If the present volume shall, in any degree, contribute to awaken the public mind to a sense of the wrongs inflicted upon the Indians, and to arouse the Christian statesmen of this land, to the adoption of a more liberal, upright and benevolent course of policy towards them, something will have been gained to the cause of humanity and of national honor. The author takes this opportunity of acknowledging his obligations to James Hall, Esq., for the valuable assistance received from him, in the preparation of this volume. In collecting the materials for that magnificent work, on which he is now engaged, "The History of the Indians of North America," this gentleman has become possessed of much interesting matter, in regard to the Sacs and Foxes, and especially the chief Keokuk; to all of which he has kindly permitted the author to have access. Cincinnati, May, 1838. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. Origin of the Sac and Fox Indians--Removal to Green Bay--Their subjugation of the Illini confederacy--Their attack upon St. Louis in 1779--Col. George Rogers Clark relieves the town--Governor Harrison's letter--Maj. Forsyth's account of the conquest of the Illini--Death of the Sac chief Pontiac--Sac and Fox village on Rock river--Description of the surrounding country--Civil polity of the Sacs and Foxes--Legend about their chiefs--Division of the tribes into families--Mode of burying their dead--Idea of a future state--Their account of the creation of the world--Marriages--Social relations--Music and musical instruments--Pike's visit to them in 1805--Population--Character for courage 13 CHAPTER II. Treaty with the Sac and Fox Indians in 1789--treaty and cession of land to the United States at St. Louis in 1804--Black Hawk's account of this treaty--Erection of Fort Madison--The British excite the Sac and Fox Indians to make war upon the United States--A party under Black Hawk join the British standard in 1812--Treaty at Portage des Sioux in 1815--Treaty of peace with Black Hawk and his band at same place in 1816--Treaty for part of their lands in Missouri in 1824--Treaty of Prairie des Chiens in 1825--Treaty for the mineral region in 1829--Treaty of peace in 1832, after the "Black Hawk war"--Present residence of the Sacs and Foxes 49 CHAPTER III. Birth of Black Hawk--Early adventures--Battles with the Osages and Cherokees--Death of his father--Interview with Lieutenant Pike--Attack upon Fort Madison--Joins the British in the late war--Marches to lake Erie--Returns home after the attack upon Fort Stephenson--Murder of his adopted son--Battle of the Sink-hole near Cap au Gris--Treaty of peace at Portage des Sioux in 1816 74 CHAPTER IV.