to be here, as our fathers at St. Louis told us this was the moon. We started before the rising sun to meet you; we have met, and taken our brothers by the hand in friendship. They always mistrusted our counsels, and went from the trail of the red men, where there was no hunting grounds, nor friends returned, and found the dogs howling around their wigwams, and wives looking for their husbands and children. They said we counselled like women; but they have found our counsels were good. They have been through the country of our great father. They have been to the wigwams of the white men; they received them in kindness, and made glad their hearts. We thanked them; say to them that Keocuck and Parsheparho thank them. Our brother has promised to listen to the counsels of Keocuck. What he said in council to-day, was like the Mississippi fog-the sun has shone, and the day is clear-let us forget it; he did not mean it. His heart is good, but his ears have been open to bad counsels. He has taken our great father by the hand, whose words are good. He listened to them, and has closed his ears to the voice which came across the great waters. He now knows that he ought to listen to Keocuck. He counselled with us, and our young braves, who listened to his talk. We told our great father that all would be peace. He opened his dark prison, and let him see the rising sun once more, gave him to his wives and children, who were without a lodge. Our great father made straight his path to his home. I once took the great chief of the Osages prisoner. I heard the cries of his women and children; I took him out by the rising sun, and put him upon the trail to his village; 'There,' said I, 'is the trail to your village; go, and tell your village, that I, Parsheparho, the chief of the Sacs, sent you.' We thank our great father; say to him that I wish to see him; I reach out my right hand; he is a great way off, but I now shake him by the hand; our hearts are good towards him; 1 will see him before I lie down in peace; may the Great Spirit be in his councils; what our brother said to-day, let us forget. I am done."

Keocuck, after going through the usual ceremonies, said, "We feel proud that you have invited us here this evening to drink a glass with you; the wine which we have drank, we never tasted before; it is the wine which the white men make, who know how to make any thing; I will take another glass, as I have much to say; we feel proud that we can drink such wine; to-day we shook hands with our brothers, whom you brought to us; we were glad to see them; we have often thought of our brothers; many of our nation said they would never return; their wives and children often came to our wigwams, which made us feel sad; what Parsheparho has said, is true; 1 talked to our young men, who had the hearts of men; I told them that the Great Spirit was in our councils; they promised to live in peace; those who listened to bad counsels, and followed our brothers, have said their ears are closed, they will live in peace; I sent their words to our great father, whose ears were open, whose heart was made sad by the conduct of our brothers; he has sent to their wigwams; we thank him; say to him that Keocuck thanks him; our brothers have seen the great villages of the white men; they travelled a long road, and found the Americans like the grass; I will tell our young men to listen to what they shall tell them. Many years ago I went through the villages of our great father; he had many, that were like the great prairies; but he has gone, another is our father, he is a great war chief, I want to see him, I shall be proud to take him by the hand, I have heard much of him, his head is gray, I must see him; tell him that as soon as the snow is off of the prairie, I shall come. What I have said, I wish spoken to him, before it's put upon paper, so that he shall hear it as I have said it; tell him that Keocuck spoke it; what our brother said in council to-day, let us forget; he told me to speak; I spoke his words. I have spoken."

Black-hawk then said, in a very calm and dejected manner, "I feel that I am an old man; once I could speak, but now I have but little to say; to-day we met many of our brothers, we were glad to see them; I have listened to what my brothers have said, their hearts are good; they have been like Sacs since I left them; they have taken care of my wife and children, who had no wigwam; I thanked them for it; the Great Spirit knows that I thank them;

672

BLACK-HAWK.

[BOOK V. before the sun gets behind the hills to-morrow I shall see them, I want to see them; when I left them, I expected soon to return; I told our great father, when in Washington, that I would listen to his counsels; I say so to you, I will listen to the counsels of Keocuck; 1 shall soon be far away, I shall have no village, no band, I shall live alone. What I said in council to-day I wish forgotten. If it has been put upon paper, I wish a mark to be drawn over it. I did not mean it. Now we are alone, let us say we will forget it. Say to our great father and Gov. Cass, that I will listen to them. Many years ago I met Gov. Cass in councils, far across the prairies, to the rising sun. His counsels were good. My ears were closed; I listened to the great father across the great waters. My father listened to him whose band was large. My band was once large. Now I have no band. I and my son, and all the party, thank our great father for what he has done. He is old, I am old; we shall soon go to the Great Spirit, where we shall rest. He sent us through his great villages. We saw many of the white men, who treated us with kindness. We thank them; say to them we thank them. We thank you and Mr. Sprague for coming with us; your road was long, and crooked. We never saw so many white men before. When you was with us, we felt as though we had some friends among them. We felt safe; you knew them all. When you come upon the Mississippi again, you shall come to my wigwam. I have none now. On your road home, you pass where my village once was. No one lives there now; all are gone. I give you my hand; we may never meet again; I shall long remember you. The Great Spirit will be with you, and your wives and children. Before the sun rises I shall go to my family. My son will be here to see you, before we go. I will shake hands with my brothers here, then I am done."

The party separated with a most perfect understanding among themselves, and in fellowship and good feeling; but Black-hawk was cast down, his pride was wounded, and he departed in silence.

10001

CHAPTER XII

From the time Black-hawk was set at liberty in his own country, in 1833, to his death, on October 3d, 1838, with other important matters connected with the Indians in the west.

"In pain and peril, when thy years were few,

And death's dark shadow on thy pathway fell,

Thon to the greatness of thy trial grew,

Bade fortune, friends, and blighted hope farewell."-S. L. FAIRFIELD.

FOR about three years after the liberation of Black-hawk, few incidents of importance_seem to have transpired. The first we shall notice is the death of a great Winnebago chief, some of whose family have passed under our notice in a former chapter, from the conspicuous part he acted in the capture of Black-hawk. His name was SCHACHIPKAKA, or Decorie. He died in Wisconsin, on the 20th of April, 1836, in his 90th year. Died also, at the Seneca reservation, MAJOR BERRY, aged 74. He fought with the Americans in the war of 1812, and died a pensioner. His place of residence was known as Jack Berry's town. He was a distinguished chief. And on the 29th of the same month died that celebrated pioneer of the west, SIMON KENTON, aged 82. He, it will be recollected, it was who was engaged as a pilot to the army of Lord Dunmore, in 1774, being then about nineteen years of age. He afterwards spent many years in a most wretched captivity among the Miami Indians, and finally made some escapes, which, it seems to us, that nothing short of miraculous interference could have brought about.

On the 24th of May, 1836, a treaty of cession was made at Washington, between a delegation of chiefs and others of the Chippewas, and the United

States, by which all the reservations heretofore held by them in the state of Michigan is relinquished.

A report was current among us in the summer of this year, that a sanguinary battle had been fought on the 20th of June, at a noted place on the Red River, called the Cross Timbers, between 25 Shawanees and 350 Camanches; that the battle lasted a whole day, and eventuated in the defeat of the latter, who lost 77 of their number.

On the 19th of November, 1836, a large war party of Sioux surprised five lodges of Foxes, on the lower Ioway, 15 or 20 miles from where the line of the "Black-hawk purchase" crosses it, and killed about 20 of them. One of the Foxes, a young man, though severely wounded in the neck, made his escape, and carried the news to Poweeshieck's village.

In May, 1837, died at the Huron village, LORETTE, or GRAND Louis, whose Indian name is Tandarelion, aged 74. He had been a great hunter, and an upright man, though at times intemperate. A man who had a grudge against another, endeavored to hire him to shoot his enemy, but Lorette replied, "Je ne suis pas en guerre avec lui," "I have no cause of war with that man," and turned scornfully from him. And on the 13th of the following June, another respected chief paid the debt of mortality.

CAPT. GEORGE, principal chief of the ancient and once famous tribe of the Onondagas, died, aged 70. He was one of the most able orators of the Six Nations, not only possessing the confidence of his own, but all the confederate tribes, and was greatly esteemed by the white people.

In the order of time, the next event of importance was a severe battle between the Sacs and Foxes, and Sioux. And what makes it to be the more lamented is, in consequence of the criminal negligence of our government. When the Sacs and Foxes sold us the best portions of Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin, amounting to 26,500,000 acres, which included all the lead mines, for the sum of THREE CENTS PER ACRE, certain provisions were to be made them; certain grounds were to be put in cultivation, certain amounts of money paid at certain times, and, especially, they were promised protection from their bloody enemies, the Sioux, when hunting upon certain grounds allowed to them. But none of the promises made them had been performed, and famine forced them, when they could wait for us no longer, to go unprotected into the wilderness to hunt for game.

The battle, of which we are to give an account, happened about the 2d of August, 1837, and the history we have of it is derived from the chief of the Sacs and Foxes, who was mortally wounded in it. He had been to St. Louis to see what could be done for his people, and he says, "when I returned, I found our people starving at the village. I divided all the provisions I had received from our trader among them, and powder and lead to enable us to make a hunt to supply our families until our corn was ripe, or that our great father had paid our money to enable our traders to furnish us." Having divided his tribe into two parties, that they might hunt to better advantage, one was to proceed along the dividing country between the Ioway and Red Cedar Rivers, and the other to advance up the right bank of Cedar River. At the head of the latter division was the chief of whom mention has been made, whose name was WAU-COSH-AU-SHE. He had in his company about 170 people, of whom but 40 were men, the rest women and children. They found no game for many days, and, says the old chief, "we had to depend on fish, which we caught from the Cedar, to keep our people from dying with hunger." He was in great expectation, that, if he could reach a belt of wooded country, between the Wapesepineca and Cedar, to find plenty of game. Accordingly he sent out some of his young men in advance, and followed as well as he was able with the rest, but his pioneers soon returned, and informed him that the Winnebagoes were hunting there. "This was bad news," says Waucoshaushe, "in our starving condition, and we could not return, for we had nothing to return to," and their nearest hope was about the mouth of Otter River. He therefore bent his course thither.

On arriving on the confines of that country, he encamped, and sent out some hunters, but, as before, they soon returned, and reported that their ground was in possession of the Sioux; and, he asks, "What was now to be

674

SIOUX AND SAC AND FOX WAR.-BATTLE.

[BOOK V. done? My number of fighting men was small; but to retreat was impossible; for we must have been discovered by the Sioux, and followed; and whenever you turn your back on an enemy, you are sure of defeat. My braves agreed with me, that we should immediately start on the trail, leave our women and children at the camp, and go and ascertain their strength; that if we found them not too strong, to drive them out of our hunting-grounds. We followed their trail across Otter River, and then it took a direction into the prairie, towards where the sun sets. About midnight, we thought we discovered the Sioux lodges. We raised the war-cry, and rushed upon them; but found no Sioux there, only sand-hills instead of lodges. They were encamped in a hollow; and by this mistake we were discovered. We might now have retreated; but, reflecting on our condition, our families starving, our huntinggrounds possessed by our enemies, and the remembrance of our friends they had murdered last winter on the Ioway,-determined us to follow them as far as the line.

"We had not proceeded far, when the Sioux fired on us. 1, with my party, rushed into their camps, and, after fighting desperately for some time, found they were in too strong a force for us. All that could, retreated out of the camps, and, taking a position back of a small rise, within gunshot of their camps, fired upon them until our ammunition was exhausted. We then retreated to our camp,-where we had left our women and children,bringing thirteen wounded with us, and leaving eleven killed on the field."

Such is the account of the battle, by an actor in it. As soon as he could, Waucoshaushe sent two of his braves with this account, to the agency, at Rock Island, where they arrived on the 8 of August. The chief closed his talk in the following words: "My father, I am one of the wounded, and expect never to see you again. I have followed your advice, and done the best I could for my nation, and I do not fear to die. We have with the greatest difficulty reached our village, and fear that many of our people will die of hunger. Father, I have no more to say."

What was done for these poor, distressed Indians, I have no account, but doubt not it might be quickly told! However, a delegation of Sacs and Foxes, and another of Sioux and Ioways, visited Washington in the end of the following September; but we hear nothing of any redress for the former; yet the government bought of the Sioux 5,000,000 of acres of their land, on the east side of the Mississippi, at twenty cents an acre. These same Indians were induced to travel through our great cities by advice of the president, who wished to make them acquainted with our power and consequence; and they accordingly arrived in Boston, the extent of their journey on the coast, on the 27 October, 1837. They consisted of both deputations,-in all, 35. Among the Sacs and Foxes were the well-known and celebrated old ex-chief, BLACK-HAWK, his son NASHEESKUK, (Loud Thunder,) KɛOKUK, and WaPELLA. On Saturday morning, the whole party had an audience of the mayor, Mr. S. A. Eliot, the aldermen, and common council of the city, in Faneuil Hall. The Sacs and Foxes arrived first, in carriages, and were seated on the right of the elevated platform; and the Sioux, arriving immediately after, were seated on the left. As each party entered, a band of music, stationed for the occasion, played martial airs. The mayor then welcomed them in a short speech, through their interpreters. Gov. Everett was present, and, being introduced to them, invited them to an audience in the StateHouse, on Monday; for which civility Keokuk presented him with a bow and arrows. They were then shown the armories in the upper hall of the same building, where they expressed high gratification at seeing so many bright guns fit for use. They then returned to their lodgings in Concert Hall.

On Sunday morning, a part of the Sac and Fox delegation visited the navyyard, and in the afternoon the Sioux and Ioways were there. They were presented by Capt. Percival to Com. Downes, who conducted them over the yard, much to their entertainment. The ships of war most astonished them, and we are not sure they understood the use of that grand affair, the dry dock; they approached and looked down its sides with evident feelings of awe. To a handsome address from Com. Downes, they made an appropriate reply, and returned to their quarters. In the evening, some attended the

oratorios at Boylston Hall and the Masonic Temple. On Monday, they held a levee at Faneuil Hall, under the direction of the city marshal, for the especial accommodation of the ladies, which was closed at eleven o'clock, when preparations were made for meeting the governor at the State-House, agreeably to previous arrangements.

As but a very small portion of the community could be admitted to the "Indian council" in the representatives' chamber, notice was given in the newspapers to such as might expect admission, that "passes" had been provided for them, and were to be had between 9 and 11, A. M., at the offices of the adjutant general and city auditor. These "passes" were cards, on which was printed, "PASS TO THE REPRESENTATIVES' CHAMBER, 30TH OCTOBER, 1837."

Meanwhile, the Sioux left the city, and proceeded on their journey west. It was evidently unpleasant to both parties to meet at the same time and place, as the war between them, of which we have taken notice, had not ceased, and, for aught they knew to the contrary, the friends of each were falling by the hand of the other, in the country from which they were thus temporarily absent.

The hour having arrived for the Indians to make their appearance in the hall of the State-House, it was crowded to overflowing, as was every avenue leading to it. The governor occupied the speaker's chair, with his aids and council around him, when the chiefs came in and took seats in the adjacent area. The governor then arose, and, in explanation, stated the object of their visit. "They are," said he, "a most respectable deputation from the Sac and Fox tribes, which are in amity with our government. The object of their mission to Washington, was to form a treaty explanatory of the great treaty made in 1836, defining the boundaries between their territory and that of the United States. Their lands are situated between the Mississippi and Missouri. The united tribes comprise about 5000, of whom about 1400 are braves. They are the descendants of the Algonquins, or Lennape, and speak the same language as that anciently spoken by the Indians of this region." Some persons in the galleries showing a disposition to manifest their ridiculous conceptions, when the Indians came in, the governor observed to the audience, that any such demonstrations by laughing, however seemingly ludicrous any appearance might be, would be highly improper, and the Indians might construe such exhibition of mirth into disrespect.

The interpreter was then requested to inform them that the governor bade them a hearty welcome to the hall of council of their white brethren. "We have," said he, "before heard of the Sacs and Foxes, by our travellers; and we have been told the names of their great men and chiefs; and now we are glad to see them with our eyes. We are called the people of Massachusetts; it is the name of the red people who once lived here. In former times, the red man's wigwam stood on our very fields, and his council-fire was kindled on this spot. When our forefathers came to this country, they were but a small band. The red man stood on the rock on the sea-side, and looked at them. He might have pushed them off, and drowned them; but he took them by the hand, and said, 'Welcome.' Our forefathers were hungry, and the red man gave them corn and venison. They were cold, and the red man spread his blanket over them, and made them warm. We are now grown great and powerful; yet we remember the kindness of the red man to our forefathers.

"Brothers! our faces are white, and yours are red; but our hearts are alike. You dwell between the Mississippi and Missouri; they are mighty streams. One stretches out to the east, and the other away to the west, even to the Rocky Mountains; but still they make but one river, and they run together to the sea. Brothers! we dwell in the east, and you live in the far west; but we are one family. Brothers! as you passed through the hall below, you stopped to look upon the image of our great father, Washington; it is a cold stone, and cannot speak; but our great father loved the red man, and he commanded us to love you. He is dead; but his voice made a deep print in our hearts, like the footsteps of the great buffalo in the clay of the prairie."