Highlights Archives
"New" Interview with Black Hawk
The original manuscript of a previously overlooked interview with the famous Sauk war chief Black Hawk has been published this summer in the Society's online collection, Turning Points in Wisconsin History. The interview was conducted in August of 1834, two years after the Black Hawk War ended and about a year after Black Hawk was released from federal custody. That summer the Rev. Cutting Marsh (1800-1873) of Kaukauna, Wisconsin, accompanied a delegation of Stockbridge Indians to the Sauk and Fox villages in Iowa to see if the recently defeated tribes wanted schools and missionaries (they didn't).
Marsh first met Black Hawk on August 15th when the chief gave Marsh a lift in his canoe. The following day the pair had two conversations, which Marsh described in his diary. Although the Society obtained Marsh's manuscripts more than a century ago, scholars have generally overlooked his diary of this 1834 trip. It appears not to be cited in any works about the Sauk and the Fox, nor in any modern books or articles about Black Hawk himself.
The following year, Marsh wrote a report on his trip for his sponsors (published in Wisconsin Historical Collections), but did not include his notes on the conversations with Black Hawk, which are now published for the first time. Although these conversations don't change our understanding of the Black Hawk War, the Society offers them online to give readers a firsthand glimpse into the personality of the great warrior.
When the two men first talked, on August 16, 1834, Marsh asked Black Hawk about his religious beliefs, noting in his diary, "Held a short conversation with Black Hawk. He said that the Great Spirit made all things and that He had made two places, for the red and white men to go to after death. But that the bad of every kind would be sent to Hell or miche-manitoo. The red man would go to the W[est]. but the white to the E. (or South)."
Later the same day, the two talked about Black Hawk's autobiography, which had appeared a few months earlier and has become a classic of American literature. "This afternoon had an interview with Black Hawk and his friend; his son also was present. Dr Russell inquired of him if he ever gave a history of his life to LeClaire or Mr. Davenport. He said that he did, but he never told him that he wished him to make a book; and he heard of it last winter only, but was not pleased with it. He told the people at Rock Island or Mr. D. etc, that he wished to live in peace like the white people and go to war no more."
Black Hawk then recounted the Sauk oral tradition of their history: "In respect to their origin he said that their fathers had told them that they came from Quebec, after they left Q. they went to Det[roit]. then to Mackinaw, then to Green Bay, then to Chicago, then to the Wisconsin, and then to Rock Island or Rock river." [more]
Black Hawk, who had just toured eastern cities, was "pleased with the proposal to have farms, but neither their grandfather the French, nor their British father, nor their Great Father the President of the U. S. [had] spoken to them about it [or about] having teachers. ... He spoke when engaged with great energy and was quite eloquent, although broken down and tottering under the weight of years, and his influence in the vigor of manhood must have been great."
After these meetings, Marsh summarized what he had learned from Black Hawk and others about their opinions respecting the war and, on August 30, he visited Black Hawk's home. Stockbridge leader John Metoxen also interviewed Black Hawk, and this conversation between the two Indian elders was published in 1900 in Wisconsin Historical Collections.
Readers can see the original handwritten manuscript in Turning Points or view a typed version on our Historic Diaries pages.
:: Posted August 16, 2006
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