Part 4 - “Counter attack” ACT VIII: JUNE 6 1832 ATTACK AT BLUE MOUNDS, WI. BLACK HAWK
WE CONTINUE TO OBTAIN SUPPORT FROM MANY TRIBES WHO HAVE DEFECTED FROM THEIR TRIBE’S GOALS. WE IN FACT DO HAVE AN INDIAN FEDERATION IN NORTH AMERICA.
WHIRLING THUNDER
WE HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED NORTH OF THE ILLINOIS BORDER. Site of Bad Axe River Battle
BLACK HAWK
THIS IS CALLED MICHIGAN TERRITORY WITH COLONEL DODGE AS THE MILITIA COMMANDER. SOMEDAY THIS WILL BE KNOWN AS WISCONSIN AFTER THE OUISCONSIN RIVER.
WHIRLING THUNDER
WILL IT BE SAFER HERE?
BLACK HAWK
POSSIBLY. SOME OF THE HO CHUNK TRIBE HAVE JOINED OUR CAUSE. THEY HAVE TRIBESMEN WHO HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED AND BAD FEELINGS HAVE AROSE BETWEEN THE WHITE MEN AND CERTAIN HO CHUNK.
WHIRLING THUNDER
Black Hawk
IN FACT DOES NOT KEOKUK ALIGN HIMSELF WITH THE HO CHUNK TRIBE?
BLACK HAWK
YES. BUT THE HO CHUNK ARE BEING CHASED FURTHER WEST AND WILL EVENTUALLY BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA TERRITORY. THE BIG RIVER WILL DIVIDE OUR PEOPLE FOR A TIME, BUT THE WHITES WILL EVENTUALLY COME AND MOVE US FURTHER WEST IF WE DON’T STOP THEM PRESENTLY.
WHIRLING THUNDER
WHY DOES THE GREAT FATHER NOT PROTECT US?
BLACK HAWK
Sauk & Fox Indians
HE WILL. IT WILL BE A STRUGGLE AND MANY WILL DIE.
WHIRLING THUNDER
WE HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED AT THE AREA KNOWN AS FORT BLUE MOUNDS WHERE COLONEL DODGE HAS CONSTRUCTED 2
A FORT.
BLACK HAWK
I SEE US ATTACKING AT DAWN. I HAVE HEARD AND FEEL THE HO CHUNKS MAY DO OUR DIRTY BATTLE FOR US. MUCH OF THIS LAND IS NOW BEING SETTLED, AND THE WHITES ARE MINING LEAD.
WHIRLING THUNDER
THE LAND HERE IS QUITE FERTILE IT SEEMS.
BLACK HAWK
OUR TRIBE COULD LIVE HERE FOR ANOTHER 1000 YEARS. IT IS AN ABUNDANT PLACE WITH MUCH LIVE FOWL, GAME, AND MANY WILD CROPS.
WHIRLING THUNDER
Lithograph of battle scene
SO WHEN DO WE ATTACK? ONLY IF PROVOKED.
BLACK HAWK
WHIRLING THUNDER
THERE IS WORD THAT DODGE MAY WANT TO SMOKE THE PEACE PIPE.
BLACK HAWK
I WOULD BE WARY OF HIM. HE HAS KIDNAPPED OUR WARRIORS, CAPTURED YOUNG BRAVES, AND INITIATED MANY BATTLES.
WHIRLING THUNDER
WE HAVE BEEN HONEST SINCE RETURNING THOSE WHITE GIRLS AS PRISONERS AT INDIAN CREEK.
Depiction of the Bad Axe battle scene
BLACK HAWK
YES, BUT I STILL DON’T TRUST ANY OF THE MILITIA’S LEADERS. THEIR JOB IS TO MAKE OUR TRIBE EXTINCT. EXTINCTION IS AN IMPLIED UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DECREE. PRESIDENT’S JACKSON’S ORDER TO REMOVE ALL INDIANS TO THE WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAS IMPLICITLY ALLOWED TRIBES TO BE SCALPED. WE MUST REMAIN READY FOR BATTLE AT ALL TIMES. THERE MAY BE NO WARNING. I KNOW OUR HORSES ARE READY FOR BATTLE - WELL RESTED AND FED. WE HAVE MAINTAINED DECENT ENERGY DESPITE THE FOOD SUPPLY BEING LIMITED.
WHIRLING THUNDER
President Andrew Jackson
I SEE BEYOND THE BLUFF MANY HO CHUNK BRAVES WITH SCALPS AND FLEEING TO THE WOODS. THERE WILL BE A DANCE of WAR AT COUNCIL TONIGHT. 3
BLACK HAWK
YES AND THE SCALP OF THE INDIAN AGENT GRATIOT, LIKE THE AGENT ST. VRAIN, HAS BEEN TAKEN. WE WILL NOT BE FREE FROM ATTACK BY THE WHITE MAN. I FEEL MORE BRUTAL BATTLES WITH MANY TRIBES INVOLVED - FOX, WINNEBAGO, OTHER SAUK, WABASH, AND MAYBE EVEN THE SIOUX - ARE COMING.
WHIRLING THUNDER
Chief Shabona
EVEN THE SIOUX - WHO HAVE BEEN OUR ENEMIES FOR MANY YEARS. WE WILL OBVIOUSLY NEED THE LARGE BRITISH BAND OF WARRIORS WITH THE ENGLISH SUPPORT OF ARMS AND AMMUNITIONS. OUR BOW AND ARROW, TOMAHAWKS, AND KNIVES WILL NOT WIN BATTLES AGAINST THE RIFLES OF THE MILITIA. IF IT WERE HAND TO HAND BATTLES, WE WOULD MOST ASSUREDLY WIN, BUT THE NEWER MUSKETS ARE MORE ACCURATE AND EASIER TO LOAD ACCORDING TO THE SCOUTS. WE NEED AS MANY AS THE MILITIA.
BLACK HAWK
THE ENGLISH ARE STILL ANGRY OVER THE LOSS OF THE LAST TWO WARS WITH THE AMERICANS. THEY WILL DO ANYTHING TO DEFEAT THE AMERICANS. THE GREAT FATHERS IN ENGLAND STILL WANT TO SEE THE AMERICANS DEFEATED WHEREVER THEY CAN BE FOUND.
WHIRLING THUNDER
Black Hawk
I FEEL AS YOU DO THE WHITES WILL COME WITH EVERY SETTLER AND MILITIA MAN ATTACKING OUR TRIBES. WE CAN ONLY WIN WITH THE CONFEDERACY OF INDIANS. HOPEFULLY YOUR DREAM FROM THE GREAT FATHER WILL NOW BE REALIZED.
BLACK HAWK
AGAIN AND AGAIN WHITES TRESPASS UPON OUR HUNTING GROUNDS, DESTROY OUR CROPS, KILL OUR TRIBESMEN. WE WILL NEED THE GREAT FATHER OF ALL TO STOP THE ATTACKS. WASHTE! WASHTE! US steamboat Warrior engages Indians in canoes, Bad Axe Crossing
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WHIRLING THUNDER BLACK HAWK
ACT IX: JUNE 14, 1832 SPAFFORD FARM MASSACRE SOUTH WAYNE, WI.
WHIRLING THUNDER
WE ARE FINALLY ABOVE THE ILLINOIS BORDER IN WISCONSIN TERRITORY. OUR ESCAPE ROUTE MAY BE THE OUISCONSIN RIVER?
BLACK HAWK
THE INJUSTICES WILL NEVER END UNTIL THE ENEMY IS TOTALLY DEFEATED. AN ESCAPE DOWN THE OUISCONSIN RIVER WILL BE A LAST RESORT. MOST LIKELY IT WILL BE HEAVILY GUARDED BY THE MILITIA. CERTAIN DEATH MAY FOLLOW FLOATING THE OUISCONSIN RIVER.
WHIRLING THUNDER
SO YOU ARE SAYING WE MUST GO ALL THE WAY TO WASHINGTON AND DEFEAT THE UNITED STATES ARMY THAT DEFEATED BRITAIN BACK IN 1815?
BLACK HAWK
Paintings such as this reflect the fear among whites of the Indians
YES, BUT IT WON’T BE ME. OUR CHILDREN WILL CARRY ON THE FIGHT. OUR ENTIRE NATION OF INDIAN TRIBES HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO TRESPASS BY TRANSPLANTED EUROPEANS AND AMERICANS. IT IS THAT SIMPLE. WE NEED TO TAKE A STAND. THE WHITE MAN WILL FOREVER CLAIM OUR LAND THROUGH LOPSIDED TREATIES, ARROGANCE, STRONGER MILITARY FORCES, AND NOW THE NEW ONE - ADVERSE POSSESSION OF LAND BY THE WHITE SQUATTERS.
WHIRLING THUNDER
NO MORE PEACE PIPES AND TREATIES WHICH THE WHITES VIOLATE WITHOUT ANY QUALMS. IT IS SAD THE INDIANS CANNOT TOTALLY COME TOGETHER AT THIS TIME TO DEFEAT THE WHITE MAN AND HIS CLAIMS TO OUR LAND.
Depiction of the Bad Axe battle scene
BLACK HAWK
THE RED MAN IS NO MORE OR LESS A SAVAGE THAN THE WHITES. THE GREAT SPIRIT DOESN’T AGREE WITH THE MANIFEST DESTINY POLICY OF WASHINGTON.
WHIRLING THUNDER
WHAT IS MANIFEST DESTINY? SOUNDS AS IF THE WHITES ARE DESTINED TO TRESPASS AND OCCUPY OUR TERRITORY.
BLACK HAWK
MANIFEST DESTINY IS QUITE POPULAR IN WASHINGTON DC - WHICH THEY NOW CALL SIMPLY DC. IT ASSUMES THE LAND IS THEIRS FROM GOD - AS IF OUR GREAT SPIRIT HANDED IT TO THE WHITES ON A PLATTER WITHOUT A FIGHT. YES THEY PRESUMABLY BOUGHT IT FROM THE FRENCH IN 1803 WITHOUT CONSULTING ANY INDIAN THAT HAD BEEN LIVING THERE FOR MANY YEARS. IT IS A BELIEF IN
Apple River Fort
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THE SUPERIORITY OF THE ANGLO-SAXON RACE THAT IS APPARENT AND INEXORABLE.
WHIRLING THUNDER
HMMM... THAT DOES NOT SOUND RIGHT TO ME. NO INDIAN WOULD AGREE WITH MANIFEST DESTINY NO MORE THAN OUR TRIBE TRAVELING TO SPAIN AND CLAIMING SPAIN EXPECTING THE SPANISH PEOPLE TO SAY OK - IT IS YOUR LAND. WE’LL JUST MOVE TO FRANCE. THAT WOULD BE A MAJOR TRESPASS ON OUR PART.
BLACK HAWK
Bad Axe Battle Marker
YES - WE HAVE ALL AGREED THIS ENTIRE MIGRATION OF WHITES IS A MAJOR TRESPASS - SOMETHING IN THE BRITISH, FRENCH, AND AMERICAN LEGAL TEXTS. BUT IT ONLY WORKS FOR THEM, NOT AGAINST THEM. MANY OF OUR INDIAN LEADERS AND THE SCOUTS WHO HAVE TALKED TO WHITE SQUATTERS IN THE ROCK RIVER BASIN REPORT THAT WHEN WE MENTION TO THE WHITES THAT THEY ARE IN FACT TRESPASSING ON OUR LAND THEY APPEAR IN SHOCK. THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT THE REDMAN IS A PERSON. WE ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN THE WHITE MAN. ONLY SKIN COLOR FROM BIRTH IS THE DIFFERENCE. THE WHITE MEN ARE EVERY BIT AS SAVAGE AND EVEN MORE SO THAN WE INDIAN SAVAGES. IT WAS OUR SAUK NATION WHO STRIVED TO LIVE IN PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE WITH THE WHITES - JUST AS LONG AS THE LAND WAS RESPECTED AND NOT ABUSED.
WHIRLING THUNDER
Black Hawk
WE NEED TO MOVE ON AND OBTAIN FOOD, AMMUNITION, AND MORE WARRIORS TO SUPPORT OUR CAUSE. YOU ARE SPEAKING TOO MUCH FATHER. I HAVE ANGERED YOU, AND YOUR BLOOD IS BURNING.
BLACK HAWK
PEACE WILL HAPPEN, BUT PROBABLY NOT IN MY TIME. WE NEED MANY WARRIORS NOW THAT WE ARE IN MICHIGAN TERRITORY JUST NEAR THE OUISCONSIN RIVER. I FEEL THE MILITIA IS CLOSE JUST WATCHING THE BIRDS AND ANIMALS.
WHIRLING THUNDER
Wisconsin Heights
IT SEEMS EERY UP HERE, DANGEROUS FOR OUR TRIBE EVEN. I’M SENSING SOME PECULIAR MOVEMENT ADVERSE TO OUR POSITION. MY SIXTH SENSE TELLS ME THAT THE SPAFFORD FARM OVER THERE MAY BE HOUSING WHITE MILITIA FROM ATKINSON’S REGIMENT.
BLACK HAWK
YES, ATKINSON IS SNEAKY. HE HAS REGIMENTS OF UNITED 6
STATES WARRIORS HIDDEN ALL THROUGH THE ILLINOIS AND THE MICHIGAN TERRITORY. THEY ARE ESPECIALLY ABUNDANT IN WISCONSIN ACCORDING TO THE SAUK SCOUTS.
WHIRLING THUNDER
DON’T YOU FEEL THAT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME, AFTER SOME OF THE SCALPINGS, THAT THE WHITES WILL RUN AND NOT STOP?
BLACK HAWK
NO, THE UNITED STATES HAS THIS MANIFEST DESTINY MINDSET. WHEN WE PLAY LACROSSE OR BALL, THE GOAL IS TO WIN. MANIFEST DESTINY IS WINNING TO THE WHITE POPULATION.
WHIRLING THUNDER
SO THEY WILL PUSH US INTO THE GREAT OCEAN?
Gen E.P. Gaines
BLACK HAWK
AND BEYOND. IF AN INDIAN CANNOT SWIM, THEY WILL DROWN. THIS WILL NOT BE IN MY TIME HOWEVER, BUT MAY BE IN YOURS WHIRLING THUNDER.
WHIRLING THUNDER
OF COURSE. BUT AT LEAST I CAN SWIM.
BLACK HAWK
IT WILL NOT MATTER. THE GREAT OCEAN IS MANY PADDLES. ONE CANNOT SWIM TO THE FAR COUNTRY BEFORE DROWNING. BESIDES THEY HAVE THESE OCEAN CREATURES CALLED SHARKS THAT EAT HUMANS OF ALL TYPES.
WHIRLING THUNDER
Depiction of the Bad Axe battle scene
THAT IS WHY IT IS GOOD TO TAKE A STANDING RIGHT HERE AND NOW.
BLACK HAWK
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER INDIAN REMOVAL ACT IS ONLY THE FIRST DECREE BY A UNITED STATES PRESIDENT. AGAIN THE ANGLO SAXON DOMINATION WILL NEVER END UNTIL WE DIE IN THE GREAT MOUNTAINS OR OCEAN.
WHIRLING THUNDER
I’M SEEING AND HEARING A HUGE FIGHT OVER AT THE SPAFFORD FARM. WE NEED TO GET OVER THERE. SCALPS CAN BE HAD IF WE ARE THERE FIRST.
BLACK HAWK
Gen Henry Atkinson
IT APPEARS OUR WARRIORS HAVE WON. THERE ARE A FEW SCALPS WITH SOME WHITES HEADING FOR THE PECATONICA RIVER WHERE IT ORIGINATES. 7
WHIRLING THUNDER
WE NEED TO CHASE THESE WHITES SO THEY DON’T COME BACK ONTO OUR LAND.
BLACK HAWK
THOSE ARE SOME BEAUTIFUL SCALPS COMING FROM THE SPAFFORD FARM. WE WILL HAVE A LONG CHASE AS I LOST THE WHITE MAN’S TRACKS BECAUSE OF THE PECATONICA RIVER.
WHIRLING THUNDER
Bad Axe River as it appears today.
WHY DON’T WE REGROUP OVER TO THE LAKE NEAR THE UPPER PECATONICA? WE MAY FIND SAFE GROUNDS THERE.
BLACK HAWK
OK, BUT I AM HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS THAT WE WILL EVENTUALLY RUN INTO THE UNITED STATES REGIMENTS WHO MAY OVERWHELM OUR TRIBE. WE NEED TO BRING MORE FOOD HOME, SO ANY FOWL YOU SEE ON YOUR WAY BACK, PLEASE TAKE FOR OUR WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE NOT RETREATED INTO IOWA AS I’VE DIRECTED.
WHIRLING THUNDER
I FEEL THAT MOST OF THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF THE SAUK AND FOX TRIBES HAVE IN FACT RETREATED SUCCESSFULLY. WE STILL HAVE PREGNANT SQUAWS AND CHILDREN OF BRAVES WITH THE SQUAWS WHO WANT TO REMAIN WITH OUR TRIBE.
BLACK HAWK
Black Hawk
WELL I WILL ENCOURAGE THESE PEOPLE TO GO BY WAY OF THE APPLE RIVER BACK TO IOWA. I FEEL IT IS URGENT AS THE WHITES KNOW OUR TRIBE IS IN THE AREA.
WASHTE! WASHTE!
WHIRLING THUNDER BLACK HAWK
ACT X: JUNE 16, 1832 BATTLE OF BLOODY LAKE OR HORSESHOE BEND WIOTA, WI. Lithograph from the middle 1800’s.
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WHIRLING THUNDER
THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL AREA - THEY CALL IT OXBOW LAKE OR HORSESHOE BEND - THE UPPER PECATONICA. A GREAT PLACE FOR OUR TRIBE TO POSSIBLY SETTLE.
BLACK HAWK
I’M HEARING FROM SOME WHITES UPSTREAM THAT THEY THINK THEY ARE A FAR SUPERIOR RACE, THE LAND WE ARE PRESENTLY ON IS THEIRS, AND THAT THE WHITES WILL FIGHT TO THEIR DEATH FOR THIS LAND.
WHIRLING THUNDER
YES, IT IS SAD THAT AS INDIANS WE KNOW WE ARE ALL EQUAL UNDER THE GREAT SPIRIT, THOUGH OF A DIFFERENT COLOR AND CULTURE. THE YEARS HAVE HARDENED YOUR RESOLVE AND BITTERNESS FATHER. UNDERNEATH ALL THIS HATRED AND BITTERNESS IS A WONDERFUL PEACE LOVING MAN THAT HAS BEEN EMOTIONALLY DESTROYED BY THE WHITE MAN’S INVASION.
Historical Marker of the Battle
BLACK HAWK
ACTUALLY THE PEACE OF PARIS WAS TO SETTLE THINGS IN NORTH AMERICA BETWEEN THE INDIANS, FRENCH AND ENGLISH BACK IN 1763. THESE TREATIES SEEM TO HAVE NO MEANING TO WHITE PEOPLE. THAT IS MY BIGGEST FRUSTRATION.
WHIRLING THUNDER
THIS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE TREATY OF 1821 IN CHICAGO - REAFFIRMING OUR TREATY OF 1804 WITH GOVERNOR HARRISON. WE CEDED OUR LANDS EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI FOR MONEY WHICH WAS NEVER RECEIVED.
BLACK HAWK
THE $1000/ MONTH PAYMENT WAS NEVER SEEN - EVEN BY KEOKUK.
WHIRLING THUNDER
Depiction of the Bad Axe battle scene
MY GREAT GRANDFATHER, THUNDER, SUPPOSEDLY MET THE WHITE MAN FIRST; AND HAD A GREAT TREATY UPON A BLUFF ALONG THE ROCK RIVER. THERE WAS A TIME OF PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE BETWEEN THE RED MAN AND WHITE MAN.
BLACK HAWK
MY TWO BROTHERS WOULD COLLABORATE THAT STORY, AS THEY SAW MY GRANDFATHER ENDING ANY FUTURE INDIAN/ WHITE CONFLICTS.
WHIRLING THUNDER
THE PECATONICA RIVER WILL FOREVER BE DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND NAVIGATE OUR TRIBE TO SAFETY. THE UNITED STATES MILITIA IS TOTALLY SURROUNDING US BY OUR LATEST SCOUTING REPORTS. THEY ARE PLANNING AN ATTACK WITHIN THE DAY.
Captain Henry Gratiot
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BLACK HAWK
I HAVE INSTRUCTED OUR SQUAWS AND CHILDREN TO CONTINUE THE ESCAPE ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THE GREAT SPIRIT WILL PROTECT THEM. WE WILL REUNITE AFTER THIS WAR IS WON IN IOWA TERRITORY IF WE DON’T WIN HERE IN WISCONSIN.
WHIRLING THUNDER
DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD SURRENDER TO DODGE, ATKINSON, AND OTHERS WHO WILL ATTACK IN HIGH NUMBERS VERY SHORTLY?
BLACK HAWK
NO - ONCE THE WHITES CONTINUE TO SEE SCALPS THEY WILL BACK OFF. IN FACT THEY MAY CEDE THE LANDS WE SUPPOSEDLY GAVE AWAY BACK INTO OUR POSSESSION. White Cloud
WHIRLING THUNDER
YOU ARE REALLY DREAMING FATHER BLACK HAWK. I JUST DON’T SEE THE WHITES GIVING UP THIS QUICKLY. THE MILITIA HAS FOLLOWED OUR TRAIL FROM ILLINOIS AND JOINED FORCES FROM MANY NORTHERN FORTS. SOME IN OUR TRIBE AS WELL AS THE KICKAPOO, FOX, AND EVEN SOME OTHER SAUKS FEEL A NEED TO SURRENDER TO AVOID A BLOOD LETTING AGAINST US. THIS ENTIRE LAKE COULD BE RED MAN’S BLOOD SHORTLY.
BLACK HAWK
YES INDEED, I’M AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR LOST BRAVES. THE SAUK NATION IS THE PIVOTAL TRIBE TO SAVE ALL THE INDIAN NATIONS EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI. Black Hawk
WHIRLING THUNDER
IT IS SAD THAT FOR CENTURIES INDIANS HAVE LIVED IN PEACE AMONGST THE TRIBES. WE ONLY WAR AGAINST THE SIOUX. THEY ARE DESPICABLE - EVEN FOR INDIANS. NOW THAT THE WHITE POPULATION HAS ENTRENCHED ITSELF WITHIN OUR FERTILE LANDS, WE HAVE BECOME A TRIBE AT WAR.
BLACK HAWK
Shaman
THE LAND IS NO ONE’S OTHER THAN THE GREAT SPIRIT. HE ALONE DECIDES WHO OWNS THE LAND. OUR GREAT FATHER AND GREAT SPIRIT HAVE GIVEN US STRONG MESSAGES THAT INDIANS ARE SPECIFICALLY OWNERS OF THE LAND, SINCE THEY HAVE OCCUPIED IT PRIOR TO THE WHITE MAN’S INVASION.
WHIRLING THUNDER
WHAT ABOUT CO-EXISTENCE WITH WHITES - EVEN AT THIS LATE HOUR? 10
BLACK HAWK
I AM NOT TOTALLY OPPOSED TO THIS IDEA. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE SEEN WHAT MOST WHITES DO TO INDIANS. THEY DOMINATE BY KILLING. A FEW TRADE, LIVE IN PEACE, AND RESPECT OUR CULTURE. BUT AGAIN MOST DO NOT IN ANY MANNER HAVE RESPECT FOR OUR TRIBES. KILLING THE SAUK TRIBE WOULD BE A HIGH HONOR FOR MOST WHITES.
WHIRLING THUNDER
OK, WE ARE ON OUR WAY. OUR NEW WARRIOR HAS JUST LEARNED THAT OUR TRIBE WAS ATTACKED ON THE PECATONICA RIVER NEAR WIOTA.
BLACK HAWK
YES WE ARE ON OUR WAY. WE NEED TO REGROUP AND ATTACK. Keokuk
WHIRLING THUNDER
MORE REPORTS AFTER SPAFFORD’S FARM WHERE APFEL WAS KILLED AND MANY OTHER WHITES, HAS LED US TO BELIEVE THAT REGIMENTS FROM FORTS JACKSON, DEFIANCE, AND HAMILTON ARE ARRIVING.
BLACK HAWK
IT IS TOO LATE. WHILE OUR BRAVES SET UP CAMP AND PREPARED FOR A DEFENSE, ALL 17 SAUK WARRIORS WERE BRUTALLY KILLED AND SCALPED BY THE WHITE MILITIA.
WHIRLING THUNDER
THIS PLACE HAS ALREADY BEEN CALLED BLOODY LAKE. OUR SAUK WARRIORS WERE KILLED BY GUNS, BAYONETS, MUSKETS, HAND TO HAND FIGHTING, AND KNIVES. THE NEWER MUSKETS AND HIGH NUMBERS OF THE WHITES GAVE THE UNITED STATES MILITIA THE BATTLE ADVANTAGE.
Depiction of the Bad Axe battle scene
BLACK HAWK
THANK GOD NO SQUAWS WERE KILLED!
WHIRLING THUNDER
THAT IS THE WHITE’S NEXT AGENDA TO KILL?
BLACK HAWK
THE MILITIA HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO KILL OUR WOMEN AND CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NO QUALMS REGARDING WHO THEY KILL.
Fort Armstrong
WHIRLING THUNDER
THEY ARE THE TRUE SAVAGES.
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WASHTE! WASHTE!
Historical Marker, “Red Bird’s Village”
Black Hawk
Pecatonic Battle Site
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BLACK HAWK WHIRLING THUNDER