Page 210
THE RED MEN OF IOWA.
joined him as allies, he made another expedition against the Osages. In this expedition he destroyed forty lodges of the enemy, and killed many of their warriors, five of them being slain by Black Hawk himself. In a campaign two years later against the Osages and some other tribes seven battles were fought, with a loss to the enemy of more than one hundred warriors.
For several years succeeding 1802, Black Hawk's life seems to have been comparatively quiet, until he allied himself with the British against the United States, in 1812. Previous to this, however, the transfer of the sovereignty of the country from France to the United States had caused Black Hawk and his people some uneasiness. The expedition of Lieutenant Pike, and the subsequent erection of Fort Edwards and Fort Madison were additional causes of apprehension among them. Soon after the establishment of Fort Madison, a party of Sacs, of whom Black Hawk was one, determined to attack it. The attack was made but was unsuccessful. Three soldiers, however, who had ventured outside of the fort, were killed. Black Hawk, with a party of his followers, soon after joined their fortunes with the British, and from this period up to his capture at the close of the Black Hawk War the leading incidents in his career are related in the chapter treating of that war.
After his disastrous defeat at Bad Axe, and when brought in to Prairie du Chien as a prisoner along with the prophet, August 27, 1832, Black Hawk is reported to have addressed General Street as follows:
"My warriors fell around me. It began to look dismal. I saw my evil-day at hand. The sun rose clear on us in
Page 211
SKETCH OF BLACK HAWK.
the morning; at night it sunk in a dark cloud, and looked like a ball of fire. This was the last sun that shone on Black Hawk. He is now a prisoner to the white man, but he can stand the torture. He is not afraid of death. He is no coward--Black Hawk is an Indian. He has done nothing of which an Indian need be ashamed. He has fought the battles of his country against the white man, who came year after year to cheat his people and take away their lands. You know the cause of our making war. It is known to all white men. They ought to be ashamed of it. The white men despise the Indians, and drive them from their homes. But the Indians are not deceitful. Indians do not steal. Black Hawk is satisfied. He will go to the world of spirits contented. He has done his duty. His Father will meet and reward him. The white men do not scalp the heads, but they do worse--they poison the heart. It is not pure with them. His countrymen will not be scalped, but they will in a few years become like the white man, so that you cannot hurt them; and there must be, as in the white settlements, as many officers as men, to take care of them and keep them in order. Farewell to my nation! Farewell to Black Hawk!"
Under the treaty of September 21st, 1832, Black Hawk, Ne-o-pope (soup), Wabokieshiek, and the two sons of Black Hawk, were to be held as hostages during the pleasure of the president. They were sent to Jefferson Barracks in charge of Lieutenant Jefferson Davis where they were confined in irons. In reference to their treatment there Black Hawk said:
"We were confined to the barracks, and forced to wear
