When the fortunes of Black Hawk became desperate, his few straggling allies, from other tribes, not only deserted him, but joined his enemies.  It is to two Winnebagoes, Decorie, and Chaetar, that the fallen chief is indebted for being taken captive.  On the 27th of August, they delivered Black Hawk and the Prophet to the Indian agent, General Street, at Prairie des Chiens.  Upon their delivery, Decorie, the One-eyed, rose and said: 

“My father, I now stand before you.  When we parted, I told you I would return soon; but I could not come any sooner.  We have had to go a great distance [to the Dalle, on the Wisconsin, above the portage.] You see we have done what you sent us to do.  These, (pointing to the prisoners) are the two you told us to get.  We have done what you told us to do.  We always do what you tell us, because we know it is for our good.  Father, you told us to get these men, and it would be the cause of much good to the Winnebagoes.  We have brought them, but it has been very hard for us to do so.  That one, Black Hawk was a great way off.  You told us to bring them to you alive:  we have done so.  If you had told us to bring their heads alone, we would have done so, and it would have been less difficult than what we have done.  Father, we deliver these men into your hands.  We would not deliver them even to our brother, the chief of the warriors, but to you; because we know you, and we believe you are our friend.  We want you to keep them safe; if they are to be hurt we do not wish to see it.  Wait until we are gone before it is done.  Father, many little birds have been flying about our ears of late, and we thought they whispered to us that there was evil intended for us; but now we hope these evil birds will let our ears alone.  We know you are our friend, because you take our part, and that is the reason we do what you tell us to do.  You say you love your red children:  we think we love you as much if not more than you love us.  We have confidence in you and you may rely on us.  We have been promised a great deal if we would take these men—­that it would do much good to our people.  We now hope to see what will be done for us.  We have come in haste; we are tired and hungry.  We now put these men into your hands.  We have done all that you told us to do.”

The agent, General Street, replied:  “My children, you have done well.  I told you to bring these men to me, and you have done so.  I am pleased at what you have done.  It is for your good, and for this reason I am pleased.  I assured the great chief of the warriors, (General Atkinson) that if these men were in your country, you would find them and bring them to me, and now I can say much for your good.  I will go down to Rock island with the prisoners, and I wish you who have brought these men, especially, to go with me, with such other chiefs and warriors as you may select.  My children, the great chief of the warriors, when he left this place, directed me to deliver these and all other prisoners,