8 April 1832: US Soldiers Dispatched to Fight Black Hawk

He didn’t really understand the concept of land sale and strongly believed that the white settlers had no right to take his land.  Here’s his explanation from Life of Black Hawk:

Black Hawk didn’t really want war (heck, he was over 60 years old and he had about 600 women and children with him), but he also didn’t want to say goodbye to his land.  The US response to Black Hawk’s intransigence was to dispatch a ragtag of US military, state militia, and inexperienced volunteers.  In addition, the traditional enemies of the Sauk (Sioux, Ho-Chunks, Menominee, and Dakota) were perfectly willing to take advantage of Black Hawk’s predicament — by assisting the US forces.

Fighting broke out on May 14, 1832, when Black Hawk sent out three braves under a white flag to meet with some inexperienced militiamen, under the command of Isaiah Stillman.  Details are sketchy, but the militiamen imprisoned the three braves and then began firing on a group of Indian observers.  Reportedly, the militiamen believed the white flag was simply a prelude to an ambush.  Black Hawk responded to the treachery by attacking Stillman’s forces at dusk, obtaining a surprising victory.  The humiliating defeat would only harden US resolve, so the Black Hawk War continued until Black Hawk eventually surrendered.

US soldiers in the War included:  Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, and Henry Dodge, who would later become the first territorial governor of Wisconsin.

From his autobiography, Life of Black Hawk, here’s the dedication to Gen Atkinson [Note–Gen Atkinson was Black Hawk’s adversary in the War.  Black Hawk endearingly referred to Gen Atkinson as the “White Beaver.”]

Sir, The changes of fortune, and vicissitudes of war, made you my conqueror. When my last resources were exhausted, my warriors worn down with long and toilsome marches, we yielded, and I became your prisoner. The story of my life is told in the following pages; it is intimately connected, and in some measure, identified with a part of the history of your own: I have, therefore, dedicated it to you. The changes of many summers, have brought old age upon me, and I cannot expect to survive many moons. Before I set out on my journey to the land of my fathers, I have determined to give my motives and reasons for my former hostilities to the whites, and to vindicate my character from misrepresentation. The kindness I received from you whilst a prisoner of war, assures me that you will vouch for the facts contained in my narrative, so far as they came under your observation.

I am now an obscure member of a nation that formerly honored and respected my opinions. The path to glory is rough, and many gloomy hours obscure it. May the Great Spirit shed light on yours — and that you may never experience the humility that the power of the American government has reduced me to, is the wish of him, who, in his native forests, was once as proud and bold as yourself.

Black Hawk
10th Moon, 1832