Bob's Journey?Black Hawk

[donna]

From my book "Others Before You" I find that Black Hawk was captured by Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) indians One eyed Decorah and Cheeter near the Big Dalles (rock formations in the Wisconsin River) in Juneau County. As a teen ager we used to wade across the Wisconsin River to Black Hawks Island which was uninhabited at that time. In 1838 Robert Allen built a cabin on the island, but it was in ruins in the 1950's.
TEXT

[Robert Braun]

Welcome, Donna, to our discussion board!

BH seems to give the impression that he gave himself up. In his Autobiography he is translated as saying:

During my stay at the village, the squaws made me a white dress of deer skin. I then started with several Winnebagoes, and went to their agent, at Prairie du Chien, and gave myself up.

...I was now given up by the agent to the commanding officer at Fort Crawford, the White Beaver having gone down the river. We remained here a short time, and then started for Jefferson Barracks, in a steam boat, under the charge of a young war chief, (Lieut. Jefferson Davis) who treated us all with much kind ness. He is a good and brave young chief, with whose conduct I was much pleased.

BTW... the book to which Donna refers is Others Before You: The History of Wisconsin Dells Country by Dells Country Historical Country, published in 1995. It is currently out of print, but apparently is available through used book sales firms.

[Larry Koschkee]

This thread brings up many more questions than the capture or surrender of Black Hawk. It directs our attention to the hunt for Black Hawk and remaining followers and what occurred during the twenty-five days after the Battle of Bad Axe on August 2nd and the arrival of Black Hawk and The Prophet under Winnebago escort to Prairie du Chien on August 27th.

Was Black Hawk perceived to be fleeing into the land of the Chippewa?

Was Black Hawk actually at the Dells of the Wisconsin River?

Did One Eyed Decorah and Chaetar actually bring in Black Hawk and the Prophet?

Who is Chaetar?

Who actually found Black Hawk and his followers?

Two Black Hawks?

More on this later...

[Larry Koschkee]

Was Black Hawk perceived to be fleeing to Chippewa country?

From his autobiography I quote: "After the boat left us, I told my people to cross, if they could, and wished: that I intended going into the Chippewa country...

I had determined to go and join the Chippewas; but reflecting that by this I could only save myself, I concluded to return, and die with my people, if the Great Spirit would not give us another victory!"

If the historians were correct in asserting he was found at the Dells of the Wisconsin River, he would have been a long way from Chippewa territory.

The following segues attempt to fill in the lines of the BH autobiography from the time he left Bad Axe until..."I started with my little party, to the Winnebago village at Prairie La Cross."

[Larry Koschkee]

Was Black Hawk at the Dells of the Wisconsin River?

Historians have repeatedly cited Black Hawk and followers were discovered at the Dells of the Wisconsin River. This assertation was taken from Joseph Street's REPORT OF THE DELIVERY OF BLACKHAWK AND THE PROPHET, AUG. 27, 1832, TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR.

There is evidence that this report was copied from a original source, i.e. notes or manuscript because the copyist begins with an introductory paragraph in the past tense and omitted a sentence in One-Eye Decorah's speech then appended it at the end. Also, parenthesizing an important reference in Decorah's speech leads one to believe that a uncertain translation had occured... Specific example: Decorah said. "We had to go a great distance (to the Dalle on the Wiskonsin) above portage).

In Chaetar's speech, following Decorah's, he said "Near the Dalle on the Wiskonsin, I took Black Hawk" We have no way of knowing what Winnebago term was translated as the Dells... If the interpreter was unfamiliar with the place name cited by Chaetar, a mistranslation could have occurred and then also filled it in with parentheses on Decorah's speech.

Black Hawk made no mention of being at the Dells.

Some geographic considerations make it doubtful that the Dells was a correct translation of the site where Black Hawk was found.

The area between the Bad Axe River and the Dells is the same type of rugged terrain that the starving Black Hawk Band toiled in crossing earlier, leaving a path of death.

[Larry Koschkee]

cont...

Fort Winnebago with its military forces was located about 20 miles southeast of the Dells or less than a days ride by horseback. Not a good place to be for BH if he wanted to avoid capture.

East of the Wisconsin River was Menominee country. The Menominee were allies to the Americans and would have welcomed the opportunity to pounce on the small band to avenge a previous Saukie attack on their people.

In addition to geographic considerations there are two testimonials worth mentioning... Reuben Gold Thwaites interviewed two elderly Winnebago in 1887. Spoon Decorah and Walking Cloud.

Spoon Decorah strongly denied that BH was found at the Dells. He said Bh "was not captured at the Dells of the Wisconsin River. He never was at the Dells in his life. There was no reason for his going there." Spoon went on to say that Black Hawk was going "away towards the north... to the Chippewa country" when the Winnebago found him. In addition, Spoon said " I never heard of the man named Chaetar," an example of a poor translation of a name to be discussed later in this thread.

Walking Cloud was the biological son of Winnebago Black Hawk (two Black Hawk's in the same war; explanation later in this thread), the chief of the Winnebago village whose members discovered him and escorted him to his surrender at Prairie du Chien...

Walking Cloud's father "had a hunting village on the La Crosse River, near where Bangor now is". a party of young men had "gone up one of the branches of the La Crosse River towards the head of the Kickapoo" and as they were returning to W. Black Hawk's (Winnebago Black Hawk) village they discovered "the camp of the Sac chief, near a little lake.

It is clear that the Winnebagoes who found Black Hawk were from Winnebago Black Hawk's village near La Crosse. If Black Hawk was found at the Dells...why did they not turn him over to sub-Indian Agent John Kinzie at Fort Winnebago? After securing Black Hawk and The Prophet, it would have been an easy canoe trip to Prairie du Chien to turn him over to the authorities there.

Robert Braun of this thread points out from BH's autobiography that while at the friendly Winnebago village "the squaws made me a white dress of deerskin." So if the Winnebago village was at La Crosse, why would they take BH clear across the rugged "Ocooch Mountains" to this village and then subsequently to Prairie du Chien. That is covering a lot of real estate... The emaciated condition of Black Hawk's Band and horses would have certainly precluded that happening, unless of course they were resupplied with fresh mounts. Even at that the band was in no condition for extensive travel.

[Larry Koschkee]

Did One-eyed Decorah and Chaetar actually bring in Black Hawk and the Prophet?

One-Eye Decorah, Wajxatay-ka or Big Boat, has been credited by historians along with Chaetar for facilitating the surrender of Black Hawk and his followers at Prairie du Chien.

One-Eye Decorah was present at the Winnebago village near La Crosse when Black Hawk was discovered. At a council meeting there he called for an attack on Black Hawk and his followers immediately, there by putting the Winnebago in good favor with White Beaver (General Henry Atkinson). This Winnebago village's chief was known at the time as Winnebago Black Hawk. (more on him later)...

Black Hawk scolded One-Eye Decorah. "I want it understood that we are not gathered here to council war against our friends, especially when we realize that some of our men are among them." Therefore, because of Decorah's hostile stance towards the Sauk, he was not allowed to meet with the Sauk and sue for peace and surrender.

When the Winnebago delegation headed by Winnebago Black Hawk escorted Black Hawk, the Prophet and followers to Prairie du Chien, One-Eye Decorah was designated to speak for the Winnebago because of his orator abilities. Ever boastful and gabby, Decorah's speech to Joseph Street came across as he was the hero of day. Where in reality he had nothing to do with the surrender of Black Hawk.

After Decorah's speech Chaetar insisted on being heard and was allowed by the Winnebago delegation to speak. Chaetar essentially corrected what Decorah had claimed himself as being instrumental in bringing in Black Hawk.

Chaetar spoke: " Near the Dalle on the Wisconsin I took the Black Hawk, no one did it but me - I say this in the ears of all present, and they know it - and I now appeal to the Great Spirit our Grand Father, and to the Earth our Grand Mother, for the truth of what I say"...

[Larry Koschkee]

Who was Chaetar?

The name is cited regularly in the many BHW historical literary works, but appears in only one original source; that is Joseph M. Street's REPORT OF THE DELIVERY OF BLACK HAWK AND THE PROPHET, AUGUST 27, 1832, TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR.

On the frontier there was a severe language barrier between whites and Indians. Even the use of interpreters caused communication mistakes and misunderstandings. A correct translation could be made but not be right, because of cultural nuances. The nasalized vowels of the Winnebago language could not even be translated accurately by Street's interpreters. Words were glossed over. This was not uncommon.

As previously mentioned in this thread, Thwaites was interviewing Spoon Decorah for an account of the BHW and asked about Chaetar. Spoon answered "I never heard of the man named Chaetar."

If the Winnebago did not recognize the name of this signficant figure in their history and BHW history, who then was this person?...

In the 1920's a well educated Winnebago man, John Blackhawk wrote a manuscript titled "Surrender of Blackhawk," that illustrates the surrender of Black Hawk from the Winnebago perspective and describes who Chaetar was.

In that manuscript "Chasja-ka or Wave" is given credit for going to Black Hawk's camp on a lake south west of the present day city of Tomah, Wi. Chasja-ka carried the peace pipe to the Sauk along with Haykokiri-ka (Clear Horn) and a young, un-tested warrior by the name of Nirohamb-he-ka (He Who Illuminates the Water).

One might ask why was Chasja-ka designated to take the pipe of peace to the Sauk camp and ask for a cessation of the war? Chasja-ka carried great influence to the Sauks. He was a brother of White Cloud (The Prophet) who was with Black Hawk and like The Prophet was half Sauk and half Winnebago.

Street's interpreters missed the mark and failed to translate Chasja-ka's name correctly in the official 1832 report.

[Peter Shrake]

Larry,
This is an impressive interpretation on Black Hawk's surrender and I think reflects a great deal of research on the topic.

I think you have made a excellent arguement in eliminating the Dells as his surrender site. My main thought concerns, as you mentioned earlier, Fort Winnebago. If he did surrender at the Dells why not take him to the portage. It never made any sense to me why he was taken all the way down to Prairie du Chien.

Pete

[Robert Braun]

Can't add to Pete's comments except to agree. Some great investigative work, here Larry! Well done!

Bob.

[Larry Koschkee]

Who actually found Black Hawk and his followers?

In this thread reasonable people can agree that there is sufficient evidence that BH was not found at the Dells of the Wisconsin, rather was located southwest of the present city of Tomah, WI by the Winnebago. I have discussed the visit to this Sauk camp by three Winnebago to persuade BH to surrender and will now discuss who was credited with locating BH and the Sauk camp.

Thwaite's 1887 interview with Walking Cloud, son of Winnebago Black Hawk expresses what happened but does not reveal any names... After the Battle of Bad Axe, the Winnebago had gone on their fall hunt. Walking Cloud's father "had a hunting village on the La Crosse River, near where Bangor now is." A party of young men had gone up one of the branches of the La Crosse River towards the head of the Kickapoo," and as they were returning to W. Black Hawk's village they discovered "the camp of the Sac chief, near a little lake." They decided not to make their presence known to the Sauk, but to report what they had seen to W. Black Hawk.

Thwaite's interview that same year with Spoon Decorah, relative of One-Eyed Deocrah, provided a similiar story but, also did not reveal the individuals who found BH.

Spoon said that BH was going "away towards the north... to the Chippeway country" when the Winnebago found him. " After the Bad Ax Battle, Big Canoe went off on a hunting expedition, up to the headwaters of the La Crosse River... A few of Big Canoe's hunters were out hunting one day, when they saw some Sacs in hiding. The Winnebagoes were afraid, and hurried back to Big Canoe's camp. The camp was on the river near where is now the white village of Bangor, below Sparta. The party reported that they thought the Sacs were Blackhawk and his companions."

Big Spoon said the hunting camp was his relatives, One-Eyed Decorah also known as Big Canoe. White Cloud said the camp was his father's, W. Black Hawk. No matter or signficance to change the importance of the story.

The manuscript by John Blackhawk "Surrender of Blackhawk" does reveal an individual name who discovered the Sauk camp. Gun, also known as Big Gun.

"As the Sauks were retreating northward before an overwhelming foe, it occured that Hishoog-ka or Gun, younger brother of Winnebago Blackhawk, while returning from an eastern journey, came ujpon the Sauk encampment on Day-nik, or Little Lake, a place south-west of Tomah, Wisconsin. To escape detection, he proceeded by a circuitous route.

Upon arrival at the village, he immediately advised Karayjasaip-ka (Winnebago Black Hawk) of his discovery."

The Joseph M. Street Papers, at the Wisconsin State Historical Society corroborates John Blackhawk's naming of Big Gun as the person credited by the Winnebago and U. S. Government as discovering Black Hawk.

A September 15, 1832, disbursement list and a voucher, signed with X's indicates that Big Gun and Black Hawk, received a $100.00 reward for the capture of Black Hawk and the Prophet.

Just a note here on the reward. Apparently the Winnebago were to receive 40 horses in addition to a cash payment. During the treaty council at Prairie du Chien on September 13, Winnebago Black Hawk complained about the promise. " I was promised 40 horses... We have received but 20 horses and they are so poor that we can't get them along, we hope you will change them, they picked out the the worst." General Winfield Scott replied rather perturbed that Winnebago Black Hawk should apply to Agent Street, since it was not a matter to "be treated of in a great council."

[Larry Koschkee]

A message board viewer brought to my attention I had not finished up a topic I listed on this thread.... TWO BLACK HAWKS. I forgot all about the subject... Well I am awake now.

Two Black Hawks in the Black Hawk War...One Black Hawk trumps another bigger than life Blackhawk!

A great irony of the BH is that Black Hawk was not brought to justice by Col Henry Dodge, not by General James Henry, not General Henry Atkinson, nor any of his other enemies, rather by another Black Hawk...

Black Hawk the Sauk was MA-KA-TAI-ME-SHE-KAI-KIAK (Algonquin).

Black Hawk the Winnebago was KE-RE-ED-JU-SEP-GA (Siouan).

Little is known about Winnebago Black Hawk. Some modern historians have tried to associate him with Red Bird in the Winnebago War of 1827. Yes, his village near La Crosse was somewhat close by to Red Bird's village at the Bad Axe River, but I have seen no evidence that Winnebago Black Hawk attacked the keel boats on the Mississippi River during the Winnebago War or expressed any hostilities towards whites.

We do know that Winnebago Black Hawk was half Sioux and half Winnebago. At the treaty council of 1832 he spoke of this and also said he was "not a chief nor a brave." Earlier in this council, Elk, the official Winnebago orator spoke of WBH as a respected leader.

The discovery of Black Hawk by Big Gun could very well have turned out bad for him and his followers. Winnebago Black Hawk had blood ties to the Sioux, who were arch enemies of the Sauk. Perhaps other members of WBH's village may have been part Sioux as well and were related to Sioux, who happened to have been killed by the Sauk.

The village sentiment could have followed One-eye Decorah's position very easily which was to appease White Beaver (Atkinson) by killing the Sauk party.

Fortunately for the Sauk party there were blood kin to the Winnebago among them, specifically White Cloud (The Prophet) and perhaps others that were part Winnebago and Sauk... Absent any blood relationships, Black Hawk and followers may have suffered a much different fate.

Winnebago Black Hawk, a man who befriended Black Hawk, saved his life and allowed him to maintain his dignity in defeat.

[Larry Koschkee]

Previously, in this thread a case has been made to suggest Black Hawk was found by the Winnebago in Chippewa territory near present day Tomah, WI...rather than the "Dalles" (Dells) of the Wisconsin River...

Additional corroboration is hereby posted.

The Black Hawk War 1831 - 1832, Ellen Whitney, Vol. II, Part II, pp. 1055-1056

"August 27, 1832...Minutes of an Examination of Indian prisoners held at Fort Armstrong by order of Major-general Scott, in presence of Captain P. H. Galt Ast Adjt-general, and Major J pilcher, acting Indian agent, assisted by Mr. LeClare, Interpreter." (Mr. LeClare was Antoine LeClaire, interpreter for Black Hawk's autobiography)

In the interrogation of Wee-sheet [We-shete or Sturgeon] this bit of information came out.

"Black Hawk went off the evening of the fight with the steam boat. He said to the chiefs I shall go to the head waters of the Wisconsin and hide myself in the marshes and thick woods."

Geographically, the head waters of the Wisconsin River at the time was undisputed Chippewa Territory.

[Larry Koschkee]

Two or three years ago, while investigating the surrender or capture of Black Hawk, I came across a rather obscure account. There were many loose ends in the story that needed to be tied together to be credible. Thanks to the recent efforts of some Amigos in the Ho-Chunk Language Center in Mauston, WI the following account helps my case against the notion of a Black Hawk capture at the dalles or dells of the Wisconsin River.

Among the papers of George Gale found in the Wisconsin State Historical Society Archives, (Wis Mss GJ, Box 1) are notes from a 1850 George Gale interview with an Indian named Wadze-hutta-kaw.

"...part in the war.
After the battle of Bad Ax, Black Hawk, the Prophet and about twenty composing their families and friends fled to the Bluffs east of La Crosse, and were captured by Wadze-hutta-kaw, as he related to the writer in the following manner;

I (said the chief) was sitting in my chee-dah, or wigwam, on the bank of the Mississippi, smoking my pipe, and heard a splashing in the water. I took my gun and stepped out of the wigwam and saw a Sauk warrior and his horse which had just crossed the Mississippi, near me coming on shore. When he saw me he turned to go back but I threatened to shoot him if he did not come on shore. I asked him where Black Hawk and the Prophet were east among the Bluffs. I took a party of warriors, went out two or three miles, and found Black Hawk, the Prophet, and about twenty squaws and children. They made no resistance and I brought them to my wigwam. I kept them a few days and sent Black Hawk, and the Prophet to Gen. (Joseph) Street at Prairie du Chien by Khay-rah-tshoan-saip-kaw, Black Hawk, an O-chunk-o-raw. I did not go to Prairie du Chien at the time."

A second Gale note was a statement from an eye-witness to the arrival of Black Hawk and the Prophet at Prairie du Chien.

"Mr. James Reed, now of Trempealeau Co., was standing on the bank of the Mississippi, at the latter place and saw Black Hawk, the Prophet, the O-chunk-0-raw Black Hawk, and another O-chunk-o-raw, who paddled the canoe, all land from a single canoe. Mr. Reed asserts positively that there were no other canoes or Indians in sight at the time, and that he was personally acquainted with all the persons in the canoe except the one who paddled it, which he believed at the time to be only an ordinary Indian of the Winnebago tribe. Mr. Reed also confirms the statement of Black Hawk himself, that Black Hawk and the Prophet were both dressed in white deerskins, which Mr. Reed understood as intended as a sign of their innocence.

This evidence, together with that of Black Hawk himself, ought to settle the oft disputed point as to who captured Black Hawk, and as to which place he was captured."

[Larry Koschkee]

To put things into perspective we need to know who the interviewer and interviewee are.

GEORGE GALE (1816-1868) was a lawyer, newspaper founder, former President of the Wisconsin State Historical Society, Wisconsin 6th judicial court circuit judge, founder of Galesville, WI, founder of Gale College and historical author.

I have a first edition copy of Judge Gale's best historical publication in my library and it is an excellent read.

The Upper Mississippi, or Historical Sketches of The Mound Builders, The Indian Tribes and The Progress of Civilization in the Northwest, 1867, Clarrk and Co., Chicago, IL

JAMES ALLEN REED (1798-1873) came to Prairie du Chien in 1812 as a young soldier, later trapped and traded among the Indians in the employment of The American Fur Company, operated a tavern at Prairie du Chien and was employed by the U.S. Government at various times as scout, interpreter and government farmer. 1836 he established a settlement called Reed's Landing or Reed's Town at the base of Trempeleau Mountain on the Mississippi River. Operated a tavern/boarding house there many years. Reed spoke fluent French and could converse in several Indian dialects. Accounts note him to be a fearless backwoodsman, expert marksman, a Daniel Boone of the Upper Mississippi.

Reed married three times, first to a Pottawatomi woman, second a Menomoniee woman and the third, the widow of Amable Grignon, a close relative of the Sioux Chief Wabashaw.

WADJE-HUTTA-KAW Mystic Animal Chief.

I had no clue of the identity of this man until I transported all my notes and files to the Ho-Chunk Language Center. Their data base of Ho-Chunk names and villages did not solve the mystery. Winnebago Black Hawk's great-grandson, John Blackhawk solved the puzzle. John Blackhawk is the grandson of Walking Cloud - the son of Winnebago Black Hawk (John's manuscript "Surrender of Black Hawk" may be found in the Milwaukee Public Museum archives under "Chandler-Jipson Papers.")

The manuscript states Winnebago Blackhawk sent several warriors to council with Black Hawk to facilitate a peaceful surrender.

"Blackhawk, continuing, said, I appoint Wakjayxi-hounk-ka, or Mystic Animal Chief, my brother Haga-macho-ga, Grizzly Bear, and Haykokiri-ka, or Clear Horn, to accompany Wave on this mission."

Wakjayxi-hounk-ka ... this was a match to Wadje-hutta-kaw

The Language Center personnel presented the name as:

Wakjexi-huunk-ka ... wakjexi refers to Water Spirits and huunk refers to Chief.

So the name was validated but what about Mystic Animal Chief's account.... may not be entirely true on all respects.

1) John Blackhawk's manuscript said Mystic Animal Chief was not a major player.

"On the morrow, the party commenced the journey. On the way, Wakjayxi-hounk-ka's horse was bitten by a snake. This caused him to return in company with Clear Horn. Grizzly Bear, against the wishes of the others, returned also. The Wave and his accomplice resumed the journey."