The Black Hawk Native American who would one day become a great leader of his people was known as Chief Black Hawk. He was not born into a position of power nor did he inherit it from anyone, rather through his actions and his success in times of war, he earned his position as leader. Believed to be born in 1767 as ‘Ma-ka-Tai-me-she-Kia-kick’ he was a part of the Sauk Tribe, an Algonquian languages people. He grew up and lived in tumultuous times in American History. His Tribe was closely allied with the Meskwaki Tribe and together they continually resisted forced relocation throughout his life.
Life of Black Hawk
During the War of 1812, the Sauk sided with the British were they saw several engagements against the U.S. Army. He often led War Party Raids over the next years to protect his people’s best interest. Soon he was their Tribal leader. Eventually, he banded together disgruntled members of the Fox Tribes the Kickapoos and the Sauk who refused to honor a treaty from 1804 that forced them across the Mississippi River into Iowa in 1830. In 1832 he led 1,000 Indians back across the River into the disputed territory of Illinois to reclaim and resettle the area. This action caused the Governor of Illinois, John Reynolds to dispatch the Militia and Troops were sent to confront the Indians. This was to become known as the Black Hawk War.
It was a short but bitter campaign lasting from May to Aug. Of 1832 where Chief Black Hawk was defeated and captured by the U.S. It was this war that was responsible for making the Black Hawk Tribe and their Chief famous back in the East among the Whites. An interesting footnote about this engagement was that participant for the U.S. Included, a young Capt. Abraham Lincoln, as well as, Jefferson Davis, Winfield Scott, and Zachary Taylor.
Black Hawk an Autobiography Facts
After the war as a captive, Chief Black Hawk spent 7 months in chains in a prison but, was brought back to the East and became somewhat of a celebrity. In Washington D.C. he met President Andrew Jackson and Secretary of War Lewis Cass. He was then forced to be paraded for crowds who would gather to see him, from one city to the next, including New York. Then it was on to a new prison at Fort Monroe where he told his life story to a publisher and, his Autobiography became a bestseller. He on several occasions while he was there, he posed for portraits so that, today we have a good indication of what he really looked like.
Chief Black Hawk facts
Chief Black Hawk, after his release from captivity, spent his final five years in Southeastern Iowa among his family and people but, not as the leader of the Sauk. This position was now held by a nemesis opponent of his from before the war named Keokuk who had friended with The U.S. Government. Chief Black Hawk blamed Keokuk for him and his people’s fate until the day he died on October 3rd. 1838.
Sauk tribe, Saukenuk, chief Blackhawk statue, chief black hawk family, summer rain black hawk