CAPTAIN TO - MA - HE

[Cliff Krainik]

"To - Ma - He - ‘Sturgeon' A very aged Sioux warrior, who was engaged and held a commission as Captain from the U.S. Government during the Black Hawk War. It is believed that his age must have been considerably over one hundred at the time the picture was taken."

One image (left side) from a wet-plate albumen stereoview made by B. F. Upton, Minneapolis and St. Anthony, Minnesota, circa 1870's.

Black Hawk War Collection, Cliff & Michele Krainik - Warrenton, Virginia.


Comments & Questions - According to Ellen Whitney, editor of The Black Hawk War, 1831-1832 , it is "highly unlikely that the U.S. Government would have commissioned a Sioux warrior a Captain during the Black Hawk War."

Does anyone have biographical information about To - Ma - He - "Sturgeon" or wish to comment about his uniform and sword?

[Larry Koschkee]

Cliff,

I have exhausted my resources in an attempt to link this elderly, one-legged gentleman to the Black Hawk War. I am sure you are acquainted with the limited Sioux interface or action in the BHW. The first activity was in the latter part of May, 1832 when General Atkinson instructed Indian Agent Joseph M. Street and Col. William Hamilton to recruit the upper Mississippi River Sioux Indians. Approximately 80 warriors from the Sioux Medawahkanton band from the Prairie Aux Ailes (Prairie With Wings) - (Winona, MN) joined Atkinson's army. Wabasha was the head civil chief of this band at the time. The war chief, L' Arc lead the Sioux party. Early on this party left the field and returned to their village leaving approximately 20 Menomonee and 40 Winnebago warriors under Hamilton's command. Subsequently, the Winnebago warriors lead by Wakon Decorah, left the field as well. No mention of To-Ma-He.

The second action by the Sioux took place at the conclusion of The Battle of Bad Axe. Wabasha showed up at the scene with approximately 150 Medawahkanton warriors and General Atkinson instructed them to pursue the Indians that escaped to the west bank of the Mississippi River. No mention of To-Ma-He.

Often in translation of Indian names, places and things, misinterpretations occur. Pronunciation becomes difficult when a non-native listener encounters vowels of long duration, nasalized vowels and unfamiliar glottal stops.

TO-MA-HE - is suggested to be the English gloss STURGEON.

My sources indicate sturgeon in Siouan is:

HO-TE-KEH or

HO-TAKA

IMHO, TO-MA-HE could very well be a "white" corruption and falls in very close to my two examples.

I agree with Ellen Whitney that a Sioux warrior most likely would not have been commissioned a Captain during the Black Hawk War.

The Potawatomi Indian Company muster roll indicates the leaders or commanders were ranked as Chiefs, i.e., Principal Chief, 2nd Chief, 1st War Chief, 2nd War Chief, and Chief.

Col. Samuel C. Stambaugh's two Indian Companies muster rolls had white Captains and Lieutentants.

If the elderly gentleman maintained that at one time he was a Captain engaged in the Black Hawk War, I would be in accordance with that. A Captain, yes... but not commissioned by the U. S. Government. He may have been a War Chief which to me, translates to a Captain in most military standards.

Perhaps To-Ma-He was with Col. William Hamilton's volunteers or was with Chief Wabasha's warriors that received instruction from Brig. General Henry Atkinson to pursue the Indians that escaped from the Battle of Bad Axe.

Cliff, thanks for sharing the image of TO-MA-HE. It brings me to the questions I have pondered in the past. Why was Col. William Hamilton's party of Sioux, Winnebago and Menomonie Indians not mustered into service? Were they mustered in, but records lost?

Sorry, I could not offer any biographical information.

Best regards,

Larry