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The Blackhawk War BY HENRY LITTLE, 1875
From and after the time of that attack upon those Indians, they were a changed people in manner and conduct. Instead of standing on the bank of the river while demanding their rights, and then afterwards becoming humble beggars and suppliants, they had ventured to assert their manhood and their independence. Instead of being inactive until they were attacked and defending themselves, they had ventured to assume offensive operations, and they themselves were the attacking party.
From the beginning to the end of the war, the Saukies did not receive any aid or assistance from the Winnebagoes, or any of the Indians residing in that, vicinity. War in its mildest aspects is a fearful calamity, but an Indian war with all its fiendish, indiscriminate butcheries and awful horrors, is shockingly appalling.
That first attack upon the Indians by General Stillman had the effect to arouse all the savage brutal passions of the Indians, and to enkindle a flame which was not easily extinguished.
From that time onward they could think of nothing but revenge, which with an Indian is the sweetest and richest prize that it is possible for an Indian's imagination to conceive of. That revenge the Saukies were fully determined to have at whatever cost or sacrifices. Neither time, nor labor, nor distance, nor fatigue, nor hunger and thirst, nor peril would in the least deter them in
the attainment of their much desired object. The Indians entered upon the prosecution of their work, with all the assiduity, and vigor, and ferocity it is possible to conceive of, and brought into requisition their full stock of sly, cunning, dexterous strategy, and being as fleet of foot as the wild deer, and dividing into small bands, rendered it extremely difficult to know of their exact whereabouts^ or of their bloody work, in time to prevent the mischief, much of which was done in the night.
Michigan
Page 52
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