The Chemawa American, October 31, 1928, Page 4, Image 4

T H E CH EM A W A AM ERICAN
PAG E 4
BLACK HAWK
(Continued from page 1)
the Indians were defeated again by troops under
command of General Dodge on the banks of the
Wisconsin. And while they made an attempt to
descend the Wisconsin River on rafts and canoes many,
including women and children, were killed or taken.
Black Hawk and his followers fled across the country,
hoping to put the Mississippi between them and their
pursuers. When they reached the Mississippi their
camp was shelled by the steamer W arrior, and the
following day by troops under ¡General Atkinson and
one hundred and fifty of them were killed and forty
captured. Black Hawk with a few others and most
of the women and children escaped. The war was
over. Black Hawk speaking of this catastrophy said
that when the whites came upon them they tried to
give themselves up and made no show of resistance
until the soldiers began to slaughter them, then his
braves determined to fight until they were all killed.
Black Hawk and some other chiefs soon gave
themselves up and were confined in Fortress Monroe
for over a month; then they were taken on a tour
through the principal eastern cities. At New York
they witnessed a balloon ascension from Castle Gar­
den.
“ Is the airship going to see the Great Spirit?” ask­
ed one of them.
“ He is a great brave,” said .another referring to
the areonaut, “ he must be a S a c .”
They visited many public places of interest and
were pleased with what they saw. On presenting
himself to the United States Agent at Prairie Du
Chien the old chief said: “ Black Hawk has done noth­
ing for which an Indian ought to be ashamed. He
has fought for his country against white men who
came year after year to cheat the Indians and take
away their lands.
Th e cause of our making war is
.known to all white men. They ought to be ashamed
of it. T h e white men despise the Indians and drive
.them from their homes. They speak bad of the In ­
dians and looks at them spitefully.
But the Indian
does not tell lies. Indians do not steal. An Indian
who is as bad as the white man could not live in our
nation; he would be put to death and eaten up by the
wolves. The white men carry false looks and deal
in false actions. They shake the poor Indian by the
hand to gain his confidence, to make him drunk,, to
deceive and ruin him.
They poisoned us by their
touch. W e were not Safe. W e were becoming like
them, hypocrites and liars.
‘ ‘Things grew worse. W e looked up to the Great
Spirit.
Our squaws and papooses were without food
to keep them from starving. W e called a great coun­
cil, and built a large fire. The spirit of our fathers
came and spoke to us, to avenge our wrongs or die.
W e set up the war whoop, and the heart of Black Hawk
swelled high in his bosom when he led his warriors to
battle. I fought hard but your guns were well aimed.
‘ ‘Farewell, my nation! Black Hawk tried to save you
and avenge your wrongs. He has been taken prisoner
and his plans stopped. He is satisfied. He has done
his duty; he can do no more. He is near his end.
His sun is setting and will rise no more. He will go
to the world of spirits contented. Farewell to Black
H awk!”
He died a few years later on Des Moines river, near
Iowaville, Oct. 3, 1838. He was buried on an elevated
spot, in his war dress, in a sitting posture, with dis­
tinguished honors from his tribe. In the grave were
placed many of the old warrior’s trophies and favorite
weapons: A cane given him by Henry Clay, uniform
sword, and medal from general Jackson, medals from
John Quincy Adams, and the city of Boston. His
body was stolen and taken to St. Louis where it was
cleaned and the bones sent to Quincy, 111., for
articulation. Protest was made by Governor Lucas
of the territory of Iowa. T h e bones were restored,
but the sons of Black Hawk were satisfied to let them
stay in the Governor’s office, where they remained for
some time. Later they were removed to the collec­
tions of the Burlington Geological and H istorical
Society, where they were destroyed in 1855 when the
building containing them was burned down.
Above is an illustration of our new two-revolution Lee press on which we are
now running The Chemawa American. From the “ devil” up the entire force
is proud of this splendid piece of machinery. It is truly marvelous.