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The Blackhawk War BY HENRY LITTLE, 1875
They had not committed any barbarous or criminal act, or uttered any threatening words. Why, then, I ask in the name of reason, and justice, and humanity, should they be subjected to such inhuman treatment as was . meted out to them in not only refusing to restore their land to them, but refusing to allow them to remain in the country, and lastly, to crown the scene of horrors, by attacking them while standing there upon the bank of that river and shooting them down as dogs or ravenous wolves, as when
GENERAL STILLMAN ATTACKED THEM?
When thus attacked they simply defended themselves like courageous braves, because it was impossible for them to have done otherwise. If they would not defend their own lives and the lives of their wives and children they did not deserve to live. Then and there, by that attack of General Stillman, was the commencement of that war, and with it began all those horrible, soul revolting scenes of savage ferocity, of butcheries, of scalping, burning, and desolating, of indescribable suffering and misery, which was brought upon those poor white people by that unfortunate event. I mean what misfortunes befell the white people weeks and months after that first battle, and not what occurred while the battle was being fought. I am unable to give any information as to the number of killed and wounded in that battle. It is certain, however, that the Indians were not all killed, and it is also certain that they immediately left that battle field on the bank of that river. Their women and children mostly remained near the river, where they sustained themselves upon the fish from the river, while the men dispersed themselves abroad here and there in small or large companies, as best suited their inclination or necessities.
Michigan
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