Black Hawk had gathered a thousand warriors, with whom he awaited General Atkinson at a point between Rock and Wisconsin rivers. When he saw that the troops outnumbered his bucks almost two to one, he retreated, and, though General Atkinson strove hard, he could not bring the chief to a stand. Seeing that his force was too bulky to escape together, Black Hawk approached the Mississippi above the mouth of the Wisconsin. Most of the women and children went down the river in canoes. Several were drowned, and nearly all the others fell into the hands of the whites. When the main body under Black Hawk reached the bank of the river, they were alarmed by the sight of the steamboat _Warrior_, which seemed to be waiting for them. Most of the Indians were in a starving condition, and the sufferings of the women and children were so pitiful that Black Hawk, seeing the hopelessness of keeping up the struggle, decided to surrender. He sent a body of his warriors to the edge of the stream, bearing a flag of truce. The troops were not wholly blamable for thinking this was a ruse to lure them to land, for the trick was used many times during our border troubles. Black Hawk always said he honestly meant to surrender. Be the truth as it may, the steamer opened with a six-pounder. More than a score of Indians were slain, besides a large number wounded, while not a man was killed on the steamboat. In the latter part of July, General Atkinson, with sixteen hundred men, crossed to the north side of the Wisconsin at Helena, and pressed on with the purpose of hitting the Indian trail. He made a forced march, and, four nights later, an old Sac was met who told him the Indians had gone to the Mississippi which they meant to cross the next day. The horses and men were so tired that General Atkinson was forced to rest for several hours. Before the Sacs were able to reach the river, they were overtaken, and the fight that followed and lasted for several hours was more of a massacre than a battle. While the Americans lost only twenty-seven men, that of the Indians was ten times as great. Black Hawk escaped by the narrowest chance with the remnant of his force. This battle was the finishing stroke to the Black Hawk War. The Sioux and Winnebagoes kept continually bringing in prisoners, and General Atkinson asked Keokuk to send messengers to demand the surrender of Black Hawk and the remainder of the hostiles, and to deliver the chief, alive or dead, within an appointed time.