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Campaigns and Commanders #10
The Black Hawk War of 1832
The earliest accounts of the war, including one by Black Hawk himself, were highly concerning with blaming either the Indians or the Whites, says Jung (history, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Wisconsin), and later historians have generally rehashed these arguments. He reconsiders the causes and consequences of the summer 1832 conflict in Illinois, putting it, for example, in the context of Indian resistance to displacement during the period. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
275 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 26, 2011
The months-long Black Hawk war was a watershed moment in the history of Midwestern U.S.-Native American relations. It dissolved any further U.S. impetus for land treaties with the natives of the area and simultaneously initiated an aggressive policy of forced removal from land that had long been desired by white settlers. Black Hawk, a Sauk leader who led a group of natives known as the British Band (because their loyalties had been British and distinctly anti-American), initiated the war in 1832 by moving back onto lands he had lost during a highly-disputed treaty in 1804. Misunderstandings, white land-grabbing, and Native American reprisals were events that led up to a war that ended very badly for the natives but won wide respect for Black Hawk.
Patrick Jung’s book gives crystal clear explanations of the events leading up to the war, paints living, almost breathing portraits of every character on each side (including everyone in between) and weaves all these facts into a highly enjoyably and readable narrative. This is no simple task, given the complexity of the relationships involved. For example, Midwestern Native Americans hailed from different tribes and held differing attitudes towards the European-Americans and towards each other, especially so during the unifying Pan-Indian movement, an obvious response to the insistently encroaching white problem. The occasionally-mentioned Potawatomi generally sided with the whites while the Sauks, Foxes, and Winnebago’s were the most consistently (and ferociously) anti-American. Yet many of these U.S.-haters did not join Black Hawk’s side when he stood up to their common enemy.
The U.S. side is just as complex and their attitude towards the natives varied. Under pressure by President Andrew Jackson to put “a speedy and honorable termination to this war, which will hereafter deter others from the like unprovoked hostilities by Indians on our frontier,” the U.S. military leaders had to often rely on ill-trained local volunteer militia as well as the thinly-spread professional soldiers who manned the local forts. While the attitude of most of the trained troops towards the Native American was somewhat professional, if racist, the volunteer troops were generally much too eager to shed the red man’s blood, an unfortunate reality that would have dire consequences for the outcome of the war. (An interesting minor player in the volunteer Illinois militia who Jung mentions from time to time is the 23 year-old leader of a 200-man battalion named Abe Lincoln who never saw action, as he said later, except for “a good many bloody struggles with the musquetoes [sic].”)
After the war, the white leaders took Black Hawk for a trip out east to give him a view of the country’s enormous population in an obvious attempt to discourage him – or any other Midwestern Native American – from ever again taking up arms against the U.S. It worked but what is fascinating about this section of the book is how eastern Americans viewed the Natives as compared to those in the Midwest: “Black Hawk noticed that people in the East were fundamentally different from those on the frontier. Indeed, westerners tended to see Indians as almost subhuman. Easterners, on the other hand, rarely had contact with Indians and thus treated them as novelties and even as romantic ‘noble savage.’”
The book contains a plethora of maps and drawings and, coupled with Jung’s clear narrative, paints the clearest picture yet of this important moment in the history of U.S.-Native American relations.
(This review also appears at BookPleasures.com).
Patrick Jung’s book gives crystal clear explanations of the events leading up to the war, paints living, almost breathing portraits of every character on each side (including everyone in between) and weaves all these facts into a highly enjoyably and readable narrative. This is no simple task, given the complexity of the relationships involved. For example, Midwestern Native Americans hailed from different tribes and held differing attitudes towards the European-Americans and towards each other, especially so during the unifying Pan-Indian movement, an obvious response to the insistently encroaching white problem. The occasionally-mentioned Potawatomi generally sided with the whites while the Sauks, Foxes, and Winnebago’s were the most consistently (and ferociously) anti-American. Yet many of these U.S.-haters did not join Black Hawk’s side when he stood up to their common enemy.
The U.S. side is just as complex and their attitude towards the natives varied. Under pressure by President Andrew Jackson to put “a speedy and honorable termination to this war, which will hereafter deter others from the like unprovoked hostilities by Indians on our frontier,” the U.S. military leaders had to often rely on ill-trained local volunteer militia as well as the thinly-spread professional soldiers who manned the local forts. While the attitude of most of the trained troops towards the Native American was somewhat professional, if racist, the volunteer troops were generally much too eager to shed the red man’s blood, an unfortunate reality that would have dire consequences for the outcome of the war. (An interesting minor player in the volunteer Illinois militia who Jung mentions from time to time is the 23 year-old leader of a 200-man battalion named Abe Lincoln who never saw action, as he said later, except for “a good many bloody struggles with the musquetoes [sic].”)
After the war, the white leaders took Black Hawk for a trip out east to give him a view of the country’s enormous population in an obvious attempt to discourage him – or any other Midwestern Native American – from ever again taking up arms against the U.S. It worked but what is fascinating about this section of the book is how eastern Americans viewed the Natives as compared to those in the Midwest: “Black Hawk noticed that people in the East were fundamentally different from those on the frontier. Indeed, westerners tended to see Indians as almost subhuman. Easterners, on the other hand, rarely had contact with Indians and thus treated them as novelties and even as romantic ‘noble savage.’”
The book contains a plethora of maps and drawings and, coupled with Jung’s clear narrative, paints the clearest picture yet of this important moment in the history of U.S.-Native American relations.
(This review also appears at BookPleasures.com).
August 2, 2017
** Review of Audio Format **
Worth Reading
Although Patrick Jung makes the same mistake all historians make when detailing the politics and intertribal relationships that led to the tribes of North America being displaced, this book is comprehensive and doesn't jump around in time and place like so many others. The mistake he and other historians make is not putting enough of the responsibility on the shoulders of the tribal nations and buying into the duplicity and tactics of the U.S. The expansion of Americans was inevitable and nothing the tribes did was going to stop it. However, to simply blame the U.S. politicians for their negotiation strategies and plying the tribes with alcohol is not forcing the tribes to acknowledge their own responsibility. The Black Hawks could have negotiated better, stayed sober and put aside intertribal history and politics to negotiate a better treaty with the U.S. They also sent inexperienced warriors or chose not to attend important meetings. There is much blame to go around for how the North American tribes were treated and the ultimate displacement of the nations. But to not acknowledge their own part in history is irresponsible.
I enjoyed learning more about the history and politics of the Black Hawks and particularly liked Jung's writing style and Hassinger's narration of the material.
I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Boom! and am leaving honest feedback about the quality of the material.
Worth Reading
Although Patrick Jung makes the same mistake all historians make when detailing the politics and intertribal relationships that led to the tribes of North America being displaced, this book is comprehensive and doesn't jump around in time and place like so many others. The mistake he and other historians make is not putting enough of the responsibility on the shoulders of the tribal nations and buying into the duplicity and tactics of the U.S. The expansion of Americans was inevitable and nothing the tribes did was going to stop it. However, to simply blame the U.S. politicians for their negotiation strategies and plying the tribes with alcohol is not forcing the tribes to acknowledge their own responsibility. The Black Hawks could have negotiated better, stayed sober and put aside intertribal history and politics to negotiate a better treaty with the U.S. They also sent inexperienced warriors or chose not to attend important meetings. There is much blame to go around for how the North American tribes were treated and the ultimate displacement of the nations. But to not acknowledge their own part in history is irresponsible.
I enjoyed learning more about the history and politics of the Black Hawks and particularly liked Jung's writing style and Hassinger's narration of the material.
I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Boom! and am leaving honest feedback about the quality of the material.
August 2, 2018
For those who are not natives of the Upper Midwest, the Black Hawk War is something that most people would not be aware of. I only became aware of it via a family member who fought in the war that I came across on Ancestry.com. It's with that curiosity that led me to get "The Black Hawk War of 1832" by Patrick J. Jung on a recent trip into Wisconsin. With this well written book, Jung goes into detail as to what caused Black Hawk to defy federal authority to try to gain back his homeland. The war itself would be the last Indian War east of the Mississippi as well as being the catalyst that lead to the formation of the state of Wisconsin. Jung's book is a fascinating read across that part of 1832 as this war is more of a chase across what was then Michigan territory, but it reminds we the reader of the plight of the native peoples in that period of history. Overall, an interesting read & for this person with a love of history & is one I'd recommend for anyone looking to understand this forgotten piece of American history.
July 16, 2019
The author cites sources extensively in creating a detailed unfolding of events of the Black Hawk War; Jung is correct in asserting that what sets his book apart from others is that it digs more deeply into the causes and effects of the conflict.
December 1, 2021
An updated version of the Black Hawk War story based on new materials and studies. In the face of illegal at the time white expansionism, Black Hawk, in his 60s, tries to create a pan-Indian alliance to preserve the Sauk and Fox homelands. The upshot is that his band of over 1,000 Indians, including warriors, women, children, and the elderly, are decimated as they race through Wisconsin over a three month period, trying to get back across the Mississippi to their homelands. Story of the last Indian war fought in present day WI and Illinois.
January 10, 2023
10/10 everyone, especially people in the Upper Midwest should read this book.
August 20, 2022
The history is well done, but writing is rather boring.
June 1, 2016
This book provides a very detailed and interesting account of the Black Hawk War between the Sauk people and the United States. Details of both sides are given, presenting both the good and the bad they both did. The story is a very interesting one, if not a little heartbreaking. This, along with many other conflicts with Native Americans, is far from a high point in the nations history.
Through collecting a large variety of previous historical reviews and information of the war, including Black Hawk's own account, and song/verse written about the war, Patrick Jung attempted to present a balanced and complete history. Jung states where accounts differ and doesn't go beyond what can be known, acknowledging where there are gaps in our information.
Very interesting and very informative.
Narration by peter Hassinger is well done. Easy to follow and engaging. I had the chance to discuss with him how he went about working out pronunciation of many of the names in the book, and this is the response I got (hopefully he doesn't mind me sharing this):
"I talked with the language department of the tribe on their reservation in Oklahoma and that's how I got that. I had a tough time finding correct pronunciations for Indian names since they didn't exist as written words but only sounds until white people tried to write them down. I also talked with Ojibway in Wisconsin and Winnebago in Michigan. Even then I couldn't get pronunciations for every name and had to do what made the most sense based on what i had learned."
I always find it interesting to know the level of effort that goes into narration work, especially when strange names are included. This extra bit of info on his research processes was great to know and adds extra authenticity to his work.
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of audiobookboom dot com.
Through collecting a large variety of previous historical reviews and information of the war, including Black Hawk's own account, and song/verse written about the war, Patrick Jung attempted to present a balanced and complete history. Jung states where accounts differ and doesn't go beyond what can be known, acknowledging where there are gaps in our information.
Very interesting and very informative.
Narration by peter Hassinger is well done. Easy to follow and engaging. I had the chance to discuss with him how he went about working out pronunciation of many of the names in the book, and this is the response I got (hopefully he doesn't mind me sharing this):
"I talked with the language department of the tribe on their reservation in Oklahoma and that's how I got that. I had a tough time finding correct pronunciations for Indian names since they didn't exist as written words but only sounds until white people tried to write them down. I also talked with Ojibway in Wisconsin and Winnebago in Michigan. Even then I couldn't get pronunciations for every name and had to do what made the most sense based on what i had learned."
I always find it interesting to know the level of effort that goes into narration work, especially when strange names are included. This extra bit of info on his research processes was great to know and adds extra authenticity to his work.
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of audiobookboom dot com.
February 10, 2017
This is a comprehensive work on the Sauk warrior Black Hawk. Jung starts out right from the beginning explaining how much that has been written is speculatory and how he has went through numerous sources to try to piece together the ultimate truth. The Sauk tribe was on the eastern shores of the Mississippi and not only were they having trouble with the white man encroaching on their land, they also had troubles with the Fox tribe. Throughout this book you get a picture of what life was like in 1832 and how westward expansion was pushing out the Natives. Once Black Hawk was captured he was shown the expanse of the White man from their big cities to their highways. The clothes he was given when arrested he kept for the rest of his life.
One quote from the book that really stuck with me, "that prior to the treaty we have never before sold land and did not know the value of it. We've given away a great country for a little thing. We do not say we were cheated but we have made a bad bargain. But the bargain stands because We never take back what we have given." ( made me think differently about when we use the term Indian giver.
One quote from the book that really stuck with me, "that prior to the treaty we have never before sold land and did not know the value of it. We've given away a great country for a little thing. We do not say we were cheated but we have made a bad bargain. But the bargain stands because We never take back what we have given." ( made me think differently about when we use the term Indian giver.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews