ois called for more
volunteers; and when the news reached Washington, the Secretary of War
ordered Gen. Scott, then at New York, to take a thousand soldiers and
proceed to the seat of war and take command of the army.

This violation of a flag of truce, the wanton murder of its bearers,
and the attack upon a mere remnant of Black Hawk's band when sueing for
peace, precipitated a war that should have been avoided.

[In confirmation of the dastardly act of the volunteers in killing the
bearer of a white flag, and by which the war was precipitated, we give
the following letter of Mr. Elijah Kilbourn, one of the scouts connected
with Stillman's command. Mr. K. is the man Black Hawk makes mention of
in his narrative as having been taken captive during our last war with
Great Britain, and by him adopted into the Sac tribe; and again taken
prisoner by three of his braves at the battle of Sycamore creek.]

KILBOURN'S NARRATIVE.

A REMINISCENCE OF BLACK HAWK.

[From the Soldier's Cabinet.]

Much has been said both for and against the Indian character; but we
doubt whether greater or nobler qualities have ever been exhibited in
the conduct of civilized rulers or commanders than are shown in the
incidents we are about to relate concerning Black Hawk, whose deeds upon
the northwestern frontier will render his name illustrious while history
exists.

Elijah Kilbourn, the subject of the great chieftain's kindness, and
to whom we are indebted for the present sketch, was a native of
Pennsylvania. Just before the outbreak of the late war with Great
Britain, he left the place of his birth to join the stirring scenes
of adventure on the borders; and although now an old man, he still
remembers, and loves to recount, the deed, and perils of his younger
days, and especially those we are about to record.

"We had been," commenced Kilbourn, in whose own language the story shall
be given, "scouting through the country that lay about Fort Stephenson,
when early one morning one of our number came in with the intelligence
that the Fort was besieged by a combined force of British and Indians.
We were very soon after in our saddles, bearing down with all speed in
that direction for the express purpose of joining in the fight--but
on arriving, we found that the enemy had been signally repulsed by
the brave little garrison under the command of Major Crogan. Our
disappointment at learning this was, however, in a measure lessened,
when we l