A treaty between William Henry Harrison and two Sauk Indians was believed to be an opening for the Americans into all Sauk lands for only $2500. The Sauk chiefs back in Illinois and Wisconsin said that the two Sauks involved in the treaty did not have the authority to speak for the nation, so it was null. Due to the chiefs reasoning, the Indians continued to live where they had since the 1750's.
Twenty-five years later, settlers started flocking to the region of Rock River because the lead industry was very profitable. They were taking over the Sauk land, but the Indians agreed to a deal with the government: If they moved across the Mississippi, the government would supply them with enough corn to last the winter. The government did not keep their end of the deal, so about 1200 Sauk returned to the other side of the river. Lead by Black Hawk, they hoped to regain their land and harvest their corn.
Black Hawk believed he could get help from his neighbors and the British, but he was wrong. The U.S. troops and militia were out to get the Sauks. It came at the Battle of Stillman's Run in May of 1832. A few men were sent out under a white flag to surrender; however, to this the Americans paid no attention to. The Indian barely escaped.
The warriors kept trying to make their way back across the Mississippi throughout the summer of 1832. During this time many very young and elderly Indians died of hunger, thirst, and exhaustion. On August 2, the Indians were caught and held up a white flag again, but the Americans refused to recognize this. The Sauks tried to retreat by swimming across the river, but the Americans shot at them, making the Mississippi a bloody red. Many of the people who made it across were killed by Sioux Warriors. Little groups that made it, hid in the wilderness or in the hunting camps of their old neighbors. Black Hawk surrendered himself at Fort Crawford. Only about 150 Sauks survived out of the 1200 who originally came to get their land back.
