USA > Indiana > Pioneer history of Indiana : including stories, incidents, and customs of the early settlers > Part 20
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The two Indians, Tecumseh and the Prophet, were so directly linked with the name of William Henry Harrison in the history of the Northwest and Indiana Territory and its records, that in writing of the events that become history from 1808 to 1811, they must appear in all the records.
In 1800 the Indiana Territory was formed, then includ- ing the present states of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michi- gan, and that part of Minnesota east of the Mississippi river, leaving the state of Ohio out as it was then preparing to form a state government. That same year William Henry Harrison was made Governor and General John Gibson was made Secretary of the Territory, while the seat of govern- ment was moved to Vincennes. Governor Harrison was very active. Through his influence various treaties were made, namely: that of August 18th and 24th, 1804, by which all the territory of southern Indiana, south of the old Vincennes and Clarksville trace was ceded to the United States; the treaty of Grousland, August 21st, 1805; the treaty of Ft. Wayne, June 7, 1803, and the treaty of Ft. Wayne, September 30th, 1809; and the treaty of Vincennes, September 26th, 1811. These various treaties together with the small strip acquired by the treaty at Greenville, August 3rd, 1795, covered a little more than one third of the State of Indiana.
For many centuries before the coming of the white man, the great Miami nation of Indians owned and controlled all the territory that is now the State of Indiana and a large ter- ritory on the east and west of it. In the middle of the eight- eenth century, the Miami confederation was composed of four tribes-the Twightwees, who were the Miamis proper, the Weas, the Shockeys, and the Piankashaws. These In- dians were all of the Algonquin nation. It is claimed that at Ft. Wayne, near where the St. Mary's and St. Joseph's rivers formed the Maumee river, these Indians had their nat- ional capital. This powerful nation owned the largest and best hunting grounds of any Indians who ever inhabited the United States. The Piankashaws were located in southern Indiana on the Wabash and in southern Illinois. The Weas were located in Central Indiana on the Wabash river to the
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PIONEER HISTORY OF INDIANA.
INDIANA IN 1811.
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PIONEER HISTORY OF INDIANA.
north and on its many tributaries and on the Illinois river. The Miamis proper were in the central, northern and north- eastern Indiana and on the Scioto river in the state of Ohio. The Shockeys were scattered over southeastern Indiana and, along the Miami river, far into Ohio. Other Indian tribes asked the Miamis for permission to settle in this vast ter- ritory. This privilege was given to the Pottawattamies, Shawnees, Delawares and Kickapoos. These tribes left their former homes and made many settlements and towns over the territory that is now Indiana. The Delawares made their set- tlements on the waters of the White rivers and their tributaries and the Pottawattamies in the northern and northwestern Indiana. The Shawnees were located in many places in southern and western Indiana and near the Ohio river in the state of Ohio. The Kickapoos were located at many points and were neighbors to all the other tribes who had been granted concessions. These Indians were at peace with each other for a long period. The tribes that had been permitted to have homes in the favored land had prospered and multi- . plied and after a generation or two had passed, they felt as -if they were the owners of the land they lived on and were ever ready to object to anything the real owners did that would in any way affect them.
In 1804 the Delawares ceded all the territory south of the old Vincennes and Clarksville trace on the Ohio river to the United States. This immense territory was very desirable but Governor Harrison knew that they were not the owners so he got the Piankashaw chiefs who were the real owners, to ratify that treaty. Tecumseh and his brother, the Pro- phet. were not born to an official station but Tecumseh soon arose to the most influential position by his great talents. These two brothers lived for a time among the Delaware In- dians on the waters of the White river in what is now Dela- ware county, Indiana.
Along about 1806 they moved to Greenville, Ohio. There Elksawatawa-took on the role of Prophet, claiming that a gift from the Great Spirit had been bestowed upon him so that he could tell things which would come to pass. He was
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a very smart one-eyed rascal. The other eye was put out while shooting with a bow, the arrow splitting on the bow string. The Prophet was not an ordinary medicine man but a moral reformer, making prophecies on many subjects, being his strongest point. He had many disciples who believed in him but there were also many "Doubting Thomases." He met with a band of surveyors at Greenville and one of them in an argument attempted to belittle his pretensions by ask- ing him if he had any foreknowledge of the great coming eclipse which was to take place at a certain time, giving the day and hour. The Prophet told him that of course he did but refused to talk further with the surveyor. After the sur- veyor had gone he sent his messenger to the Indians in all the surrounding country and invited them to come and see him at the time when the eclipse of the sun was due. When the time came there was an immense concourse of Indians to hear the wily savage tell about the heavenly visions which he had seen and the revelation of things which were to be. He kept up the harangue until just before the time the eclipse was to come when he said there were some who were un- believers in his teaching and he had called them together to convince them that he had Divine power to reveal things that were unknown to them. He said that he intended to ask the Great Father to put his hand before the sun and make the earth dark. When the eclipse commenced to come on the Prophet went into a trance and called on the Great Father saying there was those who refused to believe his teachings and to convince them that he was not an impostor, he asked the Great Father to put his hand over the sun. When it began to get dark there was great excitement among the Indians and when the eclipse became total they became wild and implored the Great Father to take his hand from over the sun and restore them to his favor. The Prophet called aloud asking that brightness might be restored. Tecumseh and the Prophet made all that was possible out of this incident. It was told far and near that the Prophet was the greatest of all Medicine men-that he could heal the sick, destroy witches and have the Great Father darken the sun.
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PIONEER HISTORY OF INDIANA.
Sometime in 1808 the Prophet located a town at the junction of the Tippecanoe river with the Wabash, about one hundred and fifty miles up stream from Vincennes. This town contained several hundred of the Prophet's followers who claimed to be tillers of the soil and total abstainers from the use of whiskey.
Tecumseh in every way was far above his brother. He was a brave, far-seeing, eloquent man and rose to a high position equal to Pontiac in the northwestern United States. The policy of the United States government had for some years been to extinguish by treaties the claim the Indians had to land lying in Indiana Territory. Those made by the long and tedious negoiations brought the Indians a great variety of articles that were of great value to them.
In conformity with instructions of the President, James Madison, Governor Harrison at Ft. Wayne, September 30, 1809, concluded a treaty with the head men and chiefs of the Delawares, Pottawattamies, Miamis, Eel River, Kickapoos and Wea Indians, by which in consideration of eight thous- and and two hundred dollars paid down and annuities amount- ing in aggregate to two thousand, three hundred and fifty dollars, he obtained the cession of nearly three million acres of land extending up the Wabash beyond Terre Haute, below the mouth of Raccoon creek, including the middle waters of the White rivers.
Neither Tecumseh, the Prophet nor any of the other In- dians who had gathered around their standard, owned or had any claim to the land which had been ceded to the United States, yet they denounced the Indians, who owned the land, for selling it, threatened them with death and did kill several of the parties to the treaty, declaring that the treaty was void unless all the tribes should agree to it, and that the land did not belong to any one tribe but to all of them jointly. Tecumseh used this argument in his attempts to form a con- federation of all the Indians (which, without doubt was in- tended to become a great military organization.) In this he was encouraged by the British at Malden who were then pre- paring a way to have all the Indians for allies in the coming
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PIONEER HISORY OF INDIANA.
war which was certain to occur between Great Britain and the United States. Tecumseh knew that if the land which had been ceded was open for settlement, by the whites, the game would be destroyed and the Indians compelled to move to more distant hunting grounds. Tecumseh's determined and threatening opposition to the treaties brought all the trouble on between Harrison and the Indians.
In obedience to the conditions of the Ft. Wayne treaty, made September 30, 1809, the annuity was to be paid annu- ally. In the spring of 1810, the Indians in the Prophet's town refused to receive the annuity salt sent them in com- pliance with that treaty, insulting the men who had brought the salt, calling them "American dogs." This, with many other hostile demonstrations, caused Governor Harrison to send several messages to Tecumseh and the Prophet. The Governor understood that there was danger of an outbreak and made every effort to thwart it. Tecumseh sent word by one of the Governor's messengers that he intended to visit him and in August arrived in the vicinity of Vincennes with four hundred warriors fully armed. They went into camp near the town and there was much uneasiness felt at so many Indians being in such close proximity. The Governor man- aged the affairs so as to prevent a collision between the two races but soon after the close of this conference a small de- tachment of United States troops under the command of Cap- tain Cross was ordered from Newport, Kentucky, to Vincen- nes. These troops, together with three companies of Indiana Militia Infantry and a company of Dragoons constituted such a force that those living in the neighborhood of Vincennes would not be in any danger from an Indian outbreak. The Prophet and his adherents were holding secret conferences with the British from their stations on Lake Erie and at Mal- den.
During the winter of 1810-11, there were no serious out- breaks but there were many small raids by the Indians and counter-raids by the white settlers. General William Clark, writing to the war department from St. Louis, on July 3, 1811, made the following report-"All information received
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PIONEER HISTORY OF. INDIANA.
from the Indian country confirms the rooted enmity of the Prophet to the United States and his determination to com- mence hostilities as soon as he thinks himself sufficiently strong. His party is increasing and from the insolence he and his party have lately manifested and the violence which has lately been committed by his neighbors, the Pottawat- tamies on our frontiers, I am inclined to believe that the crisis is fast approaching."
Governor Harrison sent a half-breed Piankashaw Indian, whom he regarded as thoroughly reliable to the Prophet's town, where he (the Indian) had a brother. On his return he reported that the Prophet was very bitter toward the Americans and said that they had to abandon the Wabash lands ceded by the Ft. Wayne treaty or they would kill them or drive them out of the country. This spy reported that Winamac, a Pottawattamie Chief, was the right hand man of the Prophet and that he was very bitter in his denuncia- tions of the white people. From another source the Gover- nor learned that all the Wabash Indians were on a visit to the Indian agent at Malden; that this agent had given all the Indians presents and that he had never known of one-fourth of as many presents being given at any one time before. The same informant examined the share of one warrior and · found that he had a fine rifle, twenty-five pounds of powder, fifty pounds of lead, three blankets, three strouds of cloth, ten shirts, and many other articles. From another source he learned that every Indian had been given a good rifle and an abundance of ammunition.
In July, 1811, Governor Harrison wrote the war depart- ment that the best means of preventing war would be to move a considerable force up the Wabash and disperse the bandits the Prophet had collected around him. During the summer of 1811, the war department received many letters from all over the settled portions of the Northwest Territory, telling of the operations of the British in urging the Indians on to hostilities. In June 1811, Governor Harrison sent Cap- tain Walter Wilson to the Prophet's town with the following letter, addressed to Tecumseh and the Prophet :-
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PIONEER HISTORY OF INDIANA.
"Brothers, listen to me, I speak to you about: matters of importance, both to the white people and to yourselves. Open your ears, therefore, and. attend to what I say. Brothers, this is the third year that all the white people in the country have been alarmed at your proceedings. You threaten us. with war; you invite all tribes to the north and west of you to join against us. Brothers-your warriors. who have lately been here deny this but I have re- ceived information that you intend to murder me and then commence a war upon our people. I have. also received the speech you sent to the Pottawat- tamies and others, to join you for that purpose, but if I had no other evidence of your hostility to us your seizing the salt I recently sent up the Wa -. bash, is sufficient. Brothers-our citizens are al- armed and my warriors are preparing themselves, not to strike you, but to defend themselves and their women and children. You shall not surprise us as you expect to do. You are about to under- take a very rash act. As a friend, I advise you to. consider well of it. A little reflection may save a. great deal of trouble and prevent much mischief. It is not yet too late. Brothers-what can be the inducement for you to undertake an enterprise when there is so little probability of success? Do you. really think the handful of men you have about you are able to contend with the seventeen fires or even that (the whole of) all the tribes united could contend against the Kentucky fire alone? Broth -. ers, I am myself of the Long Knife fire. As soon as they hear my voice, you will see them pouring forth their swarms of hunting shirt men as numer -. ous as the mosquitoes on the shores of the Wabash .. Brothers-take care of their stings.
Brothers-it is not our wish to hurt you. If it were we certainly have the power to do it. Look. at the number of our warriors- to the east of you, above and below the great Miami; to the south, on both sides of the Ohio and below you also. You. are brave men, but what could you do against such a multitude? We wish you to live in peace and. happiness.
Brothers-the citizens of this country are al- armed. They must be satisfied that you have no de-
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PIONEER HISORY OF INDIANA.
sign to do them mischief or they will not lay aside their arms. You have also insulted the Govern- ment by seizing the salt that was intended for other tribes. Satisfaction must be given for this also. Brothers-you talk of coming to see me at- tended by all your young men. This must not be. If your intentions are good you have no need to bring more than a few of your young men with you. I must be plain with you. I will not suffer you to come into our settlement with such a force.
Brothers-if you wish to satisfy us that your in- tentions are good, follow the advice I have given you before, that is, that one or both of you should visit the President of the United States and Jay your grievance before him. He will treat you well, listen to what you say and if you can show him that you have been injured you will receive just!ce. If you will follow my advice in this respect it will convince the citizens of this country and myself that you have no design to attack them.
Brothers-with respect to the land which was purchased last fall, I can enter into no negotiation with you on that subject, the affair is in the hands of the President. If you wish to go and see him I will supply you with the means. Brothers- the per- son who delivers you this is one of my war officers. He is a man in whom I have entire confidence. What he says to you, although it may not be con- tained in this paper, you may believe comes from me. My friend, Tecumseh-the bearer, is a good and a brave warrior. I hope you will treat him well. You are yourself a warrior and all such should have an esteem for each other."
Captain Wilson, who bore this message to the Prophet's: town, was received in a friendly manner at that place and was treated with particular friendship by Tecumseh, who sent by him the following reply to the letter by the Gover- nor-"Brother, I give you a few words until I will be with you myself, Tecumseh. Brother at Vincennes, I wish you to listen to me while I send you a few words and I hope they will ease your heart. I know you look on your young men and your young women and children with pity to see them so much alarmed. Brother, I wish you to examine what you
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PIONEER HISTORY OF INDIANA.
have from me. I hope it will be a satisfaction to you if your intentions are like mine, to wash away all these bad stories that have been circulated. I will be with you myself in eigh- teen days from this day. Brother, we cannot say what will become of us, as the Great Spirit has the management of us at his will. I may be there before the time and may not be there until the day. I hope that when we come together all these bad tales will be settled. By this, I hope your young men, women and children will be easy. I wish you, Brother, to let them know when I come to Vincennes and see you all will be settled in peace and happiness. Brother, these are only a few words to let you know that I will be with you my- self and when I am with you, I can inform you better, Broth- er, if I find I can be with you in less time than eighteen days, I will send one of my young men before me to let you know what time I will be with you."
On the twenty-seventh of July, 1811, Tecumseh arrived at Vincennes. The number of his attendants was about three hundred, of whom twenty or thirty were women and children. When he was met about twenty miles from Vincennes by Cap- tain Wilson, who delivered a message from the Governor, expressing disapprobation of the large number of Indians ap- proaching the town, Tecumseh, after some hesitation, said he had with him but twenty-four men, and the rest had come of their own accord; but that everything should be settled to the satisfaction of the Governor on his arrival at Vincen- nes. The approach of this large force of Indians created considerable alarm among the inhabitants of Vincennes and on the day of the arrival of Tecumseh, Governor Harrison, in adopting various precautionary measures, reviewed the militia of the county, composed of about seven hundred and fifty men, who were well armed and he stationed two com- panies of militia infantry and a detachment of dragoons on the borders of the town. In the course of the interview which took place at this time between the Governor and Tecumseh, the latter declared that it was not his intention to make war against the United States; that he would send messengers among the Indians to prevent murders and depre-
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PIONEER HISTORY OF INDIANA. 251
dations on the white settlers; that the Indians as well as the whites, who had committed murder, ought to be forgiven; that he had set the whites an example of forgiveness which they ought to follow; that it was his wish to establish a union among all the Indian tribes; that the Northern tribes were united; that he was going to visit the southern Indians and that he would return to the Prophet's town. He said that " he would on his return from the south, the next spring, visit the President of the United States and settle all causes of difficulty between the Indians and himself. He said further that he hoped that no attempt would be made to make set- tlement on the lands which had been sold to the United States at the treaty of Ft. Wayne because the Indians wanted to keep those lands for hunting grounds. Soon after the conference with Governor Harrison had closed, Tecumseh, attended by twenty Indians, suddenly took his departure from Vincennes, down the Wabash river on his way to the South- ern Indians for the purpose of disseminating his views for a great Indian confederation among the Creeks, the Chickasaws, and Choctaw Indians.
After Tecumseh departed, the remainder of his followers returned to the Prophets's town deeply impressed with the martial display of military strength of Harrison's command. It cannot be told with a certainty of its correctness, what could have induced Tecumseh to go so far from home for so long a time. He certainly had more faith in Governor Har- rison's pacific intentions than Harrison was warranted in having in him or the Prophet or he would not have made such a fatal mistake.
The Prophet kept up his incantations, charms and jug- glery, thus increasing his importance and his influence with his deluded followers. There was a constant increase in his numbers. It was said by spies of friendly Indians, which the whites had that by the first of September, 1811, the Prophet's town had more than twenty-five hundred Indians in it.
The restless young men among his bands, bent on plun- der, crossed into the white settlement in many places, killing the settlers or running off their stock. This became so fre-
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quent that the whole territory was in a constant state of ex- citement.
On the thirty-first of July, 1811, a public meeting of cit- izens was held at Vincennes for the purpose of declaring by resolution the danger to which the white inhabitants of the Territory of Indiana were exposed on account of the hostil- ities of the Indians at the Prophet's town and for requesting the President of the United States to issue orders for the forcible dispersion of the hostile Indians settled at that place. By resolution the following committee was selected to make this request-Samuel T. Scott, Alexander Devin, Luke Deck- er, Ephriam Jordon, Daniel McClure, Walter Wilson and Francis Vigo.
In a letter dated August third, 1811, addressed to the President of the United States, this committee, after making: the request above referred to, said:
"In this part of the country, we have not as yet lost any of our fellow citizens by the Indians, but depredations upon the property of those who live upon the frontiers and insults to the families that are left unprotected, almost daily occur."
The President as early as the seventeenth day of July had. instructed the Secretary of War to authorize Governor Harri- son to call out the militia of the Territory and to attack the Prophet and his followers in case circumstances should occur which might render such a course necessary or expe- dient. The Governor was further authorized at his discre- tion, to call into his services the Fourth Regiment of United States Infantry, under the command of Colonel John P. Boyd.
The official instructions which were sent from the Secre- tary of War to Governor Harrison at this period were strong- ly in favor of preserving pacific relations with the North- western Indian tribes by the use of all means consistent with the protection of the citizens of the Territory and the main- tenance of the rights of the general government of the United States.
Governor Harrison, having determined to erect a new fort. on the Wabash river, and to break up the assemblage of hos-
1
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tile Indians at the Prophet's town, ordered Colonel Boyd's regiment of infantry to move from the falls of the Ohio to Vincennes, at which place the regiment of regulars was to be re-inforced by the militia of the Territory.
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