The Battle of Wisconsin Heights: Black Hawk's Account
"During our encampment at the Four Lakes, we were hard put
to, to obtain enough to eat to support nature. Situate in a
swampy, marshy country, . . . . there was but little game of any
sort to be found--and fish were equally scarce. . . . We were
forced to dig roots and bark trees, to obtain something to satisfy
hunger and keep us alive! Several of our people became so much
reduced, as actually to die with hunger! . . . . I concluded to
remove my women and children across the Mississippi, that they
might return to the Sac nation again. Accordingly, on the next
day, we commenced moving, with five Winnebagoes acting as our
guides, intending to descend the Ouisconsin.
. . . . we were
proceeding to the Ouisconsin, with our women and children. We
arrived and had commenced crossing them to an island, when we
discovered a large body of the enemy coming towards us. We were
now compelled to fight, or sacrifice our wives and children to the
fury of the whites! I met them with fifty warriors, (having left
the balance to assist our women and children in crossing) about a
mile from the river, when an attack immediately commenced.
I was
mounted on a fine horse, and was pleased to see my warriors so
brave. I addressed them in a loud voice, telling them to stand
their ground, and never yield it to the enemy. At this time I was
on the rise of a hill, where I wished to form my warriors, that we
might have some advantage over the whites. But the enemy succeeded
in gaining this point, which compelled us to fall back into a deep
ravine, from which we continued firing at them and they at us,
until it began to grow dark.
My horse having been wounded twice
during this engagement, and fearing from his loss of blood, that
he would soon give out--and finding that the enemy would not come
near enough to receive our fire, in the dusk of the evening--and
knowing that our women and children had had sufficient time to
reach the island in the Ouisconsin, I ordered my warriors to
return, in different routes, and meet me at the Ouisconsin--and
were astonished to find that the enemy were not disposed to pursue
us.
In this skirmish, with fifty braves, I defended and
accomplished my passage over the Ouisconsin, with a loss of only
six men; though opposed by a host of mounted militia.
I would not
have fought there, but to gain time for my women and children to
cross to an island. A warrior will duly appreciate the
embarrassments I labored under--and whatever may be the sentiments
of the white people, in relation to this battle, my nation, though
fallen, will award to me the reputation of a great brave in
conducting it.
The loss of the enemy could not be ascertained by
our party; but I am of opinion, that it was much greater, in
proportion, than mine. We returned to the Ouisconsin, and crossed
over to our people.
Myself and band having no means to descend the
Ouisconsin, I started, over a rugged country, to go to the
Mississippi, intending to cross it, and return to my nation. Many
of our people were compelled to go on foot, for want of horses,
which, in consequence of their having had nothing to eat for a
long time, caused our march to be very slow. At length we arrived
at the Mississippi, having lost some of our old men and little
children, who perished on the way with hunger.
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