Additional Facts About the Black Hawk War

Black Hawk, born in 1767, was 65 years old when the Black Hawk War broke out.

“…more than seven hundred Menominees, Dakota, Ho Chunks, and Potawatomis…allied with the U.S. to fight against Black Hawk’s band." [Uncommon Defense]

3. Estimates of casualties in the Black Hawk War:
                                     Black Hawk’s band: Estimates “range between 450 and 600. Some were killed in the fighting, and others were hunted down…. and killed. Many simply died of starvation.” [Digital Research Library of Illinois History] Most were killed at Bad Axe.
                                    Militia, soldiers, miners, and settlers: Approximately 70 casualties.

4. Was it even a “war”? Black Hawk himself called it a “conflict.” It lasted 15 weeks.

5. One aspect that is under-appreciated: Almost all of the fighting took place on the Ho-Chunk Nation’s homeland, aka Michigan Territory, today’s Wisconsin. This wasn’t Black Hawk’s territory. He and his band weren’t familiar with the topography, trails, food sources, and sanctuaries. They needed—and received—Ho-Chunk assistance.

Ho-Chunk people significantly helped Black Hawk’s band, guiding them, sheltering them, misleading and misdirecting militias. It’s an underreported aspect of the Black Hawk War.