The Black Hawk War Including a Review of Black Hawk's LifeStevens, Frank Everett
History
The Black Hawk War Including a Review of Black Hawk's Life
Stevens, Frank Everett
Black Hawk War, 1832; Black Hawk, Sauk chief, 1767-1838
“Brother Edward Hall, Greenberry Hall and Mr. Howard and son,
Henderson and two of Mr. Davis’ sons were at this time in the field,
on the south side of the creek, and in full view of the house, and
about one-half mile from the house, planting corn. While we were
sitting resting ourselves in the shop, we heard a scream at the house.
I immediately said, ‘There are the Indians now!’ and jumped out of the
door of the shop, it being on the opposite side from the house, and
the others followed as fast as they could, and as we turned the corner
of the shop, I discovered the dooryard full of Indians. I next saw the
Indians jerk Mr. Pettigrew’s child, four or five months old, taking it
by the feet and dashing its brains out against a stump. Seeing Mr.
Pettigrew back in the house, I heard two guns, seemingly in the house,
and then the tomahawk soon ended the cries of those in the house, and
as near this moment as possible they fired about twenty shots at our
party of five, neither of us being hurt, that I know of. The next
motion of the Indians was to pour some powder down their guns and drop
a bullet out of their mouths and raise their guns and fire; this time
I heard a short sentence of a prayer to my right and a little behind.
On turning my eyes to the right I saw that my dear father was lying on
the ground shot in the left breast and expiring in death. On looking
around, I saw the last one of the company were gone or going, and the
Indians had jumped the fence and were making towards me. Mr. Davis was
running in a northeast direction for the timber. Looked back and said,
‘Take care,’ he having his gun in his hands. I at this time discovered
quite a number of Indians on horseback in the edge of the woods as
though they were guarding the house, to prevent any escape. Then it
flashed into my mind that I would try and save myself. I think there
were 60 or 80 Indians. I immediately turned toward the creek, which
was fifteen or twenty steps from where I stood. The Indians by this
time were within three paces of me, under full charge, with their guns
in hand. I jumped down the bank of the creek, about 12 feet, which
considerably stunned me. At this moment the third volley was fired,
the balls passing over my head, killing Mr. Norris and George, who
were ahead of me, and who had crossed the creek to the opposite shore,
one in the water and the other on the bank. I then passed as swiftly
as possible down the stream, on the side next the Indians, the bank
hiding me from them. I passed down about two miles, when I crossed and
started for Ottawa, through the prairie, overtaking Mr. Henderson, who
had started ahead of me, and we went together until we got within four
miles of Ottawa, when we fell into company with Mr. Howard and son and
three sons of Mr. Davis and my two brothers, all of whom were in the
field referred to, except one of Mr. Davis’ sons, who was in the shop
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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