"You have taken me prisoner with all my warriors. I am much grieved, for I expected, if I did not defeat you, to hold out much longer, and give you more trouble before I surrendered. I tried hard to bring you into ambush, but your last general understands Indian fighting. The first one was not so wise. When I saw I could not beat you by Indian fighting, I determined to rush on you, and fight you face to face. I fought hard. But your guns were well aimed. The bullets flew like birds in the air, and whizzed by our ears like the wind through the trees in winter.
"Black Hawk is a true Indian, and disdains to cry like a woman. He feels for his wife, his children and friends. He does not care for himself. He cares for his nation and the Indians. They will suffer. He laments their fate. The white men do not scalp the dead; but they do worse—they poison the heart; it is not pure with them. His countrymen will not be scalped, but they will, in a few years, become like the white men, so that you cannot trust them, and there must be, as in the white settlements, nearly as many officers as men, to take care of them and keep them in order.
"Farewell, my nation! Black Hawk tried to save you and avenge your wrongs. He drank the blood of some of the whites. He has been taken prisoner, and his plans are stopped. He can do no more. He is near his end. His sun is setting, and he will rise no more. Farewell to Black Hawk!"
There was no thought, however, of putting the chief or any of his companions to death. The prisoners and their guard were taken by steamboat down the river to Jefferson Barracks. Black Hawk, The Prophet, eleven head men or chiefs of the Sacs and Foxes, and some fifty warriors composed the party. Upon their arrival all were put in irons. By a treaty made with the Sacs and Foxes, a short time after, they ceded five million acres of land, containing much valuable lead deposits, to the United States. At the same time, the Winnebagoes surrendered four millions six hundred thousand acres of equally good land to our government. In addition to an annuity for thirty years, the payment of the debts of the tribes, and a supply of provisions, a reservation of forty square miles on the Iowa River was given to Keokuk and his band for their loyalty during the troubles now happily brought to an end. Black Hawk, his two sons, and seven of the principal warriors, were to be held as hostages at the pleasure of the President of the United States.
Black Hawk now entered upon the experience which gave him his real reputation as an orator. His war against the settlements had drawn more attention and raised more interest throughout the country than many wars of greater magnitude before or since, and, wherever he went, he was a notable personage. In the month of April, 1833, the chief and his companions arrived in Washington, and had an interview with President Jackson. Each had heard of the other, and the salutation of the chieftain when presented to the foremost citizen of the United States, was: "I am a man and you are another!"
Old Hickory received his visitor kindly, but, as was his custom, used plain words. He told him that a number of articles of dress which had been prepared would be speedily given to him, and the chief was at liberty to distribute them as he thought best. The President added that the party must leave at once for Fort Monroe, and be content to remain there until he gave them permission to return to their homes. Their stay would depend upon the conduct of their people. When the terms of the treaty had been complied with, and the distant warriors showed a friendly spirit, the chiefs and their friends would be set free. The President assured them that they need feel no uneasiness about their women and children, for they would be shielded from all harm at the hands of the Sioux and the Menominies. He meant to compel the different tribes to live at peace with one another, and, when he became sure that everything would remain quiet, the prisoners would be sent to their homes.
It is worth noting that among all the curiosities shown to these visitors, they were more interested in the portraits of the Indian chiefs in the War Department than in anything else. They seemed never to weary of standing in front of the paintings, and gazing upon the features of those of their own race, whose fame had come down to them in tradition, and whose deeds and oratory had filled even civilized brethren with admiration for their heroic qualities.
The Indians arrived at Fort Monroe in the latter part of April. None was put in irons, and all were treated with kindness. Few indeed could feel any emotion other than sympathy for those men who had suffered so much from a people that claimed a higher civilization and professed the gentle teachings of Christianity. Although the cage in which they were kept was a gilded one, it was none the less a prison, and they sighed for the free air of the prairies and mountains. The welcome order arrived in about five weeks, and they left by steamboat for Baltimore. Naturally they attracted great interest at all points where they stopped, and their tour through the northern cities was, to use a common expression, an "ovation." We Americans are famous for our "speeches" and "addresses" which are ready on the slightest provocation. Most of those directed at Black Hawk were of a wishy-washy character, that could bear no comparison with the sturdy, sententious eloquence of the natural orator. The best one of the lot was made by Hon. John A. Graham, at a reception given to the red men in New York.
"Brothers," said he, "open your ears. You are brave men. You have fought like tigers, but in a bad cause. We have conquered you. We are sorry, last year, that you raised the tomahawk against us; but we believe you did not know us then as you do now.
