How Jefferson Davis meets Novella and Black Hawk ends their relationship.

In 1828, Jefferson Davis graduated from West Point and became a lieutenant in the army. After about three years of service, the army assigned him to Fort Crawford at Prairie du Chien. Colonel Taylor gave Lieutenant Davis the task of protecting workers from the Indians as they constructed a sawmill.

There, he met many friendly Indians. He was interested in learning about their culture and customs. He took every opportunity to visit with the Indians. The Indians respected Jefferson Davis and began calling him the White Chief.

Jefferson met a brown-eyed half-breed with lustrous black hair named Novella. Novella was born to an Indian squaw and a French trapper. One day, the Frenchman went to check his traps and never returned. A few years later, Novella's mother died. An Indian brave named Black Hawk and his wife, Singing Bird, adopted her.

The nearly grown orphaned children did not move in and live with their adoptive parents. Older children would remain in their parents' lodge, and their adoptive parents would look in on them.

Black Hawk and Singing Bird had a daughter named Namequa. Writers often confuse Namequa with Novella. When settlers described Namequa by name, they said she was a plain Jane without any notable social skills.

The young men in the nearby settlements described Black Hawk's daughter as a beautiful, vibrant young woman with dancing abilities and social skills. They were referring to Black Hawk's adoptive daughter, not Namequa.

Novella was a brown-eyed, light-skinned beauty. She had social skills and enjoyed dancing. The white men in town and at the fort always welcomed her at social events.

Jefferson took Novella to a wedding at the fort and the outdoor celebration that followed. One Indian attending the festival did not like Jefferson being with Novella. He took out his knife, and as he approached Jefferson, Colonel Taylor yelled, "Watch out!" Jefferson turned just as the knife blade entered his left forearm. Jefferson pulled his pistol and shot the Indian. Both lived.

After Jefferson's arm healed, he went looking for Novella. He could not find her, and the other Indians in her tribe would not tell him where she was.