Battle Creek (Nebraska) facts for kids
Battle Creek is a small stream in Madison County, Nebraska, in the United States. It flows into the Elkhorn River.
A Stream with a Story
Before settlers from Europe and America arrived, the Pawnee lived in the beautiful Elkhorn River Valley. In July 1859, some settlers living nearby reported that the Pawnee had taken things from them. These reports reached Omaha, which was the capital of the Nebraska Territory at the time.
Many people in Omaha were upset and felt that the Pawnee should be "taught a lesson." So, citizens in Omaha signed a petition. This petition asked the Nebraska Territorial Militia, which was like a local army, to step in and help.
About 300 members of the militia, led by General John Thayer and Lieutenant Beverly Robertson, started heading west. Their goal was to confront a large Pawnee camp. However, the Pawnee people soon learned that a big military force was coming their way. To avoid any fighting, they immediately chose to surrender peacefully.
This event, sometimes called the "Pawnee War of 1859," ended without anyone getting hurt. Even though there was no actual battle, the nearby stream was named Battle Creek because of this incident.
The Story of Chief Petalesharo
There's a story that a Pawnee leader named "Chief Petalasharu" wrapped himself in an American flag to show friendship and make peace with the American forces. However, this story might not be entirely accurate. It's possible that the story mixes up different important Pawnee men who were all named Petalesharo.
There were several well-known Pawnee leaders named Petalesharo:
- The first Petalesharo was a Skidi Pawnee leader. He was respected by settlers for speaking out against human sacrifice. But this leader passed away in 1836, long before the Battle Creek incident.
- Two other chiefs of the Chaui Pawnee tribe were also named Petalesharo.
- The older Petalesharo was part of a treaty in 1833 that gave land in southern Nebraska to the United States.
- His son, also named Petalesharo, was born around 1823. He became the main chief of the Pawnee in the early 1850s.
The younger Petalesharo is likely the one mentioned in the story. However, this chief was known for strongly supporting the Pawnee's independence and their right to govern themselves. Because of this, it seems unlikely that he would have wrapped himself in an American flag. The story might just be a legend that grew over time.
