The effect of this
unexpected affray was both to stiffen the Indians to further
resistance and to precipitate a fresh panic throughout the
frontier. All sorts of atrocities ensued, and Black Hawk's name
became a household bugaboo the country over.
Finally a new levy was made ready and sent north. Pushing across
the overflowed wilderness stretches, past the sites of modern
Beloit and Madison, this army, four thousand strong, came upon
the fleeing enemy on the banks of the Wisconsin River, and at
Wisconsin Heights, near the present town of Prairie du Sac, it
inflicted a severe defeat upon the Indians. Again Black Hawk
desired to make peace, but again he was frustrated, this time by
the lack of an interpreter. The redskins' flight was continued in
the direction of the Mississippi, which they reached in
midsummer. They were prevented from crossing by lack of canoes,
and finally the half-starved band found itself caught between the
fire of a force of regulars on the land side and a government
supply steamer, the Warrior, on the water side, and between these
two the Indian band was practically annihilated.
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