Autobiography of Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, or Black HawkBlack Hawk, Sauk chief
History
Autobiography of Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, or Black Hawk
Black Hawk, Sauk chief
Black Hawk War, 1832; Black Hawk, Sauk chief, 1767-1838; Sauk Indians -- Biography
After this deputation started, I concluded to tell my people that if
White Beaver came after us, we would go back, as it was useless to
think of stopping or going on without more provisions and ammunition. I
discovered that the Winnebagoes and Pottowattomies were not disposed to
render us any assistance. The next day the Pottowattomie chiefs arrived
in my camp. I had a dog killed, and made a feast. When it was ready, I
spread my medicine bags, and the chiefs began to eat. When the ceremony
was about ending, I received news that three or four hundred white men
on horse-back had been seen about eight miles off. I immediately started
three young men with a white flag to meet them and conduct them to our
camp, that we might hold a council with them and descend Rock river
again. I also directed them, in case the whites had encamped, to return,
and I would go and see them. After this party had started I sent five
young men to see what might take place. The first party went to the
camp of the whites, and were taken prisoners. The last party had not
proceeded far before they saw about twenty men coming toward them at
full gallop. They stopped, and, finding that the whites were coming
toward them in such a warlike attitude, they turned and retreated, but
were pursued, and two of them overtaken and killed. The others then made
their escape. When they came in with the news, I was preparing my flags
to meet the war chief. The alarm was given. Nearly all my young men were
absent ten miles away. I started with what I had left, about forty, and
had proceeded but a short distance, before we saw a part of the army
approaching. I raised a yell, saying to y braves, "Some of our people
have been killed. Wantonly and cruelly murdered! We must avenge their
death!"
In a little while we discovered the whole army coming towards us at a
full gallop. We were now confident that our first party had been killed.
I immediately placed my men behind a cluster of bushes, that we might
have the first fire when they had approached close enough. They made a
halt some distance from us. I gave another yell, and ordered my brave
warriors to charge upon them, expecting that they would all be killed.
They did charge. Every man rushed towards the enemy and fired, and they
retreated in the utmost confusion and consternation before my little but
brave band of warriors.
After following the enemy for some distance, I found it useless
to pursue them further, as they rode so fast, and returned to the
encampment with a few braves, as about twenty-five of them continued in
pursuit of the flying enemy. I lighted my pipe and sat down to thank the
Great Spirit for what he had done. I had not been meditating long, when
two of the three young men I had seat with the flag to meet the American
war chief, entered. My astonishment was not greater than my joy to see
them living and well. I eagerly listened to their story, which was as
follows:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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