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
"In the autumn of 1837, he was at the house of an Indian trader, in the
vicinity of Burlington, when I became acquainted and frequently convened
with him in broken English, and through the medium of gestures and
pantomine. A deep seated melancholy was apparent in his countenance, and
conversation. He endeavored to make me comprehend, on one occasion,
his former greatness, and represented that he was once master of
the country, east, north, and south of us--that he had been a very
successful warrior-called himself, smiting his breast, 'big Captain
Black Hawk,' 'nesso Kaskaskias,' (killed the Kaskaskias,) 'nesso Sioux
a heap,' (killed a great number of Sioux). He then adverted to the
ingratitude of his tribe, in permitting Keokuk to supercede him, who, he
averred, excelled him in nothing but drinking whisky.
"Toward Keokuk he felt the most unrelenting hatred. Keokuk was, however,
beyond his influence, being recognized as chief of the tribe by the
government of the United States. He unquestionably possessed talents of
the first order, excelled as an orator, but his authority will probably
be short-lived, on account of his dissipation and his profligacy in
spending the money paid him for the benefit of his tribe, and which he
squanders upon himself and a few favorites, through whose influence he
seeks to maintain his authority.
"You inquire if Black Hawk was at the battle of the Thames? On one
occasion I mentioned Tecumthe to him and he expressed the greatest joy
that I had heard of him, and pointing away to the East, and making a
feint, as if aiming a gun, said, 'Chemocoman (white man) nesso,' (kill.)
From which I had no doubt of his being personally acquainted with
Tecumthe, and I have been since informed, on good authority, that he was
in the battle of the Thames and in several other engagements with that
distinguished chief."
In September, 1838, he started with the head men of his little band to
go to Rock Island, the place designated by the Agent, to receive their
annuities, but was taken sick on the way and had to return to his
home. He was confined to his bed about two weeks, and on the 3d day of
October, 1838, he was called away by the Great Spirit to take up his
abode in the happy grounds of the future, at the age of seventy-one
years. His devoted wife and family were his only and constant attendants
during his last sickness, and when brought home sick, she had a
premonition that he would soon be called away.
The following account of his death and burial we take from the
Burlington Hawk-Eye, and as we knew the writer as a reliable gentleman,
many years ago, we have no doubt of it being strictly correct.
Captain James H. Jordan, a trader among the Sacs and Foxes before Black
Hawk's death, was present at his burial, and is now residing on the
very spot where he died. In reply to a letter of inquiry he writes as
follows:
ELDON, Iowa, July 15, 1881.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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