Black Hawk was an indigenous leader who fought to reoccupy lands seized by the U.S. On this day in 1832, he surrendered following an Army massacre of hundreds of warriors and their families after they had attempted to surrender on August 2nd.

Black Hawk and his followers had contested the seizure of 50 million acres (20 million hectares) of territory that had that the U.S. government claimed following the 1804 Treaty of St. Louis. Black Hawk openly defied the U.S. government and attempted to reoccupy tribal lands along the Rock River in Illinois.

On August 2nd, the Massacre at Bad Axe (sometimes called the "Battle of Bad Axe") occurred when Sauk people attempted to surrender. Instead of accepting the surrender, American soldiers gunned them down indiscriminately.

Women carrying children on their backs attempted to swim across the Mississippi River to safety were shot at by soldiers. Many of those not shot to death drowned in the Mississippi waters.

Although Black Hawk successfully fled the massacre, it was on this day in 1832 that he surrendered to the American government and was imprisoned.

While detained by American forces, Black Hawk dictated his autobiography, published as "Autobiography of Ma-Ka-Tai-Me-She-Kia-Kiak, or Black Hawk". This was one of the first Native American autobiographies published in the U.S.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MA-KA-TAI-ME-SHE-KIA-KIAK,

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