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THE RED MEN OF IOWA.
River, the latter on his return stopped at the prophet's village, where he remained during the winter. The prophet assured him that early the next spring, not only the British, but the Ottawas, Chippewas, Pottawattamies and Winnebagoes would assist them in maintaining their right to their villages and their lands. All this Black Hawk believed, or affected to believe, and made his preparations accordingly. During the winter of 1831-2, while Neopope was visiting the prophet, the latter sent him across the Mississippi with a message to Black Hawk, requesting him to come with his band up to the village in the spring and plant corn. Back Hawk accepted the invitation, and started, as we have seen in a former chapter. Below Rock Island the prophet met him early in April. From this time the fortunes of Wabokieshiek were with Black Hawk and his cause. After the battle of Bad Axe they were captured and brought into Prairie du Chien as prisoners together, and remained together in captivity until liberated at Fort Armstrong, in August, 1833.
In their first interview with President Jackson, during their visit as captives to Washington, the president informed them of the intention to retain them as captives until the treaty made with General Gaines should be complied with. The prophet in reply made a speech, in which he said:
"We expected to return immediately to our people. The war in which we have been involved was occasioned by our attempting to raise provisions on our own lands, or where we thought we had a right to do so. We have lost many of our people, as well as the whites. Our tribes and families are now exposed to the attacks of our enemies, the
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MINOR SAC AND FOX CHIEFS AND BRAVES.
Sioux and the Menomonies. We hope, therefore, to be permitted to return to our own home to take care of them."
On the day of their release from Fortress Monroe--June 5, 1833--Wabokieshiek addressed a large concourse of visitors from the balcony of a hotel in Norfolk, as follows:
"Brothers: The Great Spirit sent us here, and now happily we are about to return to our own Mississippi, and our own people. It affords us much happiness to rejoin our own friends and kindred. We would shake hands with all our white friends assembled here. Should any of them go to our country on the Mississippi, we would take pleasure in returning their kindness to us. We will go home with peaceable dispositions towards our white brothers, and make our conduct hereafter more satisfactory to them. We bid you all farewell, as it is the last time we shall see each other."
As the Prophet of the Wabash enacted an important role among the followers of Tecumseh, which ended in disaster to their cause at Tippecanoe, so the false prophet of Rock River doubtless exercised an influence over the superstitious minds of the savages under Black Hawk which culminated in their defeat and overthrow at Bad Axe. After his release, having lost his prestige as a prophet, he continued in comparative obscurity among the Sacs in Iowa until their removal to Kansas.
The character of Wabokieshiek, as drawn by those who knew him, was not relieved by many good qualities. He was represented as the priest of assassination, entertaining strong prejudices against the whites, ready and willing to make mischief, and influence the Indians to resistance against the whites, regardless of what might be the result.
