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THE RED MEN OF IOWA.
killed, with indications that a considerable number had been wounded, and taken away during the night. After this fight, known as the "Battle of the Sink-hole," Black Hawk and his party returned to their village.
Early in the year 1815 the Indians were notified that peace had been concluded between the United States and England, but Black Hawk and his party were not disposed to bury the tomahawk. Indeed, British agents, although officially notified that peace had been concluded, continued, as late as the spring of 1816, to instigate the Indians to acts of violence. In the spring of this year the British, assisted by the Indians, captured the garrison at Prairie du Chien. Some boats which were ascending the river with troops and provisions for the garrison were attacked by Black Hawk and his party, one boat being captured, and several of the crew killed. The other boats returned down the river to the fort near the mouth of the Des Moines. In May of the same year, soon after this affair, Black Hawk and his party went to St. Louis and joined in the treaty of peace with the United States, and in this treaty also recognized the validity of the St. Louis treaty of 1804.
During the year 1816 Fort Armstrong was erected on Rock Island, and this was a fresh source of irritation to Black Hawk and his people. This island was a favorite resort of the Indians on account of the great variety of fruits and nuts which it produced, as well as the excellent fishing advantages which its shores afforded. They believed also that in a cave on the island there dwelt a good spirit, which must disappear with its occupancy by the whites. They alleged that they had often seen this spirit,
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THE BLACK HAWK WAR.
and that it appeared with beautiful swan-like wings, but the noise made by the white men had driven it away. The establishment of this post attracted white settlers to the vicinity, who soon began to clamor loudly for the removal of the Indians. The matter was urged upon them by the agent at Fort Armstrong. Under the leadership of the Sac chief, Keokuk, the greater portion of both tribes consented to removal to the west side of the Mississippi, but Black Hawk and his "British Band" were decidedly opposed to the measure, claiming that the ground on which their village stood had never been sold to the Americans by the government, and that, therefore, they still had a right to occupy it. Not long after this, upon returning with his party from a hunting expedition, Black Hawk found some of the lodges destroyed, his own taken possession of by the whites, and fences built over their cornfields. He immediately repaired to Fort Armstrong to enter complaint to the agent, but that official was absent. The interpreter there, however, advised Black Hawk and his people to remove to the settlement which had been formed by Keokuk on Iowa River. Black Hawk declined to accept the advice, and his next move was to visit and consult Wabokieshiek, a prophet of the Winnebago tribe, whose advice and opinions were at that time held in high respect, not only among the people of his own tribe, but by the Sacs and Foxes. His advice was not to remove, and that Keokuk be urged to return with his people to Rock River. In the meantime, Keokuk was endeavoring to induce the remainder of the Sacs to establish themselves with him on Iowa River, as the only means of maintaining peace with the whites. Black Hawk regarded this policy as cowardly,
