in different
ways, while recounting to one another what took place during the
winter.

Our women plant the corn, and as soon as they are done we make a
feast, at which we dance the crane dance in which they join us,
dressed in their most gaudy attire, and decorated with feathers. At
this feast the young men select the women they wish to have for wives.
He then informs his mother, who calls on the mother of the girl, when
the necessary arrangements are made and the time appointed for him to
come. He goes to the lodge when all are asleep, or pretend to be, and
with his flint and steel strikes a light and soon finds where his
intended sleeps. He then awakens her, holds the light close to his
face that she may know him, after which he places the light close to
her. If she blows it out the ceremony is ended and he appears in the
lodge next morning as one of the family. If she does not blow out the
light, but leaves it burning he retires from the lodge. The next day
he places himself in full view of it and plays his flute. The young
women go out one by one to see who he is playing for. The tune
changes to let them know he is not playing for them. When his intended
makes her appearance at the door, he continues his courting tune until
she returns to the lodge. He then quits playing and makes another
trial at night which mostly turns out favorable. During the first
year they ascertain whether they can agree with each other and be
happy, if not they separate and each looks for another companion. If
we were to live together and disagree, we would be as foolish as the
whites. No indiscretion can banish a woman from her parental lodge;
no difference how many children she may bring home she is always
welcome--the kettle is over the fire to feed them.

The crane dance often lasts two or three days. When this is over, we
feast again and have our national dance. The large square in the
village is swept and prepared for the purpose. The chiefs and old
warriors take seats on mats, which have been spread on the upper end
of the square, next come the drummers and singers, the braves and
women form the sides, leaving a large space in the middle. The drums
beat and the singing commences. A warrior enters the square keeping
time with the music. He shows the manner he started on a war party,
how he approached the enemy, he strikes and shows how he killed him.
All join in the applause, and he then leaves the square and another
takes his place. Such of our young men have not been out in war
parties and killed in enemy stand back ashamed, not being allowed to
enter the square. I remember that I was ashamed to look where our
young men stood, before I could take my stand in the ring as a
warrior.

What pleasure it is to an old warrior, to see his son come forward and
relate his exploits. It makes him feel young, induces him to enter
the square and "fight his battles o'er again."

This national dance makes our warriors. When I was travelling last
summer on a steamboat on the river, going from New York to Albany, I
was shown the place where the Americans dance the war-dance, (West
Point), where the old warriors recount to their young men what they
have done to stimulate them to go and do likewise. This surprised me,
as I did not think the whites understood our way of making braves.

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