Origin of the designation "British Band?"

[Robert Braun]

We are informed that the title or nickname for that segment of the Sauk and (presumably) Fox people that saw themselves as followers/adherants of Black Hawk was ----the "British Band."

Where and when did this title originate? And who coined it?

For starters, the History Channel's "Black Hawk's War," claimed--without further commentary or source--that the Americans called the group by this title. I remain skeptical of this claim... primarily because the historical origins of the title appear to be elusive.

I found one of the earlier references to the origin of the title in Benjamin Drake’s The Great Indian Chief of the West: or, Life and Adventures of Black Hawk , pp. 94-95. He wrote:

In the following autumn [1820], Black Hawk and some of his band went on a visit to their British father at Malden and received presents from him. A medal was given to Black Hawk for his fidelity to the British in the late war, and he was requested to come up annually, to that place, with his band, and receive such presents, as had been promised them by Colonel Dixon, when they joined the English forces. These visits were regularly made, it is believed, from that time down to the year 1832. It is owing to this circumstance that Black Hawk's party has long been known, by the appellation of the "British Band" (emphasis added.)

Unfortunately, this passage does not indicate "who" "when" and "where" of the title, but seems to narrow the scope of the search.

Thoughts?

[Robert Braun]

In relationship to the War of 1812, Drake also wrote:

McKee, Dixon, and Girty were open and active agents in exciting the Indians to attack the American frontiers. They held frequent talks with them and supplied them liberally with goods and munitions of war. In 1811, there being a strong probability of a war with Great Britain, a deputation of the Sauks and Foxes, visited Washington city, to see the President, by whom they were told that in the event of a war taking place with England, their great father did not wish them to interfere on either side, but to remain neutral: He did not want their assistance but desired them to hunt and support their families and live in peace. Immediately after the war of 1812, the Sacs and Foxes, with whom, as with Indians generally, war is the great business of life, felt that they ought, as a matter of course, to take sides with one party or the other, and went to St. Louis, to offer their services to the United States agent, to fight against the British; but the offer was declined, on the ground that the government of the United States had resolved not to employ the Indians in that capacity. The machinations of the British, were successfully continued. The Sacs and Foxes divided upon the question of taking up arms against the United States. A part of them claimed the protection of the American government and received it; a part joined the British standard, Black Hawk among the number, and fought against the Americans until the peace of 1815. The number of warriors who joined the British is supposed to have been about two hundred, and they have ever since been known as the "British Band," at the head of which has been "General Black Hawk" (emphasis added.)

[Larry Koschkee]

Black Hawk and some two hundred followers enlisted in the War of 1812. They met with British Officer and Indian Affairs Agent Col. Robert Dickson at Green Bay.

Dickson's narrative makes reference to the "British Band"

A Scot Trader On The Northwest Frontier, 1818, Holmes & Black Publ., London, pp. 116, 178, 182

I placed a flag in his hand and hung a medal around Black Hawk's neck and directed him to command all braves that will leave here for Detroit to join up with the British army... We departed Green Bay with a large number of Indian allies, Kickapoo, Ottawa, Winnebago, Pottowtomi and Black Hawk's British band of Sac...

We had received word that the Americans were coming from St. Louis to attack and secure the fort (at Prairie du Chien) A detachment of soldiers from Prairie du Chien were sent down river to assist the British band and three soldiers manning the artillery piece.

This last conflict took place Oct. 4, 1814 on the Mississippi River in the vicinity of Saukenuk. Major Zachary Taylor and 334 regulars and volunteers were stopped and a retreat was made back to St. Louis.

Dickson also had distinguished the Sac faction opposite of Black Hawk's "British Band."

My business opportunities dwindled after the peace band of the Sacs negotiated treaties at the Portage des Sioux, September 14, 1815. Black Hawk's band were not signatory.

[Robert Braun]

These are very interesting quotes. Dickson makes it sound like the term "British band" was already in place by the time of the Sauk enlistment on the side of the British.

Maybe Dickson coined the expression? Unsure from these passages... he merely seems to be reporting the name.

Again.. great material!

[Larry Koschkee]

Memorandum of Talks between (Major General) Edmund P. Gaines and the Sauk, Rock Island, Mississippi River, June 4, 1831

Although you are known as "the British Band of Sauks," often our enemies in War, & never believed to be our friends; yet, the humane disposition of the United States, and their kind feelings towards the great & good Chiefs of your nation, who long ago left the lands they sold us, & settled beyond the Mississippi River, have induced them to attribute your conduct to ignorance, rather than to any desire or intention to quibble & prevaricate.

Source: The Black Hawk War 1831 - 1832 Vol. II, Part I, Ellen Whitney, p 27

[Robert Braun]

VERY interesting. Sure looks like the band was known as the "British band" prior to June 4, doesn't it?

Good find!

Bob.

[Larry Koschkee]

After coming across a quote recognizing the "British Band" by Major-General Edmund P. Gaines and posting it on this thread, on a hunch I reviewed the 1831 treaty with the Sac that Gaines was involved in.

In that treaty, signed on June 30th, there is no less than nine references to the term "British Band," in fact the focus of that treaty was with that band.

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT AND CAPITULATION made and conculded this thirtieth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-one, between E. P. Gaines, Major-General of the United States Army, on the part of the United States; John Reynolds, Governor of Illinois, on the part of the State of Illinois; and the chiefs and braves of the band of Sac Indians, usually called the "British Band of Rock River," with their old allies of the Pottawatomie, Winnebago and Kickapoo nations:

I agree with the originator of this thread, Mr. Braun, that the historical origins of the title appear to be elusive, however I would submit the 1831 treaty, which in a official document form establishes the term British Band and could very well set the bench mark.

[Robert Braun]

Larry, you present a well-reasoned case.

The wording of the "Articles" suggests that the term might have been in use prior to the 1831 date.

Regardless, I think that your suggestion that the June 30, 1831 "Articles" set the benchmark for the use of the term British Band is reasonable.

One last nagging question... WHO coined the term? Did BH's people call themselves that? Or was it an American term for BH's band of followers?

[Jeffrey]

The following still doesn't answer the question of who coined the term "British Band," but Roger Nichols seems convinced that the term went back to the War of 1812. I can't tell from his bibliography what he bases this on, maybe it's Drake, but on page 102 of "Black Hawk and the Warrior's Path" he writes:

"The reemergence of the British Band, then, resulted from many small actions and events, not some carefully thought-out plot to bring violence and despair to the Illinois frontier. As was mentioned, the label attached to Black Hawk's followers had been used sporadically for several decades because some of the Indians had sided with the British during the War of 1812. It remained in use later because many Sauks and Mesquakies visited British officials at Ford Malden or at Drummond's Island almost every year......In any case, many reasons existed for the evolution of a new band comprised mostly of Sauks and Mesquakies and the subsequent labeling of this group as the British Band."

As I said, Nichols doesn't indicate which of the many sources in his bibliography leads him to see the term as used "sporadically" in the years leading up to the troubles in 1831 and 1832.
---Jeffrey Chown

[Greg Carter]

I was always under the impression that the name "British Band" came from the two times Black Hawk is noted for flying the Jack above his lodge during "talks".

GMC

[Jeffrey]

A Leonard just emailed me about Whitney's explanation of the term. It's on page 5 of Volume II. She first talks about Black Hawk leading hunting parties and then says:

"This group is not to be confused with the band that persisted in returning to the Rock River after 1828, often identified as the 'British party' or the 'British band.' Although the nucleus of the group was undoubtedly made up of men who had served the British in the War of 1812 and had made later trips to British agencies in Canada for presents, there was actually no continuing, unified 'British party' as such. Records have been found which show that at least some representatives of the tribe went to Canada for presents every year between 1816 and 1831, but their total number was frequently insignificant."
--Jeffrey Chown

[Chris]

My understanding of this issue agrees with yours. They were remnants of Tecumseh's forces. Prophetstown-on-the-Wabash was probably quite intertribal in nature.

Some were fed up with war, but I consider the BlackHawk war to have been a continuation of that conflict.

Tecumseh and his alliance, I think, fought with the British as a matter of convenience, and because they were in agreement on certain issues.

[Robert Braun]

Chris said:

My understanding of this issue agrees with yours. They were remnants of Tecumseh's forces. Prophetstown-on-the-Wabash was probably quite intertribal in nature.

Some were fed up with war, but I consider the BlackHawk war to have been a continuation of that conflict.

Tecumseh and his alliance, I think, fought with the British as a matter of convenience, and because they were in agreement on certain issues.

I am confused... two questions...

1. "I consider the BlackHawk war to have been a continuation of that conflict"-- does this mean you consider the causes and circumstances surrounding the 1832 Black Hawk War to be a continuation of the causes and circumstances that started and fueled the War of 1812?

2. "Tecumseh and his alliance, I think, fought with the British as a matter of convenience, and because they were in agreement on certain issues" -- what were the issues of "convenience" and "agreement", beyond a general and shared contempt for the Americans?

I agree with your statement "Some were fed up with war." One was Black Hawk himself, who in 1833 was translated as saying he quit the British side during the War of 1812 because he wasn't getting his share of loot:

The British army was making preparations to retreat. I was now tired of being with them, our success being bad, and having got no plunder. I determined on leaving them and returning to Rock river, to see what had become of my wife and children, as I had not heard from them since I left home. That night I took about twenty of my braves, and left the British camp for home.

Regards, Bob.

[Chris]

;D Exactly.

Thank you for the clarification of my statements.

The remnants of Tecumseh's army were said to have fled deeper into Ontario after the battle of the Thames.

I think that history might be more easily found in the older communities in Ontario, than in Ottawa. To be specific, I think that the culture of Prophetstown had a Mennonite flavor.

[gorentz]

Chris,

I was intrigued by your statement about a "Mennonite flavor." I go through Amish country on a lot of my bike rides to sites of Native American history of the 1812-1832 period, and have spent a lot of time thinking about the comparisons and contrasts between Native American, Amish, and other European-American communities. There are (to me) some interesting points about individualism, communitarianism, collectivism, and central authority. But I would never have thought to say the culture of Prophetstown had a Mennonite flavor. What did you mean by that?

John Gorentz