The Sauk tribe formerly lived in Illinois, Iowa, and southern Wisconsin. Little Hawk, son of the head war chief, strove to excel in games, hunting, and war. He had to be a worthy leader to inherit his father’s position and the sacred war bundles of his ancestors.

Often Little Hawk’s father told him and the other Indian boys how the Great Spirit had led the Sauk Indians to this beautiful country. “We must never let the white men steal our hunting grounds.” He warned over and over again. “We agree,” said the boys, “and we’ll fight hard to keep the white men out.”

The hunting grounds were valuable because they provided plentiful buffalo and other game for food and clothing. Also from the hunting grounds the Sauk obtained skins to exchange with white traders for axes, cloth, and gunpowder. Wild berries and other edible fruits grew in abundance.

The first time Little Hawk went on the warpath, he won an eagle plume for bravery and the right to a grown-up name-Black Hawk.

When his father was killed, he became head war chief of the Sauk Nation. In the War of 1812, he served as commanding general of all the Indian tribes that fought with the British.

Gradually the white settlers pushed farther and farther westward, building homes and taking over the land. Soon they began to ruin the good hunting grounds by growing crops on the land. The Sauk Indians tried hard to survive, but each succeeding year their situation became more desperate.

By 1830 most of the Indians had moved to a reservation west of the Mississippi River. Black Hawk, however, refused to move to the reservation and attempted to organize a band of Indians to fight the white invaders. He hoped that the Indians by combining their strength could save their hunting grounds.

Black Hawk’s defense of his people is known in history as the Black Hawk War. The war was short and his small band was soon routed. Finally he was captured through the help of some of his own followers. Then he and his two sons were held prisoners for a short period of time by the United States Government.

Later Black Hawk was taken to Washington D. C., and on an extended tour of other American cities. Now for the first time he realized the might of the white invaders. Today a 50-foot statue of Black Hawk towers above the countryside in western Illinois. This statue is a lasting tribute to a leader who fought hard to protect his people.

From the dust jacket