Voices from Stillman's Run:

Finding that all our plans were defeated, I told the prophet that he must go with me, and we would see what could be done with the Pottowatomies. On our arrival at Kish-wá-co-kee, an express was sent to the Pottowatomie villages. The next day a deputation arrived. I inquired if they had corn in their villages? They said they had very little, and could not spare any! I asked them different questions, and received unsatisfactory answers. This talk was in the presence of all my people. I afterwards spoke to them privately, and requested them to come to my lodge after my people had got to sleep. They came, and took seats. I asked them if they had received any news from the lake from the British? They said, no. I inquired if they had heard that a chief of our British father was coming to Mil-wá-kee, to bring us guns, ammunition, goods and provisions? They said, no! I then told them what news had been brought to me, and requested them to return to their village, and tell the chiefs that I wished to see them and have a talk with them.

After this deputation started, I concluded to tell my people, that if the White Beaver came after us, we would go back -- as it was useless to think of stopping or going on without provisions. I discovered that the Winnebagoes and Pottowatomies were not disposed to render us any assistance. The next day, the Pottowattomie chiefs arrived at my camp. I had a dog killed, and made a feast. When it was ready, 1 spread my medicine bags, and the chiefs began to eat. When the ceremony was about ending, I received news, that three or four hundred white men, on horseback, had been seen about eight miles off. I immediately started three young men, with a white flag, to meet them, and conduct them to our camp, that we might hold a council with them, and descend Rock river again. And directed them, in case the whites had encamped, to return, and I would go and see them. After this party had started, I sent five young men to see what might take place. The first party went to the encampment of the whites, and were taken prisoners. The last party had not proceeded far, before they saw about twenty men coming towards them in full gallop! They stopped, and finding that the whites were coming so fast, in a warlike attitude, they turned and retreated, but were pursued, and two of them overtaken and killed! The others made their escape. When they came in with the news, I was preparing my flags to meet the war chief. The alarm was given. Nearly all my young men were absent, about ten miles off. I started with what I had left, (about forty,) and had proceeded but a short distance, before we saw a part of the army approaching. I raised a yell, and said to my braves: 11 Some of our people have been killed!—wantonly and cruelly murdered! We must revenge their death!"

In a little while we discovered the whole army coming towards us in full gallop! We were now confident that our first party had been killed! I immediately placed my men in front of some bushes, that we might have the first fire, when they approached close enough. They made a halt some distance from us. I gave another yell, and ordered my brave warriors to charge upon them - expecting that we would all be killed! They did charge! Every man rushed and fired, and the enemy retreated! in the utmost confusion and consternation, before my little, but brave band of warriors!

After pursuing the enemy some distance, I found it useless to follow them, as they rode so fast, and returned to my encampment with a few of my braves, (about twenty-five having gone in pursuit of the enemy.) I lighted my pipe, and sat down to thank the Great Spirit for what we had done. I had not been long meditating, when two of the three young men I had sent out with the flag to meet the American war chief, entered! My astonishment was not greater than my joy to see them living and well. I eagerly listened to their story, which was as follows:

"When we arrived near to the encampment of the whites, a number of them rushed out to meet us, bringing their guns with them. They took us into their camp, where an American, who spoke the Sac language a little, told us that his chief wanted to know how we were - where we were going - where our camp was - and where Black Hawk was? We told him that we had come to see his chief; that our chief had directed us to conduct him to our camp, in case he had not encamped; and, in that event, to tell him, that he [Black Hawk,] would come to see him; he wished to hold a council with him, as he had given up all intention of going to war.

"At the conclusion of this talk, a party of white men came in, on horseback. We saw by their countenances that something had happened. A general tumult arose. They looked at us with indignation - talked among themselves for a moment - when several cocked their guns - in a second, they fired at us in the crowd; our companion fell dead! We rushed through the crowd and made our escape. We remained in ambush but a short time, before we heard yelling, like Indians running an enemy. In a little while we saw some of the whites in full speed. One of them came near us. I threw my tomahawk, and struck him on the head, which brought him to the ground! I ran to him, and with his own knife, took off his scalp! I took his gun, mounted his horse, and took my friend here behind me. We turned to follow our braves, who were running the enemy, and had not gone far before we overtook a white man, whose horse had mired in a swamp! My friend alighted, and tomahawked the man, who was apparently fast under his horse! He took his scalp, horse, and gun! By this time our party was some distance ahead. We followed on, and saw several white men lying dead on the way. After riding about six miles, we met our party returning. We asked them how many of our men had been killed? They said none, after the Americans retreated. We inquired then, how many whites had been killed? They replied, that they did not know; but said We will soon ascertain, as we must scalp them as we go back. On our return, we found ten men, besides the two we had killed before we joined our friends. Seeing that they did not vet recognise us, it being dark, we again asked, how many of our braves had been killed? They said five! We asked, who they were? They replied that the first party of three, who went out to meet the American war chief, had all been taken prisoners, and killed in the encampment; and that out of a party of five, who followed to see the meeting of the first party and the whites, two had been killed! We were now certain that they did not recognise us nor did we tell them who we were until we arrived at our camp! The news of our death had reached it some time before, and all were surprised to see us again!"

The next morning I told the crier of my village to give notice that we must go and bury our dead. In a little while all were ready. A small deputation was sent for our absent warriors, and the remainder started. We first disposed of our dead, and then commenced an examination, in the enemy's deserted encampment, for plunder. We found arms, ammunition, and provisions, all which we were in want of - particularly the latter, as we were entirely without. We found, also, a variety of saddle-bags, (which I distributed among my braves,) and a small quantity of whisky! and some little barrels that had contained this bad medicine; but they were empty! I was surprised to find that the whites carried whisky with them, as I had understood that all the pale faces belonged to the temperance societies!

The enemy's encampment was in a skirt of woods near a run, about half a day's travel from Dixon's ferry. We attacked them in the prairie, with a few bushes between us, about sundown, and I expected that my whole party would be killed! I never was so much surprised, in all the fighting I have seen—knowing, too, that the Americans, generally, shoot well—as I was to see this army of several hundreds, retreating! WITHOUT SHOWING FIGHT!! and passing immediately through their encampment. I did think that they intended to halt here, as the situation would have forbidden attack by my party, if their number had not exceeded half mine! as we would have been compelled to take the open prairie, whilst they could have picked trees to shield themselves from our fire!

Never was I so much surprised in my life, as I was in this attack! An army of three or four hundred, after having learned that we were sueing for peace, to attempt to kill the flag-bearers that had gone, unarmed, to ask for a meeting of the way chiefs of the two contending parties to hold a council, that I might return to the west side of the Mississippi, to come forward, with a full determination to demolish the few braves I had with me, to retreat, when they had ten to one, was unaccountable to me. It proved a different spirit from any I had ever before seen among the pale faces! I expected to see them fight as the Americans did with the British during the last war! -- but they had no such braves among them!

I had resolved upon giving up the war—and sent a flag of peace to the American war chief—expecting, as a matter of right, reason and justice, that our flag would be respected, (I have always seen it so in war among the whites,) and a council convened, that we might explain our grievances, having been driven from our village the year before, without being permitted to gather the corn and provisions which our women had labored hard to cultivate, and ask for permission to return -- thereby giving up all idea of going to war against the whites.

Yet, instead of this honorable course which I have always practised in war, I was forced into WAR, with about five hundred warriors, to contend against three or four thousand!