but unsuccessfully attacked. On the morning of the 7th he was again attacked by a large body of the Indians, but Tecumseh's warriors were completely routed, but not without a severe and hotly contested battle, and the loss of about 200 of Harrison's men. President Madison, in a special message to Congress of December 12, 1811, speaking of this engagement, says: "While it is deeply lamented that so many valuable lives have been lost in the action which took place on the seventh ultimo, Congress will see with satisfaction the dauntless spirit and fortitude victoriously displayed by every description of the troops engaged, as well as the collected firmness which distinguished their commander on an occasion requiring the utmost exertions of valor and discipline. It may reasonably be expected that the good effects of this critical defeat and dispersion of a combination of savages, which appears to have been spreading to a greater extent, will be experienced, not only in the cessation of murders and depredations committed on our frontier, but in the prevention of any hostile excursions otherwise to have been apprehended." The result of the battle of Tippecanoe utterly ruined the plans of Tecumseh, for his arrangements with the different tribes were not yet matured. He was greatly exasperated toward the Prophet for precipitating the war. Had Tecumseh himself been present it is likely the attack would not have been made. The defeated Indians were at first inclined to sue for peace, but Tecumseh was not yet conquered. The breaking out of the war with Great Britain at this time inspired him with new hope, and his next endeavor was to form an alliance with the English. In this he succeeded, and was appointed a brigadier general. He was entrusted with the command of all the Indians who co-operated with the English in the campaigns of 1812-13, and was in several important engagements. After After the surrender of Detroit by Gen. Hull, August 18, 1812, Harrison was appointed to the command of the Northwestern frontier, with a commission as brigadier general. As this was in September, too late in the season for a campaign, he did not assume active operations until the next year, by which time he was promoted to the rank of major general. Commodore Perry won his signal victory on Lake Erie in September, 1813, Harrison hastened with his command to capture Malden. On arriving there late in September he found that Proctor, the British general, had retreated. About the same time Gen. McArthur took possession of Detroit and the Territory of Michigan. Pursuing the British army into the interior of Canada West, Harrison overtook Proctor at the Moravian settlements, on the river Thames, on the 5th of October. The British general had an auxiliary force of two thousand Indians under the command of Tecumseh. The battle was opened by the American cavalry under the command of Col. Richard M. Johnson, afterward vice-president of the United States. Early in the engagement Tecumseh was killed at the head of his column of Indians, who, no longer hearing the voice of their chief, fled in confusion. It has been claimed by some authorities that this celebrated chief was killed by Col. Johnson, who fired at him with a pistol. This, however, will remain one of the unsolved problems of history. The result of the battle was a complete victory for the Americans, with the capture of 600 prisoners, six pieces of cannon, and a large quantity of army stores. This decisive victory over the combined forces of the British and Indians practically closed the war in the Northwest, and as a consequence peace with the Indian tribes soon followed. Other treaties were negotiated with the Indians by which they gave up their title to additional large tracts of territory. The settlement of the country progressed rapidly, and again an era of apparent good will prevailed between the whites and Indians. By the end of the year 1817, the Indian title, with some moderate reservations, had been extinguished to the whole of the land within the State of Ohio, to a great part of that in Michigan Territory, and in the State of Indiana. In 1817 Gov. Cass, of Michigan, in conjunction with Gov. McArthur, of Ohio, obtained a cession of most of the remaining lands in Ohio with some adjoining tracts in Indiana and Michigan, amounting in all to about 4,000,000 of acres, and in 1819 Gov. Cass met the Chippewas at Saginaw and obtained a cession of lands in the peninsula of Michigan to the extent of about 6,000,000 of acres. The next year a treaty was made at Chicago, then nothing but a military post, called Fort Dearborn, with the Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottawattamies, by which a large additional tract was obtained, which completed the extinguishment of the Indian title to the peninsula of Michigan south of the Grand river. By 1820 a number of military posts were established far in the interior, and among them was one at Belle Point on the Arkansas, at Council Bluffs on the Missouri, at St. Peters on the Mississippi, and at Green Bay on the upper lakes. During the month of June, 1823, Gen. Ashley and his party, who were trading under a license from the government, were attacked by the Ricarees while trading with the Indians at their request. Several of the party were killed and wounded, and their property taken or destroyed. Col. Leavenworth, who commanded Fort Atkinson at Council Bluffs, then the most western post, took immediate measures to check this hostile spirit of the Ricarees, fearing that it might extend to other tribes in that quarter and endanger the lives of traders on the Missouri. With a detachment of the regiment stationed at Council Bluffs, he successfully attacked the Ricaree village. The hostile spirit, however, still continued and extended to the tribes on the upper Mississippi and the upper lakes. Several parties of citizens were plundered and murdered by those tribes during the year 1824. An act of Congress of May 25th of this year, made an appropriation to de- fray the expenses of making treaties of trade and friendship with the tribes west of the Mississippi, and another act of March 3, 1825, provided for the expense of treaties with the Sioux, Chippewas, Menomonees, Sacs and Foxes, and other tribes, and also for establishing boundaries and promoting peace between them. These objects were in the main accomplished, and by the treaties made the government secured large acquisitions of territory. Gov. Cass, in conjunction with Gov. Clark, of Missouri, attended a grand council of the tribes this year at Prairie du Chien to carry out the purposes of the act of Congress last mentioned. During his continuance in office as Governor of Michigan Territory, Gov. Cass made, or participated in the making of nineteen treaties with the Indians, and by them acquired lands in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, to an amount equal to one-fourth of the entire area of those States. During the summer of 1827, when the commissioners appointed to carry into execution certain provisions of a treaty, made August 19th, 1825, with various northwestern tribes, were about to arrive at the appointed place of meeting, several citizens were murdered, and other acts of hostility were committed, especially against the miners at Fever river, near Galena, by a party of the Winnebago tribe, which tribe was one of those associated in the treaty. To quell these outrages the governors of the State of Illinois and the Territory of Michigan, made levies of militia. These forces, with a corps of seven hundred United States troops, under the command of General Atkinson, repaired to the scene of danger. The Indians, overawed by the appearance of the military, surrendered the perpetrators of the murders, and gave assurances of future good behavior. For many years it had been the policy of the government to obtain a relinquishment of the title of the Indians to all lands within the limits of the States, and as rapidly as possible cause the removal of the tribes to territory beyond the Mississippi. In 1830 the Chickasaws and Choctaws, occupying portions of the States of Alabama and Mississippi, agreed to remove, and in due time carried out their agreement in good faith. The same year a treaty was made with the Sacs and Foxes, by which they agreed to cede their lands to the United States, and remove beyond the Mississippi. The principal village of these united tribes was located at the mouth of Rock river, on the east side of the Mississippi, near where the city of Rock Island now stands. Here had been an Indian village, according to tradition, for one hundred and fifty years. These tribes had owned and occupied the country bordering on the Mississippi, to an extent of seven hundred miles, from the mouth of the Wisconsin almost to the mouth of the Missouri. The Indians did not seem disposed to comply promptly with the terms of the treaty, and one band, under the noted chief Black Hawk (Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak), evinced a determination to keep possession of their old village. John Reynolds, Governor of Illinois, construed their continued residence in the ceded territory as an invasion of the State, and under his authority to protect the State from invasion, ordered out seven hundred militia to force their removal, according to the treaty. This interference of the governor of Illinois with the duties belonging to the Federal Government, obliged the commander of United States troops in that quarter to co-operate with him, in order to prevent a collision between the State militia and the Indians. Fort Armstrong, on Rock Island, had been established as early as 1816, and when the Black Hawk trouble commenced, was in command of Gen. Atkinson. The Indians were overawed by this imposing military force, and yielding to necessity, crossed the Mississippi. Black Hawk, feeling exasperated at the harsh treatment his people had received, resolved to prosecute a predatory war against the white settlements. He united his band of Sacs and Foxes with the Winnebagoes, under the command of the Prophet Wabo-ki-e-shiek (White Cloud), and in March, 1832, recrossed to the east side of the Mississippi. They murdered a number of defenseless families, and committed many outrages upon the settlers. The whole frontier became alarmed, and many of the settlers fled for safety. The governor of Illinois ordered out the State militia, which being joined by four hundred regular troops, constituted a force of about one thousand, under the command of Gen. Atkinson. They pursued the Indians, and after a campaign of about two months, during which two engagements were fought, the war was brought to an end. The last, and the decisive battle of the war, is known in history as the battle of Bad Axe, being fought on a small tributary of the Wisconsin of that name. This battle took place August 2d, 1832, and the force against Black Hawk was commanded by Gen. Henry Dodge, of Wisconsin. The Indians lost forty of their braves, and Gen. Dodge one. The Indians made but little further resistance, and Black Hawk's "British Band," as it was styled, became demoralized and fled. They reached the Mississippi and were making preparations for crossing when they were checked by the captain of the steamboat "Warrior," who discharged a six-pounder at them, although they had displayed a flag of truce. The next morning Gen. Atkinson arrived with his army, and made an attack, which the Indians were now powerless to resist. Black Hawk escaped, but was taken by some treacherous Winnebagoes, and delivered along with the Prophet, on the 27th of August, to Gen. Street, at Prairie du Chien. Two of Black Hawk's sons, the Prophet and other leaders, were also taken, and by order of the government were conveyed through the principal cities and towns on the seaboard, in order that they might be impressed with the greatness and power of the United States. For some time Black Hawk was held as a captive, and then through the intercession of Keokuk, who had been opposed to the war, and had not participated in the hostilities, he was allowed to return to Rock Island, and permitted to join his people. Treaties were made with the offending tribes by which they agreed to compensate for the expense of the war, by ceding a valuable part of their territory on the west side of the Mississippi, and to immediately remove from the east side. The United States stipulated to pay to the three tribes annually, thirty thousand dollars for twenty-seven years, and also to make other provisions for their improvement. By this treaty the United States acquired the first territory in Iowa which was opened to settlement. It is what is known as the "Black Hawk Purchase," and embraced a strip of territory extending from the northern boundary of Missouri to the mouth of the Upper Iowa river, about fifty miles in width, and embracing an area of about six millions of acres. This treaty was made on the 21st day of September, 1832, at a council held on the west bank of the Mississippi river, where the city of Davenport now stands. Gen. Winfield Scott and Gov. John Reynolds, of Illinois, represented the United States, and on the part of the Indians there were present Keokuk, Pashepaho, and about thirty other chiefs and warriors of the Sac and Fox nation. Within the limits of this purchase was reserved a tract of 400 square miles, situated on Iowa river, and including Keokuk's village. This tract was known as "Keokuk's Reserve," and was occupied by the Indians until 1836. when it was ceded to the United States. This treaty was negotiated by Gov. Henry Dodge, of Wisconsin Territory, and on the part of the Indians Keokuk was the leading spirit. This council was also held on the banks of the Mississippi, near the site of the present city of Davenport. The treaty stipulated for the removal of the Indians to another reservation on the Des Moines river. On this an agency was established, where the present town of Agency City, in Wapello county, is located. Out of the "Black Hawk Purchase" was conveyed to Antoine Le Claire, who was interpreter, and whose wife was an Indian, one section of land opposite Rock Island, and another at the head of the first rapids above the Island. General Joseph M. Street, the agent with the Winnebagoes at Prairie du Chien, was transferred to the Sac and Fox agency on the Des Moines river, and in 1838 took measures for building and making the necessary improvements. In April, of the next year, he removed with his family from Prairie du Chien. His health soon began to fail, and on the 5th of May, 1840, Gen. Street died. Wapello, a prominent chief of the Sac and Fox nation, died in 1842. His remains were interred near those of Gen. Steeet. The stone slabs placed over their graves soon after, are inscribed as follows: In MEMORY OF GEN. JOSEPH M. STREET, In Born at Prairie du Chien, 1787: Died near the Forks of Skunk, March 15th, 1842-Sac and Fox Nation. Wapello had requested that at his death his remains be interred near those of Gen. Street. After the death of Gen. Street, Maj. John Beach, his son-in-law, received the appointment as agent for the Sacs and Foxes, and filled the position to the satisfaction of the government. Major Beach was born at Gloucester, Massachusetts, Feb. 23d, 1812. After a course of study at Portsmouth Academy, in New Hampshire, he received at the age of sixteen, the appointment of cadet at the West Point Military Academy, graduating in the class of 1832. Receiving his commission as Second Lieutenant by brevet in the First U. S. Infantry, of which Zachary Taylor was then colonel, he was ordered to duty on the frontier, and was alternately stationed at Fort Armstrong, Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien, and Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis. His hearing having partially failed, in 1838, he resigned his commission in the army, and was, at the time of his appointment as Indian agent, engaged in the U. S. Land Office at Dubuque. He remained at Agency City, engaged in mercantile and literary pursuits until his death which occurred August 31st, 1874. At the time of Gen. Street's death, the Indians were occupying their res ervation with their permanent, or spring and summer villages, as follows: Upon the banks of the Des Moines, opposite the mouth of Sugar Creek, was the village of Keokuk, and above were those of Wapello and Appanoose. The village of Hardfish, or Wish-e-co-me-que, as it is in the Indian tongue, was located in what is now the heart of Eddyville, where J. P. Eddy was licensed by Maj. Beach, the agent, in the summer of 1840, to establish a trading post. Not far from the "Forks of Skunk" was a small village presided over by Kish-ke-kosh, who, though not a chief, was a man of considerable influence. Poweshiek, a Fox chief of equal rank with Wapello, still had a village on the bank of Iowa river. It has been remarked above that Keokuk, who was the chief next in authority and influence to Black Hawk, was opposed to the war against the whites, and persistently refused to take part in the hostilities. When Black Hawk's attempt to defy the power of the United States resulted so disastrously to the Indians, and they were obliged to cede still more territory, his influence among his people declined, and that of Keokuk increased. Black Hawk, however, retained a party of adherents, and for some time a |