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The Blackhawk War BY HENRY LITTLE, 1875
APOLOGETIC.
I am not certain that any apology is due from me for having attempted to write a history of the Black Hawk war. I believe that a history of important events that is poorly written is better than none at all. Those who were living in Wisconsin, or in the southwest part of this Territory during the time that those stirring, exciting events were transpiring, would not hesitate to say that those transactions, and their effects upon the different parts of the country, were of such great importance as to make it desirable, if not necessary, that somebody should write up said history.
I would have preferred that some one better qualified than I am would have performed the work; but when I had waited more than thirty years, and no one, to my knowledge, having undertaken the task, I attempted to do it myself. Some years later I revised that rough draft, and had it published in one of our newspapers. And now, after a lapse of several years more, inasmuch as additional facts had come to my knowledge, I deemed it advisable to revise and enlarge it again, therefore I do not apologize so much for the attempt, as for the manner in which the work has been executed. I hope that I may be excused for the many errors and imperfections with which this rough sketch abounds.
I am fully aware that very many gentlemen of my age (78), would do far better than I have, and I" hope that all of that age would do as well. My faulty memory and confused ideas caused me to commit many blunders, such as the omission of words, which can only be remedied by interlineation. My nerves being infirm and unsteady, prevent a fair specimen of penmanship. My numerous infirmities, therefore greatly mar the beauty of my compositions.
With great and lasting respects,
HENRY LITTLE.
Michigan
Page 57
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