Ne-a-pope's "desertion?"

[Robert Braun]

Apparently, Ne-a-pope led a band of about twenty warriors that essentially served as the "read-guard' for Black Hawk's band as they approached the Wisconsin River. Militia sightings of (presumably) this small party caused them to deploy several times-- an indication that they were doing their job.

Then, according to BH's biography, Ne-a-pope simply left. Along with him went the warriors, about whom BH indicated returned to his band at some point. Ne-a-pope resurfaced long after the war ended, and apparently toured the Eastern U. S. with BH, Whirling Thunder, and the Winnebago Prophet.

When reading about BH's discussions concerning Ne-a-pope, he doesn't seem to angry (or even overly concerned) about Ne-a-pope leaving the band without any early warning of the militia approach at a critical time.

My question is "why?"


Regards, Bob.

[Larry Koschkee]

To help make my point I am inserting one of theparagraphs in BH's autobiography that Bob may be referring to.

I was astonished to find that Ne-a-pope and his party of spies hand not yet come in -- they having been left in my rear to bring the news, if the enemy were discovered. It appeared, however, that the whites had come in a different direction, and intercepted our trail but a short distance from the place where we first saw them -- leaving our spies considerably in the rear. Ne-a-pope, and one other, retired to the Winnebago village, and there remained during the war! The balance of his party, being brave men, and considering our interest as their own, returned, and joined our ranks.

It is my view that Black Hawk was displaying a classical stoic characteristic by excercising restraint in his opinion of Ne-a-pope, especially considering what he said was to be published. We can never really know excactly how BH felt about Ne-a-pope's actions.


When one examines the last paragraph of the above quote we can see BH did get his licks in on the subject of desertion. In a single paragraph, Black Hawk deftly addressed two accounts of desertion. First, he gave Ne-a-pope the benefit of doubt that he deserted the band at the time of contact with the militia, commenting the militia cut him and his warriors off from the main body. On the second account BH did not cut him any slack. He questioned his bravery and implied he was a deserter by not returning to the band.

Larry Koschkee