The Autobiography of Ma-Ka-Tai-Me-She-Kia-Kiak, or Black Hawk · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Autobiography of Ma-Ka-Tai-Me-She-Kia-Kiak, or Black Hawk by Black Hawk.
Chapter 1
Dedication
Black Hawk dedicates his autobiography to Brigadier General Henry Atkinson, acknowledging him as his conqueror and expressing his intent to explain his motives for hostilities against the whites and to vindicate his character before his death.
Chapter 2
Affidavit
The affidavit certifies the copyright deposit of Black Hawk's dictated autobiography, with Antoine Le Clair attesting to the accuracy of the translation and Black Hawk's desire to explain his actions to the American people.
Chapter 3
Ne-Ka-Na-Wen
Black Hawk reflects on his life, his people's suffering, and the injustices they have endured. He speaks of the loss of his village, the betrayal by other tribes, and the relentless pressure from white settlers. The chapter is a lament for his fallen warriors and a meditation on the futility of resistance against overwhelming force.
Chapter 4
Dedication
Black Hawk dedicates his autobiography to Brigadier General Henry Atkinson, acknowledging him as his conqueror and expressing his intent to explain his motives for hostilities against the whites and to vindicate his character before his death.
Chapter 5
Advertisement
The editor introduces Black Hawk's autobiography, explaining that the chief seeks to correct the historical record regarding his people's treatment by whites and the causes of the war. The editor notes that the Treaty of 1804 was made by four unauthorized individuals, and that the work is presented as dictated by Black Hawk through an interpreter, with the editor acting merely as amanuensis.
Chapter 6
The Autobiography of Ma-Ka-Tai-Me-She-Kia-Kiak, or Black Hawk
This chapter presents the autobiographical narrative of Black Hawk, detailing his life, leadership, and the struggles of the Sauk people against American expansion. It covers key events such as the Treaty of 1804, the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, and his eventual surrender and imprisonment, reflecting themes of injustice, cultural identity, and resistance.
Chapter 7
The Autobiography
Black Hawk recounts the events leading up to the conflict, including the betrayal by Quashquame over the land sale, the pressure to leave his village, and the attack on his peace delegation that sparked the war. He also describes his post-war journey to Washington and eastern cities, where he witnessed the vastness and power of the white population, including a balloon ascent, and received a peace talk from the Great Father.
Chapter 8
Starts for a New Home
After completing his autobiography, Black Hawk leaves Rock Island on October 10th for his new home on Skunk River, west of the Mississippi. He settles into a comfortable dwelling, expecting peace. In autumn 1834, the narrator meets Black Hawk again at Sweet Home, where a Sac convocation petitions to change annuity payments so each family head receives their share directly. Black Hawk supports the movement but stays absent. The petition is granted by the Cabinet, and the new rule is adopted for 1835. Black Hawk later visits his friend Wahwashenequa, buys supplies, and expresses contentment with his home and treatment by white settlers. Keokuk would have opposed the change, as he controlled annuity funds to the detriment of rival traders.
Chapter 9
Black Hawk's Last Visit
Black Hawk makes his final visit to Yellow Banks (Oquawka) in 1836, reflecting on the rapid settlement of the region by white people and the loss of traditional lands. He recalls the council house at Shokokon where he once gathered his braves for war councils and hunting plans. In 1837, he joins a Sac and Fox delegation invited by the President to Washington, along with Keokuk and others, to negotiate peace with the Sioux. The delegation visits eastern cities, including Boston, where they are received by Governor Everett and honored at Faneuil Hall and the State House. Black Hawk delivers a dignified address and receives gifts, but the peace mission with the Sioux fails.
Chapter 10
Black Hawk’s Removal to the Des Moines River
After returning from Boston, Black Hawk moves his family to the Des Moines River, builds a home, and turns to farming. He is invited as a guest of honor at a Fourth of July celebration in Fort Madison in 1838, where he delivers a speech of reconciliation. The chapter also recounts his later illness, death, burial with military honors, and the subsequent desecration and loss of his remains.
Chapter 11
The Black Hawk Tower
This chapter describes Black Hawk's Tower, a scenic lookout on the Rock River that was a favorite resort of Black Hawk. The land was purchased by Col. George Davenport at Black Hawk's request to protect the graves of his people. The chapter contrasts the rustic past with the present-day pavilion built by Hon. B. Davenport, and includes a poem by Jennie M. Fowler reflecting on the site's history and the passing of the Indian way of life.
Chapter 12
The Black Hawk War
In April 1832, Black Hawk and his band of Sacs, including women and children, crossed the Mississippi and ascended Rock River, intending to settle peacefully with the Winnebagoes. Despite warnings from U.S. officials and a direct order from General Atkinson to return, Black Hawk pressed forward, believing he had the right to proceed. He was misled by the Prophet about Winnebago and Potawatomi support. After councils with those tribes revealed the deception, Black Hawk resolved to seek a truce and return west.
Chapter 13
Fox Murderers Wanted
In early April 1832, Brigadier General Atkinson is dispatched to Fort Armstrong to prevent a war between the Menominees and Fox Indians over a massacre. He soon learns that Black Hawk and his band are invading Illinois, prompting him to seek information from Indian Agent Andrew S. Hughes and Colonel George Davenport. Their letters confirm Black Hawk's hostile intentions. Atkinson then alerts Governor Reynolds, who calls out the militia under General Samuel Whitesides. The militia assembles at Beardstown and marches to Yellow Banks for supplies before heading to Rock River.
Chapter 14
The Black Hawk War
In April 1832, Black Hawk and his band of Sacs, including women and children, crossed the Mississippi and ascended Rock River, intending to settle peacefully with the Winnebagoes. Despite warnings from U.S. officials and a direct order from General Atkinson to return, Black Hawk pressed forward, believing he had the right to proceed. He was misled by the Prophet about Winnebago and Potawatomi support. After councils with those tribes revealed the deception, Black Hawk resolved to seek a truce and return west.
Chapter 15
Stillman’s Defeat
This chapter recounts the events of Stillman's Run, where a large force of Illinois militia under Major Stillman panicked and fled after a small group of Sauk warriors led by Black Hawk attacked them. The conflict was precipitated by the militia's violation of a flag of truce, killing one of the bearers. The defeat led to widespread fear, a call for more volunteers, and the involvement of General Winfield Scott.
Chapter 16
Kilbourn's Narrative
Elijah Kilbourn recounts his encounter with Black Hawk during the War of 1812, his capture and adoption by the chief, and his eventual release with a message of defiance and sorrow. The narrative also covers the aftermath of the Black Hawk War, including Black Hawk's capture, loss of chieftainship to Keokuk, and a final meeting between Kilbourn and the chief.
Chapter 17
Battle of Pecatonica
On June 14, a small Sac scouting party kills five men at the Spafford farm. The next day, General Atkinson orders Colonel Henry Dodge to take command of Posey's brigade. While en route, Dodge hears a rifle shot and sees a man killed by Indians. He returns to his command, pursues a band of twenty-five warriors, and engages them near the Pecatonica River. Despite wet powder causing misfires, Dodge's men kill all the Indians in a fierce close-quarters fight, with losses of one killed and one wounded on the American side.
Chapter 18
Fight at Apple River Fort
Captain A. W. Snyder's company is ambushed by Indians near Burr Oak Grove. After an initial skirmish, they pursue and engage the enemy in a deep gully, suffering casualties. General Whiteside, acting as a private, kills the Indian commander, causing the Indians to flee. The company declines to pursue due to expired enlistments, and upon returning to camp, they find the body of a fallen soldier mutilated. Major Riley arrives with regulars, and they decide against further pursuit.
Chapter 19
Apple River Fort
On June 23, scouts report a large Indian force near Galena. Colonel Strode prepares defenses and sends an express to Dixon's Ferry. At Apple River Fort, an expressman is shot and wounded by Indians, and soon a large war party surrounds the fort. Under Captain Stone, the fort's 25 men, aided by women casting bullets, repel the attack for over an hour. Black Hawk, unable to take the fort without risking a larger military response, withdraws with captured flour, beef, and horses. Colonel Strode arrives with reinforcements to find the defenders victorious.
Chapter 20
Kellogg's Grove Fort
After leaving Apple River Fort, the Indians move toward Kellogg's Grove Fort, intending to take it. Meanwhile, Illinois troops gather at Fort Wilbourn under General Atkinson. Major John Dement's spy battalion is ordered to protect settlers and scout the area. Dement reaches Colonel Taylor at Dixon's Ferry and is tasked with occupying the country between there and Galena, with headquarters at Kellogg's Grove. The fort had been abandoned by previous troops, leaving the area unprotected. Dement's 140 inexperienced but reliable citizen soldiers prepare to defend the region.
Chapter 21
Major Dement’s Battle with the Indians
Major Dement's command engages Black Hawk's warriors at Kellogg's Grove. After a reconnaissance party is lured into an ambush, Dement's men retreat to a blockhouse and hold off a larger Indian force until reinforcements arrive. The chapter also details subsequent army movements, the capture of an old Indian scout, and the pursuit of Black Hawk's band through the Four Lakes region.
Chapter 22
At Wisconsin Heights
The chapter details the Battle of Wisconsin Heights, where U.S. forces under Generals Dodge and Ewing engage Neapope's rear guard, allowing Black Hawk's main party to cross the river. It describes the fierce fighting, the strategic retreat of the Sauk, and the subsequent pursuit leading to the Battle of Bad Axe, including the stoicism of a wounded Indian boy during amputation.
Chapter 23
Steamboat Warrior’s Fight
On August 2, 1832, the steamboat Warrior, under Lieutenant Kingsbury, intercepts Black Hawk's band at the Mississippi River. Black Hawk attempts to surrender under a white flag, but a Winnebago interpreter misreports his intentions, leading to a bloody battle. The Warrior withdraws for fuel, returns the next day, and eventually takes General Atkinson aboard. Black Hawk escapes and later surrenders to Winnebago friends, ending the war that began with a violated flag of truce at Stillman's Run.
Chapter 24
General Atkinson’s Report
General Atkinson reports the final battle of the Black Hawk War, describing the pursuit and defeat of Black Hawk's band at the Battle of Bad Axe, the capture of prisoners, and plans to demand surrender from remaining hostile leaders.
Chapter 25
Appendix
The appendix of Black Hawk's autobiography provides supplementary documents, including a letter from Black Hawk to General Atkinson, a speech by General Atkinson, and a certificate of Black Hawk's good conduct, offering official perspectives on the events of the Black Hawk War.
Chapter 26
At Yellow Banks
This chapter recounts events at Yellow Banks (Oquawka) during the Black Hawk War, focusing on the protection of the friendly chief Tama and his wife by Major Phelps and Mr. Smart against hostile soldiers, the subsequent murder of William Martin by four Fox Indians seeking revenge, and the legal proceedings that followed, including the surrender and release of innocent Indians.
Chapter 27
Gen. Scott Arrives at Chicago
General Winfield Scott arrives at Chicago with a regiment of regulars, but cholera breaks out among his troops. After encamping and marching slowly to Rock Island, the disease temporarily abates. At Fort Armstrong, Scott learns of the war's impending end. The cholera resurges, killing half of one company. The author visits the fort with Colonel Berry and meets Scott, who discusses the epidemic and his plan to use brandy as a remedy.
Chapter 28
The General's Remedy
General Winfield Scott personally treats soldiers stricken with cholera during the Black Hawk War, using brandy and flannel rubs to revive them, inspiring his troops. After the war's end at the Battle of Bad Axe, he meets with Governor John Reynolds at Galena and presides over a treaty with the Winnebago Nation at Fort Armstrong, resulting in a land cession and annuity agreements.
Chapter 29
Treaty with Sacs and Foxes
Following the Winnebago treaty, commissioners negotiate a peace treaty with the Sac and Fox confederacy on September 21, demanding a large land cession as indemnity for the Black Hawk War and to ensure future peace. The U.S. agrees to pay $20,000 annually for thirty years, settle trader debts of $40,000 to Farnham and Davenport, and grant land to interpreter Antoine LeClair at the tribes' request.
Chapter 30
The City of Davenport, Iowa
This chapter describes the transformation of the land donated by the Sacs and Foxes to Antoine LeClair into the thriving city of Davenport, Iowa, highlighting its growth, infrastructure, and modern amenities.
Chapter 31
The City of Rock Island
This chapter describes the flourishing city of Rock Island, Illinois, located opposite Davenport, highlighting its population, public buildings, electric lighting, newspapers, banks, hotels, and coal fields.
Chapter 32
The City of Moline
A brief description of Moline, Illinois, highlighting its location, population, and industrial development powered by a dam on the Rock River.
Chapter 33
Fifty Years Ago
The writer reflects on visiting Rock Island fifty years ago, describing the natural landscape before the cities of Davenport, Rock Island, and Moline were developed, and notes that Black Hawk and others had long admired the site.
Chapter 34
The Triple Cities
This chapter describes the Triple Cities—Rock Island, Moline, and Davenport—as leading manufacturing centers connected by a magnificent bridge. It details the historical layout of Rock Island, including Fort Armstrong, the Sac and Fox agency, and the residences of key figures like Colonel George Davenport and Antoine Le Clair, as well as the island's eventual acquisition by the U.S. government for an arsenal and armory.
Chapter 35
Armory and Arsenal
This chapter describes the extensive armory and arsenal on Rock Island, highlighting its grand scale, advanced facilities, and the leadership of Gen. Rodman and Lt. Col. D. W. Flagler. It also notes the former residence of Col. George Davenport, where he was killed, and the island's park-like beauty with tree-lined avenues.
Chapter 36
The City of Keokuk, Iowa
This chapter describes the city of Keokuk, Iowa, named after the distinguished Sauk and Fox chief. It recounts the city's origins as a trading post for the American Fur Company and its growth into a thriving urban center with wide streets, public buildings, churches, schools, businesses, and a medical university. The chapter also notes the construction of a canal by the United States government to facilitate steamboat passage over the rapids.
Chapter 37
The City of Muscatine, Iowa
A historical and economic overview of Muscatine, Iowa, from its founding as a wood yard in 1834 to its development as a thriving commercial and manufacturing center, known for its lumber, marble works, and agricultural trade.
Chapter 38
The City of Dubuque
After the Black Hawk War, a group of veterans including the author survey and lay out the town of Dubuque. Miners rush to the area despite the illegality under the new treaty. Major Davenport is sent to remove them, but with careful diplomacy and a whisky barrel speech, the miners ostensibly comply while secretly planning to return.
Chapter 39
Endnotes
This chapter contains endnotes providing additional context and historical details, including a note about Captain Stephenson and the naming of Stephenson (later Rock Island) as the county seat.
