USA > Iowa > Scott County > History of Scott County, Iowa > Part 24
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In 1804 the Saes and Foxes ceded to the United States, through General Harrison, all their lands lying upon Roek River, and much elsewhere. The principal Sae village was at a point of land be- tween the junction of the Mississippi and Rock River-a point just below the present site of Davenport, on the Illinois side. There, according to tradition, had been a village for 150 years. The entire country belonging to the tribes, bordered on the Mis- sissippi, and extended about 700 miles down the river from the mouth of the Wisconsin, reaching very nearly to the Missouri River. In 1820, they numbered about 3,000 persons in all, of whom, perhaps, 600 were warriors.
The Sae village alluded to was commanded by the celebrated Black Hawk, alias Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak. The Musquakees, or Foxes, lived further north, and had, near the lead mines, their principal village. Still, notwithstanding the separation of the Saes and Foxes, they were, in reality, but one tribe, as they hunted together, had similar customs, and so far as unity of purpose was concerned in their enmity to the Sioux, and other nations, they were indissoluble.
Black Hawk was the most celebrated "brave" of his nation. He had been in the service of England in 1812; had been an inti- mate friend of Tecumseh; was ranked among the braves at the early age of 16, and at the age of 20, or thereabouts, sneceeded his
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father as chief, the latter having been killed in a bloody battle with the Cherokees. With such a life, scarcely if ever defeated in bat- tle-prond, imperious, and with a deep tinge of melancholy in his later years-venerated by his braves, and feared by his enemies, he was no common man, nor would his nature admit of such treat- ment as might be endured patiently by ordinary or less strongly marked men.
Black Hawk would never acknowledge the validity of the treaty of 1804. As the whites did not desire to occupy the country ceded until about the year 1830, the Indians were permitted peacefully to remain. At that time they were ordered across the Mississippi River and took up their abode on the Iowa side. But the spirit of discontent was in Black Hawk, and the same spirit permeated many others among his tribe. They therefore crossed the river into Illinois, took possession of their old villages and murdered several white persons. This movement of Black Hawk excited alarm among the white people who had settled in that part of Illinois, and complaint was made to Governor Reynolds, of that State, against their presence. The complaints represented that the In- dians were insolent, and had committed many acts of violence. Governor Ford says the Indians ordered the white settlers away, threw down their fences, unroofed their houses, eut np their grain, drove off and killed their cattle, and threatened the people with death if they remained. These aets of the Indians were considered by Governor Reynolds to be an invasion of the State. IIe imme- diately addressed letters to Gen. Gaines, of the United States army, and to Gen. Clark, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, calling upon them to use the influence of the Government to proenre the peaceful removal of the Indians, if possible; at all events, to pro- teet the American citizens who had purchased those lands from the United States, and were now about to be ejected by the Indians. Gen. Gaines repaired to Rock Island, and becoming convinced the Indians were intent upon war, he called upon Gov. Reynolds for 700 mounted volunteers. The Governor obeyed the requisition, and issued a call upon the northern and central counties, in obedience to which 1,500 volunteers rushed to his standard at Beardstown, and about the 10th of June were organized and ready to be marched to the seat of war. The whole force was di- vided into two regiments, an odd battalion and a spy battalion.
Black Hawk, becoming convinced that he could do nothing against the force sent against him. retreated across the river, and
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fearing pursuit from Gen. Gaines, returned with his chiefs and braves to Fort Armstrong and sued for peace. A treaty was here formed with them, by which they agreed forever to remain on the west side of the river and never to recross it without the permission of the President or the governor of the State. The treaty of 1804 was thus at last ratified by these Indians. Notwithstanding this treaty, early in the spring of 1832 Black Hawk and the disaffected Indians prepared to reassert their right to the disputed territory, and therefore again crossed the river, and thus was brought on the celebrated Black Hawk war, which resulted so disastrously to him- self and tribe.
Speaking of the Black Hawk war, Ford, in his " History of Illi- nois," says:
"The united Sacs and Fox nations were divided into two par- ties. Black Hawk commanded the warlike band, and Keokuk, another chief, headed the band which was in favor of peace.
" Keokuk was a bold, sagacious leader of his people; was gifted with a wild and stirring eloquence, sure to be found, even among Indians, by means of which lie retained a greater part of his na- tion in amity with the white people.
" But nearly all the bold, turbulent spirits, who delighted in mis- chief, arranged themselves under the banner of his rival. Black Hawk had with him the chivalry of his nation, with which he re- crossed the Mississippi in the spring of 1832.
" He directed his march to the Rock country, and this time aimed, by marching up the river into the countries of the Pottawatomies and Winnebagoes, to make them his allies. Governor Reynolds, upon being informed of the facts, made another call for volun- teers. In a few days 1,800 men rallied under his banner at
Beardstown. This force was organized into four regiments and a
spy battalion. The whole brigade was put under the command of Brigadier General Samuel Whiteside, of the State militia, who had commanded the spy battalion in the first campaign.
" On the 27th of April General Whiteside, accompanied by Gov- ernor Reynolds, took up his line of march. The army proceeded by the way of Oquawka, on the Mississippi, to the mouth of Rock River, and here it was agreed between General Whiteside and Gen- eral Atkinson, of the regulars, that the volunteers should march up Rock River about 50 miles, to the Prophet's town, and there en- camp, to feed and rest their horses and await the arrival of the regular troops in keel boats, with their provisions. Judge William
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Thomas, who again acted as quartermaster to the volunteers, made an estimate of the amount of provisions required until the boats conld arrive, which were supplied, and then General Whiteside took np his line of march.
"But when he arrived at the Prophet's town, instead of remain- ing there, his men set fire to the village, which was entirely con- sumed, and the brigade marched on in the direction of Dixon, 40 miles higher np the river.
" When the volunteers had arrived within a short distance of Dixon, orders were given to leave the baggage wagons behind, so as to reach there by a forced march. And for the relief of the horses, the men left large quantities of provisions behind with the wagons.
" At Dixon General Whiteside came to a halt, to await a junetion with General Atkinson, with provisions and the regular forces; and from here parties were sent ont to reconnoitre the enemy and ascer- tain his position. The army here found upon its arrival, two bat- talions of mounted volunteers, consisting of 275 men, from the connties of Me Lean, Tazewell, Peoria and Fulton, under the com- mand of Majors Stillman and Bailey. The officers of this force begged to be put forward upon some dangerons service in which they could distinguish themselves.
" To gratify them they were ordered up Roek River to spy out the Indians. Major Stillman began his march on the 12th of May, and pursuing his way on the southeast side he came to "Old Man's " Creek, since called "Stillman's Run," a small stream which rises in White Rock Grove, in Ogle County, and falls into the river near Bloomingdale. Here he encamped just before night ; and in a short time a party of Indians on horseback were discovered on a rising ground about a mile distant from the encampment. A party of Stillman's men mounted their horses without orders or commander, and were soon followed by others, stringing along for a quarter of a mile, to pursue the Indians and attack them.
"The Indians retreated after displaying a red flag, the emblem of defiance and war, but were overtaken and three of them slain.
" Ilere Major Hackelton, being dismounted in the engagement, distinguished himself by a combat with one of the Indians in which the Indian was killed. and Major Hackelton afterward made his way on foot to the camp of General Whiteside.
"Black Hawk was near by with his main force, and being prompt to repel an assault, soon rallied his men, amounting then to about 700 warriors, and moved down upon Major Still-
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man's camp, driving the disorderly rabble, the recent pursuers, before him. These valorous gentlemen, lately so hot in pursuit, when the enemy were few, were no less hasty in their retreat, when coming in contact with superior numbers. They came with their horses in a full run, and in this manner broke through the camp of Major Stillman, spreading dismay and terror among the rest of his men, who immediately began to join in the flight, so that no et- fort to rally them could possibly have succeeded. Major Stillman, now too late to remedy the evils of insubordination and disorder in his command, did all that was practicable, by ordering his men to fall back in order and form on higher ground; but as the prairie rose behind them for more than a mile, the ground for a rally was never discovered; and besides this, when the men onee got their baeks to the enemy, they commenced a retreat without one thought of making a further stand.
"A retreat of undisciplined militia from the attack of a superior , is apt to be a disorderly and inglorious flight; and so it was here, each man sought his own individual safety, and in the twinkling of an eye the whole detachment was in utter confusion. Theywere pur- sued in their flight by 30 or 40 Indians, for 10 or 12 miles the fugitives in the rear keeping up a flying fire as they ran, until the Indians ceased pursuing.
" But there were some good soldiers and brave men in Stillinan's detachment, whose individual efforts succeeded in checking the career of the Indians, whereby many escaped that night who would otherwise have been easy victims of the enemy.
" Among these were Major Perkins and Captain Adams, who fell in the rear, bravely fighting to cover the retreat of their fugitive friends.
" But Major Stillman and his men pursued their flight without looking to the right or left until they were safely landed at Dixon.
"The party came straggling into camp all night long, four or five at a time, each fresh arrival confident that all who had been left behind had been massaered by the Indians.
" The enemy was stated to be just behind in full pursuit, and their arrival was looked for every moment. Eleven of Stillman's men were killed, and it is only astonishing that the number was so few.
This was about the only engagement, if engagement it could be called, in which the Indians were victorious. They at onee re- treated and were followed for weeks by the whites.
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Dispatches were received from Gen. Atkinson, dated Blue Mounds, July 25, 1832, stating that Gen. IIenry with his brigade and Gen. Dodge with a regiment of Michigan volunteers, sneceeded by forced marches in overtaking Black Hawk on the banks of the Wisconsin on the evening of the 21st of July, 1832 ; they imme- diately attacked the Indians, killing about 40 men, and wounding a much larger number, as the Indians were seen during the action bearing a great many wounded off the field. The loss on our part was trifling, amounting to one man killed and nine wounded. Night com- ing on no pursuit could be attempted, and thus the enemy was saved from entire destruction. Black Hawk passed over to an island in the Wisconsin, to which place he had sent his women.
Gents. Henry and Dodge remained on the ground the succeeding day and night, unable to renew the attack, having neither boats, canoes, nor the means of constructing rafts across the river. The troops under Genls. Henry and Dodge are represented to have behaved with great gallantry, resisting with firmness a charge from the enemy on horseback, and in turn charging him with great promptness, ronting the Indians at every point, to which is attrib. utable the very small loss on our side. While our men deserve great credit for gallantry and steadiness, the Indians are entitled to no less consideration for the skill and perseverance displayed by
them in their retreat. * * A squaw captured stated that Black Hawk had lost 200 warriors in the different skirmishes before the battle with Gen. Dodge-that many of those embarking in canoes had been lost in consequence of bad canoes.
Battle of Bad Axe, Ang. 2, 1832. At 2 o'clock pro- cisely the bugle sounded and in a short time all were ready to march.
Gen. Dodge's squadron was honored by being placed in front, the infantry followed next, Gen. Henry's brigade next, Gen. Alexander's next, and Gen. Posey's brigade formed the rear guard.
Gen. Dodge called for, and soon received, 20 volunteer spies to go ahead of the whole army.
In this order the march commenced. They had not gone moro than five miles, however, before one of our spies came back, announcing that they had come in sight of the enemy's picket guard. The intelligence was quickly conveyed to Gen. Atkinson and by him to all the commanders of the brigade, and the celerity of the march was instantly increased. In a few minutes more the fire commenced about five hundred yards in front of the army
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between our spies and the Indian pieket guard. The Indians were driven by our spies from hill to hill, but kept up a tolerably brisk fire from every situation commanding the ground over which our spies had to march. But they were charged and ronted from their hiding places, and sought safety by retreating to the main body on the bank of the Mississippi, and joined in one general effort to defend themselves or die on the ground.
Lest some might escape up or down the river Gen. Atkinson, very judieiously ordered Genls. Alexander and Posey to join the right wing of the army and mareh down to the river above the Indian encampment on the bank, and then move down. Gen. Henry formed the left wing, and marched in the main trail of the enemy. The United States Infantry and Gen. Dodge's squadron of the mining troops marehed in the center.
With this order our whole foree descended the almost perpen- dicular bluff into a low valley, heavily timbered, with a large growth of underbrush, weeds and grass. Sloughis, deep ravines and old logs were so plentiful as to afford every facility for the enemy to make a strong defense.
Gen. Henry first eommeneed a heavy fire, which was returned by the enemy. The Indians being ronted from their first hiding places, sought others. Gen. Dodge's squadron and the United States troops soon came into action, and with Gen. Henry's men, rushed into the defiles of the enemy and killed all in their way except a few who succeeded in swimming a slongh of the Mississippi, 150 yards wide.
During this time Alexander and Posey's brigades were marching down the river and fell in with another part of the enemy's army, and killed and routed all that opposed them.
The battle lasted upward of three hours. About 50 of the enemy's, women and children were taken prisoners, and many were killed in the battle.
The loss of the Indians ean never be aseertained exactly, but ae- cording to the best computation it must have exceeded 150. Our loss in killed and wounded was 27 .*
From the official report of Gen. Atkinson to Major-General W. Scott, dated Ang. 9, 1832, I make the following extraets: " I marched at 2 o'clock A. M. with the regular troops under Col. Taylor and Gen. Dodge's battalion, leaving the brigades of Genls.
*From the History of the United States, published by C. B. Taylor, in 1837.
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Posey, Alexander, and Henry to follow as they were not yet ready to mareli-their horses having been turned out before the order of the night before had been received by them. After marching about three miles the advance of Dodge's battalion came up with a small part of the enemy and killed eight of them and dispersed the residue." After giving a lengthy report of the events of the battle Gen. Atkinson says: " Both the regular and volunteer troops conducted themselves with the greatest zeal, courage and patriotism, and are entitled to the highest approbation of their country. To Brigadier- Gen. Henry, of the 3d Brigade of Illinois volunteers; to Gen. Dodge, of the Michigan volunteers, and to Col. Taylor, of the United States Infantry, the greatest praise is due for the gallant manner in which they brought their respective corps in, and conducted them through the action. ** * Of the United States Infantry five privates were killed and four wounded. Of Genls. Posey's and Alexander's brigades one private in each was wounded. Of Gen. Henry's, one Lientanant and five privates were wounded. Of Gen. Dodge's, one Captain, one Sergeant and four privates were wounded. "
The historian ( not Gen. Atkinson ) says: " Black Hawk, while the battle waxed warm, had gone up the river on the east side. His valuables, many of them, together with certificates of good char- acter and of his having fought bravely against the United States, in the war of 1812, signed by British officers, were found on the battle ground.
"Black Hawk was captured by some Winnebagoes at the Dalles, on the Wisconsin River, and delivered to Gen. Street at Prairie du Chien, on the 27th of Angust. 1832. Among the number captured was a son of Black Hawk, and also the Prophet, a noted chief, who formerly resided at Prophet's town, in Whiteside county, and who was one of the principal instigators of the war. Thus ended the Black Hawk war. The militia were sent to Dixon and discharged. Black Hawk and the Prophet were taken east and confined in Fort- ress Monroe for a time. On the 4th day of June they were set free. Before leaving the fort, Black Hawk delivered the follow- ing farewell speech to the commander :
" ' Brother, I have come on my own part, and in behalf of my companions. to bid yon farewell. Our great father has at length been pleased to permit us to return to our hunting grounds. We have buried the tomahawk, and the sound of the rifle hereafter will only bring death to the deer and the buffalo. Brothers, you
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY. 4
have treated the red man very kindly. Your squaws have made them presents ; you have given them plenty to eat and drink. The memory of your friendship will remain till the Great Spirit says it is time for Black Hawk to sing his death song. Brother, your houses are as numerous as the leaves on the trees, and your young warriors like the sands upon the shore of the big lake that rolls before us. The red man has but few houses and few warriors, but the red man has a heart which throbs as warmly as the heart of his white brother. The Great Spirit has given us onr hunting grounds, and the skin of the deer which we kill there is his favor- ite, for its color is white, and this is the emblem of peace. This hunting dress and these feathers of the eagle are white. Accept them, my brother. I have given one like this to the White Otter. Accept it as a memorial of Black Hawk. When he is far away this will serve to remind you of him. May the Great Spirit bless you and your children. Farewell.'
" After their release from prison they were conducted, in charge of Major Garland, through some of the principal cities, that they might witness the power of the United States and learn their own inability to cope with them in war. Great multitudes flocked to see them wherever they were taken, and the attention paid them rendered their progress through the country a triumphal proces- sion, instead of the transportation of prisoners by an officer. At Rock Island the prisoners were given their liberty, amid great and impressive ceremony. In 1838 Black Hawk built him a dwelling near Des Moines, Iowa, and furnished it after the manner of the whites, and engaged in agricultural pursuits and hunting and fish- ing. IIere, with his wife, to whom he was greatly attached, he passed the few remaining days of his life. To his credit, it may be said, that Black Hawk remained true to his wife, and served her with a devotion uncommon among Indians, living with her more than 40 years."
Black Ilawk died Oet. 3, 1838.
FIRST VISIT OF WHITE MEN.
Father Marquette, the French Missionary, was doubtless the first white man that ever set foot on the soil of Scott County. Long before the discovery of the Mississippi River by Marquette and Joliet, June 17, 1673, tradition says that the spot of ground now occupied by the city of Davenport was a large and populous Indian village. There can be but little doubt from the history of these
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missionaries, that it was here they first lauded in their voyage down the Mississippi, after they entered it from the mouth of the Wis- consin, on the 17th of June. The first landing made by them on reeord was on the 21st, four days after they entered the river, and was upon the western bank, where they say: " We discovered foot- prints of some fellow mortals, and a little path ( trail ) leading into a pleasant meadow. " Following the trail a short distance, they heard the savages talking, and, " making their presence known by a loud ery, " they were led to a village of the "Illinis."
There could not have been sufficient time between the 17th and 21st for the voyagers to have descended below this point, or to have reached the lower or Des Moines Rapids, which some historians elaim to have been their first landing place. There having been an Indian village here from time immemorial, and according to Indian tradition, fixes the faet most conclusively that it was at Davenport that the soil of Iowa, as well as of Scott County, was first pressed by the foot of a white man. The legends of the Indians are full of historie lore, pertaining to this beautiful spot, comprising Davenport, Rock Island and their surroundings.
There were many traces of the aborigines existing when the first settlers eame to this country. Several Indian mounds, or burial places, of quite large dimensions, were still used by wandering banda of Indians as late as 1835 and 1836, situated on the banks of the. river, about two miles below Davenport, where was formerly the farm of Ebenezer Cook. Indian graves have been found in exea- rations about the city, and relies of ancient date discovered, showing that this spot has been the home of the red men for centuries, and corroborating the testimony of Black Hawk and others as to the tradition of their fathers.
Black Hawk was ever ready to tell of the traditions of his people, and often dwelt with mneh interest and excitement on them. Hc says they came from Gitehe Gamsue, "the big water" ( Lake Superior ), and Indians that are yet living say that the home of their fathers was at Sunken Creek, that empties into Lake Superior, and that as they traveled westward, they encountered foes whom they fought and conquered, and that in time they were conquered by their enemies, and tribe fouglit tribe for possession of the land, until they reached the great river, the Massa-Sepo, which signifies "The Father of Rivers."
The tradition of the Sacs, who have always lived upon the prairies is that their name means " Man of the Prairie," or prairie Indian. They also aver that their friends, the Musquakies, which signifies
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.
"Foxes," were a sly and cunning people, and united with them for strength to fight their enemies, the tribes of the Kickapoo and Illini, and that they have ever lived in peace as one tribe and one people. These were the Indians in possession of the country when the United States assumed jurisdiction over it, and of whom it was purchased.
The treaty of Gen. Scott with the Indians was ratified by Congress at its session in the winter of 1833. Thus did the United States come into possession of the soil of Scott County. Of the Indians from whom it was purchased, and of the tribes who had been in possession in earlier days, the Sacs and Foxes were provided with homes in Kansas, and are fast dwindling away. But a remnant is left of the tribes of the Winnebagoes, Chippewas, Pottawatomies, Ottawas, Menominees, and other powerful bands that were in pos- session of the country from "the lakes to the Missouri, at the termination of the American Revolution. Their destiny is written. The onward march of the Anglo-Saxon race tells with unerring prophecy, the fate of the Red Man! They are doomed to become extinct !
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