Mike Girty

Infobox Military Person
name=Mike Girty
lived=fl. 1821–32


caption=
nickname=White Savage
placeofbirth=Ohio
placeofdeath=
allegiance=Potawatomi
branch=
serviceyears=1832
rank=
unit=1832 band of Potawatomi; loosely affiliated with the British Band
commands=
battles=Spafford Farm massacre, Indian Creek massacre, Attack at Ament's Cabin (Black Hawk War)
awards=
relations=
laterwork=interpreter for a fur company

Mike Girty, (fl. 1821–32) {Died prior to 1872{?} known as White Savage, the son of Simon Girty, was the leader of a band of Potawatomi responsible for several raids and attacks on white settlers during the 1832 Black Hawk War.

Early life

Mike Girty was born in Ohio, the son of Simon Girty, who had lived with Native Americans since he was 15. Mike Girty spent most of his youth among the tribes in Ohio until he was old enough to set out on his own. He first settled along the Muskingum River, near Zanesville, Ohio. Both Simon and Mike Girty had a reputation for being "scoundrels". Fact|date=August 2008 Nevertheless, Mike Girty attempted to live among white society in Ohio for a time. This failed, and he fled following a murder in which he was probably the guilty party. In autumn 1821, Girty ended up living with the Potawatomi along Bureau Creek, in present-day Bureau County, Illinois. His first work in Illinois was as an interpreter for an agent of a fur company. He married a Native American woman and eventually fathered several sons.Matson, Nehemian. " Reminiscences of Bureau County: In Two Parts", Republican Book and Job Office, Princeton, Illinois: 1872, via genealogytrails.com, transcribed by Nancy Piper, [http://genealogytrails.com/ill/bureau/History/MatsonBook/MatsonBookPage2.html|pp. 26–32] . Retrieved 4 October 2007.]

Black Hawk War

When the Black Hawk War erupted between white settlers and Sauk Chief Black Hawk in 1832, a council involving important chiefs such as Shabbona and Waubonsee was held to determine whether other tribes, mainly the Potawatomi and Ho-Chunk, would join Black Hawk. The council opted for peace but the decision was not fully supported by all members of the tribes. At the end of the council, Girty stood and shouted, calling the chiefs and women present cowards. He would become a rallying point for those who disagreed with the council's decision against war.Tyler, Bob. "Canoeing Adventures in Northern Illinois: Apple River to Zuma Creek", ( [http://books.google.com/books?id=hJhv_Jwp3AMC&pg=PA12&dq=%22Girty%22Black+Hawk+War&sig=acUNCMLGz43km9cRZ6UrDfzsGLg Google Books] ), iUniverse: 2004, p. 12, (ISBN 0595310109). Retrieved 4 October 2007.]

Girty led a band of around 100 Potawatomi in the Black Hawk War.Matson, Nehemiah. "Memories of Shaubena: With Incidents Relating to the Early Settlement of the West", ( [http://books.google.com/books?id=oFRy1Qj8MxMC&pg=PA155&dq=%22Mike+Girty#PPA156,M1 Google Books] ), D.B. Cooke & Co.: 1878, pp. 155–56. Retrieved 4 October 2007.] The group has been credited with several attacks during the war, and accused of "terrible atrocities." The band of Potawatomi and Sauk that participated in the May 21, 1832 Indian Creek massacre were under the leadership of Girty.Thwaites, Rueben Gold. "The Story of Wisconsin", ( [http://books.google.com/books?id=2muPv3iC6PkC&pg=PA187&dq=%22Mike+Girty Google Books] ), D. Lothrop Company: 1890, p. 187. Retrieved 4 October 2007.] The same band was responsible for attacks at Spafford Farm, Ament's Cabin, and the murders of several individual settlers, including the execution of Lucy and James Sample. The Indian Creek massacre has been called a peripheral event, unrelated to the actual events of the war." [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/diary/002816.asp May 21, Indian Creek, Ill.: Abduction of the Hall Sisters] ," Historic Diaries: The Black Hawk War, "Wisconsin State Historical Society". Retrieved 4 October 2007.] Girty's band was tracked down by Colonel Henry Dodge and ultimately, 11 members of the band were killed at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.Parrish, Randall. "Historic Illinois: The Romance of the Earlier Days" ( [http://books.google.com/books?id=0P40AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA263&dq=%22Mike+Girty&ie=ISO-8859-1 Google Books] ), A.C. McClurg & Co.: 1905, p. 263. Retrieved 4 October 2007.]

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