Black Hawk, To Captain Anderson

My Father, I thank you for your words to day, which instruct us how to live happy, I am also sincerely thankful for the trouble you have taken to save the lives of our women and children for the ensuing winter by the bounty you have bestowed upon us.

My Father, You must before have heard that I am one of those very few Indians, who speak my sentiments openly and without reserve, do not therefore be angry at what I am going to say. I shall repeat your own words.

My Father, You know that at the commencement of the war we were loath to take up the Tomahawk and did not until you absolutely threatened us seriously with your displeasure recollect My Father your words were these.

"My Children, Those bad spirits the Americans wishing to rob you of your Lands and having declared war against Your Great Father the King, he has declared war against them, Your Red Brethren have all joined him, in defense of your Lands and your lives, and I have often pressed you to follow their example, but you are dilatory.  I tell you now, for the last time that if you do not immediately strike upon the Americans, I will turn all the other Indians against you and strike you to the ground.

These My Father you must recollect were your words conveyed to us by the Red Head (Mr. Dickson).  You at the same time told us that if we followed your advice we should want for nothing and that so soon as we should beat the Americans and they would ask to smoke the Pipe of Peace with our Great Father the King than we should see some of your Chiefs settled in our Lands to make us happy.

My Father, You also sent us word to take Courage and fear nothing, that when you would smoke the Pipe that all Your Red Children would be included in that Peace, but this was not to take place until those bad spirits the Americans were entirely driven off our lands and those of our ancestors; I believe my Father you gave us hopes that the Ohio would be the future boundary of the Americans.

My Father, You have to day recalled to our minds those promises by sending us a supply of Goods, which will save our families from perishing in the winter. The Americans according to their stories are Masters of us and our Lands; but this is not your story, we shall therefore listen to your words, and remain quiet as My Great Chief told you just now, and next Canoeing season, I will go and see my Great Father at Michilimacknac and perhaps farther.

My Father, In the meantime I hope I may not be obliged to  dig up my Hatchet I know these Big Knives have sweet tongues and fear they have cheated us all.

My Father It is a long way to go every year for our supplies, but you say everything is arranged for our good, and next hot season at least one hundred of my warriors will go and see you.

My Father, I now take you by the hand, my heart is in it and you may rely on its being the Heart and Hand of a child that has sense, but when I look down this River some bad blood that remains in my heart jumps up to my throat, and were it not for your councils, I would free myself of it.