against him.  On the contrary, he seems to have an amiable disposition.  He himself repels, with indignation, the charge of his ever having murdered women and children; and, declares the accusation made against him, on this point, to be wholly false.  The character of Black Hawk for honesty in his dealings, and for general integrity, stands fair.  In his domestic relations he appears to be kind and affectionate, and in one particular, is an exception to the chiefs and warriors of his tribe.  He has never had but one wife.  After his return from the campaign on the lakes, during the war with England, his first act was to visit his family.  “I then started,” says he, “to visit my wife and children.  I found them well and my boys were growing finely.  It is not customary for us to say much about our women, as they generally perform their part cheerfully, and never interfere with business belonging to the men.  This is the only wife I ever had, or will ever have.  She is a good woman and teaches my boys to be brave.”  It is said, however, and upon pretty good authority, that on a certain occasion, Black Hawk’s vow of exclusive devotion to one wife, had well nigh been broken.  While visiting a respectable frontier settler, many years since, he became pleased with the comely daughter of his host; and having seriously contemplated the matter, decided in favor of the expediency of adding the pale faced beauty, to the domestic circle of his wigwam.  He accordingly expressed his wishes to the father of the young lady, and proposed to give him a horse, in exchange for his daughter, but to his surprise the offer was declined.  Some days afterwards he returned and tendered two fine horses, but still the father refused to make the arrangement.  The old chief’s love for the young lady, growing stronger, in proportion to the difficulty of gaining her father’s assent, he, subsequently, offered five or six horses for her.  But even this munificent price was rejected by the mercenary father.  Black Hawk now gave up the negociation, not a little surprised, at the high value which the white men place upon their daughters.

It is questionable whether Black Hawk possesses any marked military talents, although during his contest with the United States, it was common to represent him as an able warrior, who by the eloquence and fluency of his harangues, commanded the unlimited confidence of his band.  He has, most probably, been overrated both for his eloquence and his skill in the battle field.  He is no doubt a man of courage, and seems, from early life, to have had a strong predisposition for war.  Many of his measures as a leader, have been more influenced by a sense of what was right in the abstract, than expedient in practice.  This circumstance has often placed him in situations, inimical to the permanent prosperity of his people.