SKETCHES OF BLACK HAWK AND OTHER
CHIEFS
Black Hawk - Treaty of 1804 - Black
Hawk's account of the Treaty - Lieut.
Pike - Ft. Edwards - Ft. Madison -
Black Hawk and the British - Keokuk
recognized as Chief - Ft. Armstrong
- Sac and Fox Villages - Black Hawk's
"Britsh
Band" - Black Hawk War - Black
Hawk's old age - His death in Iowa
- His remains
carried away, but recovered - Keokuk
- Appanoose - Wapello - Poweshiek
-
Pash-e-pa-ho—Wish-e-co-ma-que—Chas-chun-ca—Mau-haw-gaw—Ma-has-kah
Si-dom-i-na-do-tah—Henry Lott
- A Tragedy in Humboldt County
Ink-pa-du-tah—Spirit Lake Massacre
- Expedition from Ft. Dodge - Death
of
Capt. Johnston and William Burkholder
42
BLACK HAWK.
THIS renowned chief,
the "noblest Roman of them all,"
was born at the Sac village on Rock
river, about the year 1767. His first
introduction to the notice of the
whites seems to have been in 1804,
when William Henry Harrison; then
the Governor of Indiana Territory,
concluded his treaty with the Sac
and Fox nation for the lands bordering
on Rock river. Black Hawk was then
simply a chief, though not by election
or inheritance, of his own band of
Sac warriors, but from that time he
was the most prominent man in the
Sac and Fox nation. He considered
the action of the four chiefs who
represented the Indians in making
this treaty as unjust and refused
to consider it binding. The territory
ceded embraced over fifty-one millions
of acres, extending almost from opposite
St. Louis to the Wisconsin river.
He claimed that the chiefs or braves
who made the treaty had no authority
to make it, and that they had been
sent to St. Louis, where the treaty
was negotiated, for quite a different
purpose, namely: to procure the release
of one of their people who was held
there as a prisoner: on charge of
killing a white man. The United States
regarded this treaty as a bona fide
transaction, claiming that the lands
were sold by responsible men of the
tribes, and that it was further ratified
by a part of the tribes with Gov.
Edwards and
43
Auguste Choteau,
in September, 1815, and again with
the same commissioners in 1816. They
claimed that the Indians were only
to occupy the lands at the Sac village
on Rock river until they were surveyed
and sold by, the government, when
they were to vacate them. The treaty
of St. Louis was signed by five chiefs
instead of four, although Black Hawk
claimed that the latter number only
were sent to St. Louis for a different
purpose. One of these was Pash-e-pa-ho,
a head chief among the Sacs. Black
Hawk himself thus describes the return
of the chiefs to Rock Island after
the treaty:
"Quash-qua-me
and party remained a long time absent.
They at length returned, and encamped
a short distance below the village,
but did not come up that day, nor
did any person approach their camp.
They appeared to be dressed in fine
coats, and had medals. From these
circumstances we were in hopes that
they had brought good news. Early
the next morning the council lodge
was crowded. Quash-qua-me came up
and said that on their arrival in
St. Louis, they met their American
father, and explained to him their
business, and urged the release of
their friend. The American chief told
them he wanted land, and that they
had agreed to give him some on the
west side of the Mississippi, and
some on the Illinois side, opposite
the Jeffreon; that when the business
was all arranged, they expected their
friend released to come home with
them. But about the time they were
ready to start, their friend was let
out of' prison, who ran a short distance,
and was shot dead! This was all myself
or nation knew of the treaty of 1804.
It has been explained to me since.
I find, by that treaty, that all our
country east of the Mississippi, and
south of the Jeffreon, was ceded to
the United States for one thousand
dollars a year!"
The treaty
was doubtless made in good faith on
the part of the commissioners, and
with the full conviction that .it
was by authority of the tribes. From
this time forward Black Hawk seems
to have entertained a distrust of
the Americans. Although Spain had
ceded the country west of the Mississippi
to France in 1801, the former power
still held possession until its transfer
to the United States by France. Black
Hawk and his band were at St. Louis
at this time, and he was invited to
be present at the ceremonies connected
with the change of authorities. He
refused the invitation; and in giving
an account of the transaction, said:
"I found
many sad and gloomy faces, because
the United States were about to take
possession of the town and country.
Soon after the Americans came, I took
my band and went to take leave of
our Spanish father. The Americans
came to see him also. Seeing them
approach, we passed out of one door
as they entered another, and immediately
started in our canoes for our village
on Rock river, not liking the change
any more than our friends appeared
to at St. Louis. On arriving at our
village, we gave the news that strange
people had arrived at St. Louis, and
that we should never see our Spanish
father again. The information made
all our people sorry."
In August,
1805, Lieut. Zebulon M. Pike ascended
the river from St. Louis, for the
purpose of holding councils with the
Indians, and selecting sites for military
posts within the country recently
acquired from France. At the mouth
of Rock river he had a personal interview
with Black Hawk, the latter being
favorably impressed with the young
lieutenant. Speaking of this interview,
Black Hawk himself said:
"A boat came
up the river with a young American
chief, and a small party .of soldiers.
We heard of them soon after they passed
Salt river.
44
Some of our young braves
watched them every day, to see what
sort of people he had on board. The
boat at length arrived at Rock Island,
and the young chief came on shore
with his interpreter, and made a speech,
and gave us some presents. We, in
turn, presented them with meat and
such other provisions as we had to
spare. We were well pleased with the
young chief. He gave us good advice,
and said our American father would
treat us well."
Lieut. Pike's
expedition was soon followed by the
erection of Fort Edwards and Fort
Madison, the former on the site of
the present town of Warsaw, Illinois,
and the latter on the site of the
present town of Fort Madison, Iowa.
When these forts were being erected,
the Indians sent down delegations,
headed by some of their chiefs, to
have an- interview with the Americans.
Those who visited Fort Edwards returned
apparently satisfied with what was
being done. The erection of Fort Madison
they claimed was a violation of the
treaty of 1804. In that treaty the
United States agreed that if "any
white persons should form a settlement
on their lands, such intruders should
forthwith be removed." Fort Madison
was erected within the territory reserved
for the Indians, and this they considered
an intrusion. Some time afterward
a party under the leadership of Black
Hawk and Pash-e-pa-ho attempted its
destruction. They sent spies to watch
the movements of the garrison. Five
soldiers who came out were fired upon
by the Indians, and two of the soldiers
were killed. They kept up the attack
for several days. Their efforts to
destroy .the fort being unsuccessful,
they returned to Rock river.
When the war
of 1812 broke out, Black Hawk and.
his band allied themselves with the
British, which was the origin of his
party, at a later date, being known
as the "British Band." In
narrating the circumstances which
induced him to join the British, he
says:
"Several
of the chiefs and head men of the
Sacs and Foxes were called upon to
go to Washington to see the Great
Father. On their return they related
what had been said and done. They
said the Great Father wished them,
in the event of war taking place with
England, not to interfere on either
side, but to remain neutral. He did
not want our help, but wished us to
hunt and support our families and
live in peace. He said that British
traders would not be permitted to
come on the Mississippi to furnish
us with goods, but that we should
be supplied by an American trader.
Our chiefs then told him that the
British traders always gave them credit
in the fall for guns, powder and goods
to enable us to hunt and clothe our
families. He replied that the trader
at Fort Madison would have plenty
of goods; that we should go there
in the fall, and he would supply us
on credit, as the British traders
had done."
According to
Black Hawk, this proposition pleased
his people, and they went to Fort
Madison to receive their promised
outfit for the winter's hunt, but
notwithstanding the promise of the
Great Father, at Washington, the trader
would not give them credit. In reference
to their disappointment, Black Hawk
says:
"Few of us
slept that night; all was gloom and
discontent. In the morning a canoe
was seen descending the river; it
soon arrived, bearing an express,
who brought intelligence that a British
trader had landed at Rock Island,
with two boats loaded with goods,
and requested us to come up immediately,
because he had good news for us, and
a variety of presents. The express
presented us with tobacco, pipes and
wampum. The news ran
45
through our camp like
fire on a prairie. Our lodges were
soon taken down, and all started for
Rock Island. Here ended all hopes
of our remaining at peace, having
been forced into the war by being
deceived."
Black Hawk
and his band then espoused the cause
of the British, who, as in the case
of Tecumseh, gave him the title of
"Gen. Black Hawk" But a
large portion of the Sacs and Foxes,
at the head of whom was Keokuk, chose
to remain neutral, as well as to abide
by the treaty of 1804. Of this party
Keokuk was the recognized chief. The
nation was divided into the "war
party" and" peace party."
Black Hawk maintained his fidelity
to the British until the end of the
war, and was the intimate friend and
supporter of Tecumseh, until the death
of the latter at the battle of the
Thames.
At the
close of the war of 1812, Black Hawk
returned to his village on Rock river,
to find Keokuk still the friend of
the Americans, and the recognized
war chief of that portion of the Sac
and Fox nation which had remained
neutral. As stated elsewhere, a new
treaty was concluded in' September,
1815, in which, among other matters,
the treaty of St. Louis was ratified.
This treaty was not signed by Black
Hawk, or anyone representing his band,
but was signed by chiefs of both the
Sacs and Foxes, who were fully authorized
to do so. This treaty was held at
Portage des Sioux,and was a result
of the war of 1812, with England.
In May, 1816, another treaty was held
at St. Louis, in which the St. Louis
treaty of 1804 was recognized. This
treaty was signed by Black Hawk and
twenty other chiefs and braves. The
same year Fort Armstrong was erected
upon Rock Island, a proceeding very
distasteful to the Indians. Of this
Black Hawk says:
"We
did not, however, object to their
building the fort on the island, but
we were very sorry, as this was the
best island on the Mississippi, and
had long been the resort of our young
people during the summer. It was our
garden, like the white people have
near their big vi1lages, which supplied
us with strawberries, blackberries,
plums, apples and nuts of various
kinds; and its waters supplied us
with pure fish, being situated in
the rapids of the river. In my early
life, I spent many happy days on this
island. A good spirit had care of
it, who lived in a cave in the rocks,
immediately under the place where
the fort now stands, and has often
been seen by our people. He was white,
with large wings like a swan's, but
ten times larger. We were particular
not to make much noise in that part
of the island which he inhabited,
for fear of disturbing him. But the
noise of the fort has since driven
him awav, and no doubt a bad spirit
has since taken his place."
The expedition which was sent up the
river to erect a fort at or near Rock
Island, consisted at first of the
Eighth United States Infantry, and
started from St. Louis in September,
1815, .under the command Col. R.
C. Nichols. They reached the mouth
of the Des Moines, where they wintered.
In April, 1816, Gen. Thomas A.
Smith arrived and took command
of the expedition. They reached Rock
Island on the 10th of May, and, after
a careful examination, the site for
the fort was selected. The regiment
being left under the command of Col.
Lawrence, the work on the fort immediately
commenced. It was named in honor of
John Armstrong of New York,
who had recently been Secretary of
War.
After the establishment
of the fort and garrison at Rock Island
settlements began to be made at and
near the mouth of Rock river, on the
east side of the Mississippi. Keokuk,
as the head chief of the Foxes, with
his tribe, in accordance with the
treaties they had made with the United
States, left in 1828 and established
themselves on Iowa river, but Black
Hawk and his "British
46
Band" of about
500 warriors remained in their village
and persistently refused to leave.
The settlers began to complain of
frequent depredations at the hands
of Black Hawk's people, and feared
that the neighboring tribes of Kickapoos,
Pottawattamies, and Winnebagoes, might
be induced to join Black Hawk in a
war of extermination. Finally, in
the spring of 1831, Black Hawk warned
the settlers to leave. These troubles
culminated in the "Black Hawk
War," and the final capture of
the chief and some of his principal
men, as related elsewhere. The Black
Hawk War ended hostilities with the
Indians at or near Rock Island. A
garrison, however, was maintained
there until 1836, when the troops
were sent to Fort Snelling. The fort
was left in charge of Lieut. John
Beach, with a few men to take
care of the property.
After his capture,
Black Hawk and several of his principal
men were taken to Jefferson Barracks
where they were kept until the spring
of 1833. They were then sent to Washington,
where they arrived on the 22d of April,
and on the 26th were confined in Fortress
Monroe. On the 4th of June, 1833,
they were set at liberty by order
of the government and permitted to
return to their own country.
In the fall of
1837 Black Hawk, accompanied by Keokuk,
Wapello, Poweshiek, and some forty
of the principal chiefs and braves
of the Sac and Fox nations, again
visited Washington, in charge of Co1.
George Davenport, who by his influence
with the Indians assisted the government
in making another large purchase of
territory in Iowa. This tract adjoined
the "Black Hawk Purchase,"
and embraced 1,250,000 acres.
After Black Hawk's
release from captivity in 1833, he
seemed unwilling to reside in any
of the villages of the tribe. His
band was broken up and dispersed,
as stipulated in the treaty of peace,
and he seemed to seek seclusion from
his people. While the garrison remained
at Rock Island, he usually lived near
it, and often put up his wigwam close
to the fort, where his vision could
take in the beautiful country on the
east bank of the Mississippi, which
had been his home for more than half
a century. But the time came when
he must go with his people to the
new reservation on the banks of the
Des Moines. He was then in the waning
years of his life and the other chiefs
of the nation seemed disposed to pay
him but little attention. His family
consisted of his wife, two sons and
one daughter. He established his lodge
on the east bank of the Des Moines,
about three miles below the site of
the present town of Eldon. Gen.
Street presented the family with
a cow, which was a piece of property
which exacted much solicitude and
care at the hands of Madame Black
Hawk. His lodge was near the trading
post of Wharton McPherson;
and James Jordan, who was also
at that time connected with the post,
had his cabin within a few rods of
Black Hawk's lodge. This was in the
summer of 1838, and the old chief
who had defied the power of the United
States and caused the expenditure
of millions of treasure to subdue
him, was nearing his departure for
a final remove beyond the power of
earthly governments. Near his lodge,
on the bank of the river, stood a
large elm tree, with its spreading
branches overhanging the stream and
flowing from its roots was a crystal
spring of pure water. Here during
the sultry summer days of that year
Black Hawk was wont to repose and
dream over the years of his former
greatness and the wrongs that his
people had suffered. At last, on the
3d of October, 1838, death came to
his relief, and, according to the
Indian idea, his spirit passed away
to the happy hunt ing grounds.
47
The rernains of Black Hawk were interred
by, his family and friends near his
cabin on the prairie, a short distance
above the old town of Iowaville. The
body was placed on a board, or slab,
set up in an inclining position, with
the feet extending into the ground
some fifteen inches and the head elevated
above the surface some three feet
or more. This was enclosed by placing
slabs around it with the ends resting
on the ground and meeting at the top,
forming a kind of vault. The whole
was then covered with dirt and neatly
sodded. At, the head of the grave
was placed a flag-staff thirty feet,
high, from which floated the American
flag until it was worn out by the
wind. Interred with the body were
a number of his prized and long-treasured
relics, including a military suit
presented by Jackson's Cabinet; a
sword presented by Jackson himself;
a cane presented by Henry Clay,
and another by a British officer;
and three silver medals-one presented
by Jackson, and by John Quincy
Adams, and the other by citizens
of Boston. Near the grave a large
post was set in the ground, on which
were inscribed in Indian characters,
emblems commemorating many of his
heroic deeds. The grave and flag staff
were enclosed by a rude picket fence
in circular .form. Here the body,
remained until July, 1839, when it
disappeared. On complaint being made
by Black Hawk's family, the matter
was investigated, and it was finally
traced to one Dr. Turner, who
then resided at a place called Lexington,
in Van Buren county. The remains had
been taken to Illinois, but at the
earnest request of Black Hawk's relatives,
Gov. Lucas interposed and had them
sent to Burlington. The sons were
informed that the remains were in
Burlington and went to that place
to obtain them. While there it was
suggested to them that if taken away
they would only be stolen again, and
they concluded to leave them where
they thought they might be more safely
preserved. They were finally placed
in a museum in that city and years
after, with a large collection of
other valuable relics, were destroyed
by the burning of the building. In
the meantime the relatives of the
renowned chief removed westward with
the rest of the tribe, and were finally
lost to all knowledge of the white
man.
KEOKUK.
Keokuk (Watchful
Fox) belonged to the Sac branch
of the nation, and was born on Rack
river, in 1780. He was an orator,
but was also entitled to rank as a
warrior, far he possessed courage
and energy, but at the same time a
cool judgment. He had an intelligent
appreciation of the power and greatness
of the United States, and saw the
futility of Black Hawk's hope to contend
successfully against the government.
In his first battle, while young,
he had killed a Sioux, and for this
he was honored with a feast by his
tribe.
At the beginning
of the Black Hawk War an affair transpired
which was dignified by the name of
the "Battle of Stillman's Run,"
in which some three hundred volunteers
under Maj. Stillman took prisoners
five of Black Hawk's men who were
approaching with a flag of truce;
One of the prisoners was shot by Stillman's
men; Black Hawk had also sent five
other men to follow the bearers of
the flag. The troops came ,upon these
and killed two of them. The other
three reached their camp and, gave
the alarm. Black Hawk's warriors then
charged upon Stillman's advancing
troops and completely routed them.
This failure to respect the flag of
truce so exasperated the Indians that
it was with great difficulty that
Keokuk could restrain his warriors
from espousing the cause of Black
Hawk. Stillman's defeat was fol-
48
lowed by a war-dance,
in which Keokuk took part. After the
dance he called a council of war,
and made a speech in which he admitted
the justice of their complaints. The
blood of their brethren slain by the
white men, while bearing a flag of
truce, called loudly for vengeance.
Said he:
" I am your
chief, and it is my duty to lead you
to battle, if, after fully considering
the matter, you are determined to
go. But before you decide on -taking
this important step, it is wise to
inquire into the chances of success.
But if you do determine to go upon
the war path, I will agree to lead
you on one condition, viz.: that before
we go we will kill all our old men
and our wives and our children, to
save them from a lingering death of
starvation, and that every one of
us determine to leave our homes on
the other side of the Mississippi."
Keokuk
so forcibly portrayed in other parts
of this speech the great power of
the United States, and of the hopeless
prospect before them, that his warriors
at once abandoned all thought of joining
Black Hawk.
The name Keokuk
signified Watchful Fox. As we have
seen, he eventually superseded Black
Hawk, and was recognized by the United
States as the principal chief Of the
Sac and Fox nation, which, indeed,
had much to do in stinging the pride
of the imperious Black Hawk. In person
he was strong, graceful and commanding,
with fine features and an intelligent
countenance. He excelled in horsemanship;
dancing, and all athletic exercises.
He was courageous and skillful in
war, but mild and politic in peace.
He had a son, a fine featured, promising
boy, who died at Keokuk's village
on the Des Moines. Keokuk himself
became somewhat dissipated during
the later years of his life in Iowa.
It was reported that after his removal
with his people to the Indian Territory
west of the Mississippi, he died of
delirium tremens. Iowa has
honored his memory in the name of
one of her counties, and one of her
principal cities.
APPANOOSE.
Appanoose
was a chief who presided over a band
of the Sacs. His name, in the language
or that tribe, signified "A Chief
When a Child," indicating that
he inherited his position. It was
said he was equal in rank with Keokuk,
but he did not possess the influence
of the latter. He was one of the "peace
chiefs" during the Black Hawk
War. During the last occupation of
Iowa soil by the Sacs and Foxes, Appanoose
had his village near the site of the
present city of Ottumwa. His people
cultivated a portion of the ground
on which that city is located. He
was one of the delegation sent to
Washington in 1837, at which time
he visited with the other chiefs the
city of Boston, where they were invited
to a meeting in Fanueil Hall. On that
occasion he made the most animated
speech, both in manner and matter,
that was delivered by the chiefs.
After Keokuk had spoken, Appanoose
arose and said:
"You
have heard just now what my chief
has to say. All our chiefs and warriors
are very much gratified by our visit
to this town. Last Saturday they were
invited to a great house, arid now
they are in the great council house.
They are very much pleased with so
much attention. This we can not reward
you for now, but shall not forget
it, and hope the Great Spirit will
reward you for it. This is the place
which our forefathers once inhabited.
I have often heard my father and grandfather
say they lived near the sea-coast
where the white man first came. I
am glad to hear all this from you.
I suppose it is put in a book, where
you learn all these things. As far
as I can understand the language of
the white people, it appears to me
49
Indians Trying a Prisoner
50
that the Americans have
attained a very high rank among the
white people. It is the same with
us, though I say it myself. Where
we live beyond the Mississippi, I
am respected by all people, and they
consider me the tallest among them.
I am happy that two great men meet
and shake hands with each other."
As Appanoose
concluded his speech, he suited the
action to the word by extending his
hand to Gov. Everett, amid the shouts
of applause from the audience, who
were not a little amused at the self-complacency
of the orator. But few of the incidents
in the life of this chief have passed
into history. His name has been perpetuated
in that of one of the Iowa counties.
WAPELLO.
Wapello,
or Waupellow, was one of the minor
chief's of the Sac and Fox Nation.
He was born at Prairie du Chien, in
1787. At the time of the erection
of Fort Armstrong (1816) he presided
over one of the three principal villages
in that vicinity. ,His village there
was on the east side of the Mississippi,
near the foot of Rock Island, and
about three miles north 'of the famous
Black Hawk village. In 1829 he removed
his village to Muscatine Slough, and
then to a place at or near where the
town of Wapello, in Louis county,
is now located. Like Keokuk, he was
in favor of abiding by the requirements
of the treaty, of 1804, and opposed
the hostilities in which Black Hawk
engaged against the whites. He was
one of the chiefs that visited Washington
in 1837, and his name appears to several
treaties relinquishing lands to the
United States. He appears to have
been a warm personal friend of Gen.
Jos. M. Street, of the Sac
and Fox agency, and made a request
that at his death his remains be interred
along side of those of Gen. Street,
which request was complied with. He
died near the Forks of Skunk river,
March 15th, 1842, at the age of 55
years. His remains, with those of
Gen. Street, repose near Agency City,
in the county which honors his memory
with its name. The two graves and
the monuments have recently been repaired
by parties connected with the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy Railroad,
whose line passes within a few rods
of them.
POWESHIEK.
Poweshiek
was a chief of the same rank with
Wapello, and near the same age. He
also was one of the chiefs who visited
Washington in 1837. When the greater
portion of the Sac and Fox nation
removed to the Des Moines river, he
retained his village on the Iowa river,
where he presided over what was known
as the Musquawkie band of the Sacs
and Foxes. In May, 1838, when Gen.
Street organized a party to examine
the new purchase made the fall before,
with a view of selecting a site for
the agency, the expedition was accompanied
by about thirty braves, under the
command of Poweshiek. At that time
the Sacs and Foxes were at war with
the Sioux, and after leaving their
reservation these men were very fearful
that they might be surprised and cut
off by the Sioux. A small remnant
of his band make their home on Iowa
river, in Tama county, at this time.
He also remained the friend of the
whites during the Black Hawk war,
and the people of Iowa have honored
his memory by giving his name to one
of their counties.
51
PASH-E-PA-HO.
Pash-e-pa-ho,
called also the Stabbing Chief, at
the time of the treaty of
1804, and until after the Black Hawk
war; was head chief among the Sacs.
He was also present in St. Louis at
the making of that treaty, and was
even then well advanced in years.
It has been related that he laid a
plan to attack Fort Madison, not long
after its erection. His plan was to
gain an entrance to the fort, with
concealed arms under their blankets,
under a pretense of holding a council.
A squaw, however, had secretly conveyed
intelligence to the commandant of
the garrison of the intended attack,
so that the troops were in readiness
for them. When Pash-e-pa-ho and his
warriors advanced in a body toward
the closed gate, it suddenly opened,
revealing to the astonished savages
a cannon in the passage-way, and the
gunner standing with lighted torch
in hand ready to fire. Pash-e-pa-ho
deemed "discretion the better
part of valor ", and retreated.
Some time after
the plot against Fort Madison, Pash-e-pa-ho
made an attempt to obtain a lodgement
in Fort Armstrong, though in quite
a different way. Several of his braves
had the year before, while out hunting,
fell in with a party of their enemies,
the Sioux, and had lifted several
of their scalps.
The Sioux complained
of this outrage to the Department
at Washington, and orders were issued
demanding the surrender of the culprits.
They were accordingly brought and
retained as prisoners in Fort Armstrong,
where they had comfortable quarters
and plenty to eat during the winter.
Having fared sumptuously for several
months, without effort on their part,
they were released on the payment
of a small amount out of the annuities
of their tribes, to the Sioux. The
next fall Pasb.-e-pa-ho thought he
might avoid the trouble of stocking
his larder for the winter. So he voluntarily
called on the commandant of Fort Armstrong,
and informed him that while on a recent
hunt he had unfortunately met a Sioux,
and had yielded to the temptation
to get his scalp. He confessed that
he had done a very wrongful act, and
wished to save the Great Father at
Washington the trouble of sending
a letter ordering his arrest; therefore
he would surrender himself as a prisoner.
The commandant saw through his scheme
to obtain comfortable quarters and
good boarding for the winter, and
so told him he was an honorable Indian,
and that his voluntary offer to, surrender
himself was a sufficient guarantee
that he would appear when sent for.
That was the last that was heard of
the matter. Pash-e-pa-ho was never
sent for.
During the first
quarter of the present century the
Sacs and Foxes were frequently at
war with the Iowas. The latter had
one of their principal villages on
the Des Moines river, near where Black
Hawk died many years afterward. It
was here that the last great battle
was fought between these tribes. Pash-e-pa-ho
was chief in command of the Sacs and
Foxes. Black Hawk was also a prominent
actor in this engagement, but was
subject to his senior, Pash-e-pa-ho.
Accounts conflict as to the date,
but the evidences of' the conflict
were plainly visible as late as 1824.
The Sacs and Foxes surprised the Iowas
while the latter were engaged in running
their horses on the prairie, and therefore
unprepared to defend themselves. The
result was that Pash-e-pa-ho achieved
a decisive victory over the Iowas.
Pash-e-pa-ho
was among the chiefs present at the
making of the treaty of 1832, when
the "Black Hawk Purchase"
was made. He was very much given to
intemperate habits whenever he could
obtain liquor, and it is probble [probable]
that, like Keokuk, he died a drunkard.
52
WISH-E-CO-MA-QUE.
Quite prominent
among the Sacs and Foxes, after their
removal to Iowa, was a man known by
the name of Hardfish, or Wish-e-co-ma-que,
as it is in the Indian tongue. .He
was not a chief, but a brave who rose
almost to the prominence of a chief.
He adhered to Black Hawk in his hostility
toward the whites, and when Black
Hawk died, Hardfish became the leader,
of his band, composed mostly of those
who had participated in the, Black
Hawk war. When the Sacs and Foxes
occupied their reservation on the
Des Moines river, Hardfish had his
village where Eddyville is now located.
It was quite as respectable in size
as any of the other villages of the
Sacs and Foxes. Hardfish's band was
composed of people from the Sac branch
of the Sac and Fox nation. One John
Goodell was the interpreter for this
band. The name of Hardfish was quite
familiar to the frontier settlers
of Southeastern Iowa.
CHOS-CHUN-CA.
When, in 1834, Gen. Henry Dodge
made a treaty with the Winnebagoes
for the country occupied by them in
Wisconsin, they were transferred to
a strip of land extending west from
the Mississippi, opposite Prairie
du Chien, to the Des Moines river,
being a tract forty miles in width.
The chief of the Winnebagoes at that
time was Chos-chun-ca, or Big Wave.
Soon after their removal to this reservation
they were visited by Willard Barrows,
one of the pioneers of Davenport,
who had an interview with Chos-chun-ca.
He found him clothed in a buffalo
overcoat, and wearing a high crowned
hat. His nose was surmounted by a
pair of green spectacles. Mr. Barrows
held his interview with the chief
just south of the lower boundary of
the reservation. Chos-chun-ca was
quite reticent as to the affairs of
his people, and refused permission
to Mr. Barrows to explore the Winnebago
reservation, being impressed with
the idea that the whites had sent
him to seek out all the fine country,
and that if their lands were found
desirable, then the Indians would
be compelled to remove again. Mr.
Barrows, however, without the chief's
permission, passed safely through
their territory.
MAU-HAW-GAW.
The
greater portion of the territory embraced
within the limits of Iowa, was once
occupied by a tribe, or nation of
Indians, known in history as the Iowas
(or Ioways), who for many years maintained
an, almost constant warfare with the
Sioux, a powerful rival, who lived
to the north of the them. The Iowas
were originally the Pau-hoo-chee tribe,
and lived in the region of the lakes,
to the northeast, but about the year
1700 they followed their chief, Mau-haw-gaw,
to the banks of the Mississippi, and
crossing over, settled on the west
bank of Iowa river, near its month,
and there established a village. They
called the river on which they established
their empire, Ne-o-ho-nee, or "Master
of Rivers:" For some years they
prospered and multiplied, but the
Sioux began to envy them the prosperity
which they enjoyed, and with no good
intentions came down to visit them.
Sending to Mau-haw-gaw the pipe of
peace, with an invitation to join
them in a dog feast, they made great
professions of friendship. The Iowa
chief; having confidence in their
protestations of good feeling, accepted
the invitation. .In the midst of the
53
feast the perfidious
Sioux suddenly attacked and killed
the unsuspecting Mau-haw-gaw. This
outrage was never forgiven by the
Iowas.
MA-HAS-KAH.
One of
the most noted chiefs of the lowas
was Ma-has-kah (White Cloud), a descendant
of Mau-haw-gaw. He led his warriors
in eighteen battles against the Sioux
on the north, and the Osages on the
south, but never failed to achieve
a victory. He made his home on the
Des Moines river, about one hundred
miles above the mouth, and must have
been something of a Mormon, for it
is said he had seven wives. In 1824
he was one of a party of chiefs who
visited Washington. He left his home
on the Des Moines to go down the river
on his way to join his party, and
when near where the city of Keokuk
is now located, he stopped to prepare
and eat his venison. He had just commenced
his meal when some one struck him
on the back. Turning round, he was
surprised to see one of his wives,
Rant-che-wai-me (Female Flying
Pigeon), standing with an uplifted
tomahawk in her hand. She accosted
him with—"Am I your wife?
Are you my husband? If so, I will
go with you to Maw-he-hum-ne-che (the
American big house), and see and shake
the hand of In-co-ho-nee", meaning
the Great Father, as they called the
President. Ma-has-kah answered: "Yes,
you are my wife; I am your husband;
I have been a long time from you;
I am glad to see you; you are my pretty
wife, and a brave man always loves
to see a pretty woman." Ma-has-kah
went on to Washington accompanied
by his "pretty wife ", Rant-che-wai-mie,
who received many presents, but saw
many things of which she disapproved.
When she returned, she called together
the matrons and maidens of the tribe,
and warned them against the vices
and follies of their white sisters.
This good Indian woman was killed
by being thrown from her horse, some
time after her return from Washington.
In 1834 Ma-has-kah was also killed
about sixty miles from his home, on
the Nodaway, by an enemy who took
a cowardly advantage of him. At the
time of his death he was fifty years
of age. After his death all his surviving
wives went into mourning and poverty,
according to the custom of the tribe,
except one named Mis-so-rah-tar-ra-haw
(Female Deer that bounds over the
prairie), who refused to the end of
her life to be comforted, saying that
her husband "was a great brave,
and was killed by dogs ", meaning
low, vulgar fellows.
Soon after the
death of Ma-has-kah, his son of the
same name, at the age of twenty-four,
became the chief of the Iowas. His
mother was Rant-che-wai-me, whose
tragic death is mentioned above. He
also visited Washington in the winter
of 1836-7, for the purpose of obtaining
redress for injustice, which he claimed
had been done to his people by the
government, in failing to keep intruders
from their lands, and in disregarding
other stipulations of the treaty made
with his father in 1825.
SI-DOM-I-NA-DO-TAH.
When the whites
began to make settlements on the upper
Des Moines, the region about Fort
Dodge and Spirit Lake was inhabited
by Sioux Indians, made up principally
of that division of the great Sioux
or Dacotah nation known by the name
of Sisiton Sioux. When, in 1848, the
government surveys of the lands purchased
north of the Raccoon Forks were in
progress, Mr. Marsh, of Dubuque,
set out with his party to run the
correction
54
line from a point on
the Mississippi, near Dubuqne, to
the Missouri river. In this work he
was not molested until he crossed
the Des Moines, when on the west bank
of the river, he was met by a party
of Sioux, under the leadership of
their chief, Si-dom-i-na-do-tah, who
notified Mr. Marsh and his party that
they should proceed no farther, as
the country belonged to the Indians.
The Sioux then left, and Mr. Marsh
concluded to continue his work. He
had not proceeded more than a mile
when Si-dom-i-na-do-tah and his band
returned and surrounded the party,
robbing them of everything. They took
their horses, destroyed their wagons
and surveying instruments, destroyed
the land-marks, and drove the surveying
party back to the east side of the
tiver. This, and other outrages committed
on families who, in the fall of 1849,
ventured to make claims on the upper
Des Moines, led to the establishment
of a military post at Fort Dodge in
1850.
In the winter
of 1846-7 one Henry Lott, an
adventurous border character, had,
with his family, taken up his residence
at the mouth of Boone river, in what
is now Webster county, and within
the range of Si-dom-i-na-do-tah's
band. Lott had provided himself with
some goods and a barrel of whisky,
expecting to trade with the Indians,
and obtain their furs and robes. In
a short time he was waited upon by
the chief and six of his braves and
informed that he was an intruder and
that he must leave within a certain
time. The time having expired, and
Lott still remaining, the Indians
destroyed his property, shooting his
stock and robbing his bee-hives. Lott
and his step-son made their way to
the nearest settlement, at Pea's Point,
about 16 miles south, and reported
that his family had been murdered
by the Indians, as he doubtless thought
they would be after he left. John
Pea and half a dozen other white men,
accompanied by some friendly Indians
of another tribe, who happened to
be in that vicinity, set out with
Lott for the mouth of Boone river.
When they arrived they found that
the family had not been tomahawked,
as he had reported. One little boy,
however, aged about twelve years,
had attempted to follow his father
in his flight, by going down the Des
Moines river on the ice. Being thinly
clad, the little fellow froze to death
after traveling on the ice a distance
of about twenty miles. The body of
the child was subsequently found.
The sequel shows that Lott was determined
on revenge.
In November,
1853, Lott ventured about thirty
miles north of Fort Dodge where he
pretended to make a claim, in what
is now Humboldt county. He took with
him several barrels of whisky and
some goods, and he and his step-son
built a cabin near what is now known
as Lows creek in that county. . Si-dom-i-na-do-tah
had his cabin on the creek about a
mile west of Lott's. In January; 1854,
Lott and his step-son went to the
cabin of the old chief and told him
that they had seen, on their way over,
a drove of elk feeding on the bottom
lands, and induced the old man to
mount his pony, with gun in hand,
to go in pursuit of the elk. Lott
and his step-son followed, and when
they had proceeded some distance they
shot and killed Si-dom-i-na-do-tah.
That same night they attacked and
killed six of the chief's family,
including his wife and two children,
his aged mother, and two young children
she had in charge including with the
chief; seven victims in all. Two children,
a boy of twelve, and a girl of ten
years of age, escaped by hiding themselves.
Some days after, the Indians reported
the murders at Fort Dodge, thinking
at first that the slaughter had been
perpetrated by some of their Indian
enemies. Investigation soon revealed
the fact that Lott and his
step-son had committed the deed. Their
cabin was found burned down, and
55
a slight snow on the
ground showed the track of their wagon
in a circuitous route southward, avoiding
Fort Dodge. Intelligence of them was
received at various points where they
had been trying to sell furs and other
articles, and where the chief's pony
was noticed to be in their possession.
Having several days start, they made
their way across the Missouri and
took the plains for California, where,
it was subsequently learned, Lott
was killed in a quarrel. It is believed
by many of the old settlers of Northern
Iowa that this outrage of Henry
Lott was the cause of that other
tragedy, or rather series of tragedies,
in the history of Northern Iowa, known
as the" Spirit Lake Massacre."
INK-PA-DU-TAH.
Ink-pa-du-tah,
it is said, was the brother, and became
the successor, of the chief who was
murdered by Henry Lott. He
is known to the whites chiefly in
connection with the horrible outrages
committed at Spirit and Okoboji Lakes
in Northern Iowa, and at Springfield
in Southern Minnesota. He, in connection
with U-tan-ka-sa-pa (Black Buffalo),
headed a band of about eighteen lodges
of Sioux, who, in the spring of 1857,
robbed the settlers and committed
the most inhuman outrages, culminating
in the massacres of the 8th and 9th
of March of that year. During the
year 1856 a dozen or more families
had settled about the lakes, while
along the valley of the Little Sioux
river at Smithland, Cherokee, arid
Rock Rapids there were settlements.
Ink-pa-du-tah and his band commenced
their depredations at Smithland, and
passing up the Little Sioux made hostile
demonstrations both at Cherokee and
Rock Rapids killing stock and carrying
away whatever they saw proper to take,
but committed no murders until they
reached the infant settlement at the
lakes. There, and at Springfield,
a small settlement in Minnesota a
few miles northeast, they killed forty-one,
wounded three, and took with them
as captives four women—Mrs.
Howe, Mrs. Thatcher, Mrs. Marble,
and Miss Gardner. Twelve persons
were missing, some of whose remains
were afterward found, having been
killed while attempting to escape.
Of the four women taken captives,
two were killed on their flight, Mrs.
Howe and Mrs. Thatcher. The other
two, Mrs. Marble and Miss Gardner,
were some months after, through the
efforts of Gov. Madarie, of
Minnesota, and the Indian agent at
Laqua Parle, purchased from Ink-pa-du-tah
by employing friendly Indians to affect
the purchase. By this raid and massacre
the settlement at the lakes was entirely
swept away. All the houses were burned,
and all the stock either killed or
taken away. At Sprinfield the settlers
were somewhat prepared to defend themselves,
having heard of the slaughter at the
lakes. Seven or eight persons, however,
were killed at Springfield.
The winter preceding
these massacres had been unusually
severe, and snow had fallen to the
depth of from one to two feet. In
March all the ravines were filled
with drifted snow, with a thick and
heavy crust, so that travel in that
region was almost impossible. For
this reason those infant settlements
were almost cut off from intercourse
with the thickly inhabited parts of
the country. It was, therefore, some
time before the news of the massacres
reached Fort Dodge, the nearest settlement.
The messengers who conveyed the intelligence
were Messrs. Bell and Williams, who
lived on Little Sioux river. Messrs.
Howe, Snyder and Parmenter, of Newton,
who had attempted to relieve the inhabitants
at the lakes with provisions, also
upon arriving there found all the
settlers murdered. They, too, hastened
as rapidly as possible to Fort Dodge
and reported. Messengers were at once
56
sent to Webster City
and Homer to request the citizens
to turn out for the relief of the
frontier, and they responded promptly.
Those two places furnished forty men
and Fort Dodge eighty: The force of
120 men was formed into three companies
of forty men each, under Captains
C. B. Richards, John F. Duncombe,
and J. C. Johnston. The battalion
was commanded by Major W. Williams.
On the 25th of March the battalion
started from Fort Dodge, the snow
still covering the ground and all
the ravines being so gorged with drifted
snow that in places it was necessary
to cut their way through snow-banks
from ten to twenty feet deep. After
marching thirty miles ten men had
to be sent back, reducing the force
to 110 men. In the meantime a force
from Fort Ridgely was approaching
from the north. The Indians expecting
these movements, had taken their flight
across the Big Sioux river to join
the Yanktons, in what is now Dakota.
The troops, after almost incredible
hardships and sufferings for eighteen
days and nights, being without tents,
failed to get sight of a single hostile
Indian. They found and buried the
bodies of twenty-nine persons. A number
were burned in the houses by the savages,
and their remains were found in the
ashes. The expedition lost two valuable
citizens, Captain J. C. Johnston,
of Webster City, and William Burkholder,
of Fort Dodge, the latter being a
brother of Mrs. Gov. C. C. Carpenter.
They were frozen to death on their
return from the lakes. Eighteen others
were more or less frozen, and some
did not recover for a year after.
Several years after his death the
remains of young Burkholder were found
on the prairie, being recognized by
the remains of his gun and clothing.
When overcome by the cold he was separated
from his companions, and his fate
was for sometime unknown.
From this
brief account of Ink-pa-du-tah, it
will be conceded that there is no
reason to cherish his memory with
any degree of admiration. He was the
leader of a band comprising even the
worst element of the Sioux nation,
the best of which is bad enough, even
for savages. The germ of the band
of which he was chief, was a family
of murderers, known as Five Lodges,
who, it was said, having murdered
an aged chief, wandered away and formed
a little tribe of their own, with
whom rogues from all the other bands
found refuge. At the time of these
hostilities against the whites under
Ink-pa-du-tah, they numbered probably
over 150 lodges. They were constantly
roving about in parties, stealing
wherever they could from trappers
and settlers. The subsequent career
of Ink-pa-du-tah has been west of
the borders of Iowa and Minnesota.
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