Black Hawk

Black Hawk (1767-1838), native name Makataimeshekiakiak, was the chief of the Sauk and Fox Indians of the United states. He fought as a leader of the Sauks (Sacs) and Foxes in the Black Hawk War of 1832 defending the Mississippi region from white settlers. He fought to repossess Indian lands which were under US possession.

Wisdom & Quotes

• I am a man, and you are another.

- when first meeting President Andrew Jackson

• I fought hard. But your guns were well aimed. The bullets flew like birds in the air, and whizzed by our ears like the wind through the trees in winter. My warriors fell around me; it began to look dismal. I saw my evil day at hand. The sun rose dim on us in the morning, and at night it sunk in a dark cloud, and it looked like a ball of fire. That was the last sun that shone on Black Hawk. His heart is dead and no longer beats quick in his bosom. He is now a prisoner to the white man; they will do with him as they wish. But he can stand torture, and is not afraid of death. He is no coward. Black Hawk is an Indian.

- on a battle with US forces

• I once thought that I could conquer the whites; my heart grew bitter and my hands grew strong. But the white men were mighty. I and my people failed. I see the strength of the white men. I will be the white man's friend. I will go to my people and speak good of the white men. I will tell them that they are like the leaves of the forest - very many, very strong - and that I will fight no more against them.
• We did not expect to conquer the whites, no. They had too many horses, too many men. I took up the hatchet, for my part, to revenge the injuries which my people could no longer endure.

Andrew Jackson