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THE RED MEN OF IOWA.
Black Hawk's village, and the removal of the Indians west of the Mississippi began to be demanded, and this despite the fact that by the provisions of a solemn treaty they had a right to remain in possession of, and hunt on the lands that were still retained by the government.
Long before Black Hawk and the Indians under his
influence resorted to any overt acts of hostility against the whites, several incidents transpired which had the effect to increase and strengthen his prejudices against the Americans. One of these was the murder of his adopted son, during his absence with Colonel Dixon in the British service, by some white men connected with the post at Fort Madison. As related to Black Hawk by his old friend, the father of the boy, the following were the alleged facts in connection with the case: The father and son, after Black Hawk's departure to join the British, with a small party descended the Mississippi from Rock Island to spend the winter near a white settler upon Salt River, one of the tributaries of the Mississippi in Missouri. When they reached the point where the city of Fort Madison now stands they found a fort built, and the white family who had invited them to come and hunt near them had removed to it. They visited the fort and requested the privilege of hunting in that vicinity. The commandant told them they might hunt without molestation on the east side of the Mississippi, and they were much pleased with this assurance of safety, for game was plenty in that region then. After having been there some two months, one evening the boy, who had gone out to hunt, failed to return to the lodge of his parents. Next morning he was still absent, and the alarm was given among the several lodges of the
Page 189
THE BLACK HAWK WAR.
party. All joined in searching for the missing boy. at last his track was found in the snow, and also indications that he had been in pursuit of a deer toward the river. They followed the trail, and at last reached the place where the lad had stood and shot the deer. Near by the animal was found hanging to the branch of a tree. But they found here also the tracks of white men leading to the river and toward the fort. Following the tracks they soon came to the lifeless body of the boy, who had been cruelly and wantonly murdered. His arms were tied behind him, his face shot to pieces, and his body stabbed in several places.
This story, as related to Black Hawk by the grief stricken father, still more exasperated the former against the Americans. In a few days, with a party of about thirty of his chosen braves, he descended the Mississippi in canoes for the purpose of seeking revenge. When they reached the place where Fort Madison had stood they found it abandoned and burnt. Continuing down the river, on the 10th of May, 1814, they landed near Cap-au-Gris, where they killed one of the United States rangers, a man by the name of Bernard. They remained in the vicinity until the 24th, when they had an engagement with a detachment of United States rangers from Fort Howard, under Lieutenant Drakeford. The whites being superior in numbers, after some time the Indians sought refuge in a swamp or marsh. The whites killed in this engagement were Captain Craig, Lieutenant Spears, and five privates. Three privates were wounded. One citizen was also killed, and two others mortally wounded. The firing continued until dark, and next morning five Indians were found
