The war Military_operation erupted Process_start soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks , Meskwakis , and Kickapoos , known as the `` British Band '' , crossed Motion_directional the Mississippi River , into the U.S. state of Illinois , from Iowa Indian Territory in April 1832 .

The Menominee and Dakota tribes , already at odds with the Sauks and Meskwakis , supported Supporting the U.S. Commanded Request by General Henry Atkinson , the U.S. troops tracked Self_motion the British Band .