USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 33
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(1) Atwater's History of Ohio, p. 148.
(2) The following remarkable circumstance concerning this flight, is re- corded in McClung's Sketches of Western Adventure :
Three Indians being bard pressed by the cavalry upon one side, and the infantry on the other, plunged into the river and attempted to swim to the opposite bank. A runaway negro who had attached himself to the American army, was concealed in the bushes upon the opposite bank, and perceiving three Indians approaching nearer than, in his opinion, was consistent with the security of his hiding place, he collected courage enough to level his rifle at the foremost, as he was swimming, and shot him through the head. The other two Indians instantly halted in the water, and attempted to drag the body of their dead companion ashore. The negro, in the mean time, reloaded
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Such was the rapidity of the advance, and the precipitation of the re- treat, that although the officers of the second line of the regular troops, and of the mounted volunteers, used every exertion to gain their proper positions, yet only a small portion of these troops could get up in time to share in the action. It cannot, however, be doubted, that their pre- sence, and threatening movement contributed equally with the impetuous charge of the infantry of the first line to the brilliant success of the day.(1)
The victory was now complete, and the broken remains of the Indian army, consisting of two thousand warriors, were driven from the strong- est position which they could have chosen, at the point of the bayonet, by about nine hundred men engaged, and dispersed with terror and dis- may until their flight terminated only under the guns of the British fort. The ardor of the soldiers was so great, and so strong was the resentment of the whole army against the British, that it was with difficulty that they could be restrained from storming the fort.
Here the battle ended, and here General Wayne remained in front of the field of battle, destroying the Indian houses, gardens, cornfields and orchards, until their homes were made dreary and desolate. He burned their houses within pistol shot of the British garrison. Major Campbell, the British commander, immediately after the action sent a communica- tion to General Wayne, requesting to be informed whether " he was to consider the American army as enemies, being ignorant. of any war ex- isting between Great Britain and the United States." General Wayne replied, " Were vou entitled to an answer, the must full and satisfactory one was announced to you from the muzzles of my small arms yesterday morning, in the action against hordes of savages in the vicinity of your post, which terminated gloriously to the American arms." 'This corres- pondence determined General Wayne to examine the British fort tho- roughly, and if necessary to take it. He had authority for such a course in case the fort, at all, obstructed his operations, and his army was just in the right spirit for the enterprize. Flushed with the recent victory his men would have marched directly to the mouths of the British cannon, had he but given the word. He had the sagacity to perceive that the
his gun, and shot another dead upon the spot. The survivor then seized hold of both bodies, and attempted, with a fidelity which seems astonishing, to bring them both to land. The negro, having reloaded the second time. fired the third time, from his covert, upon the surviving Indian, and wounded bim mortally while struggling with the dead bodies. He then ventured to approach them, and from the striking resemblance of their features. as well as their devoted attachment, they were supposed to have been BROTHERS. They were permitted to float down the stream.
(1) General Wayne's Official Dispatches, and M'Clung's Western Adven- tures, p. 270.
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capture of the fort might again involve the States in a war with Great Britain, and therefore concluded not to attack it unless he found the measure absolutely necessary for the success of the campaign. The work was thoroughly examined. The General himself, accompanied by a company of cavalry, approached within one hundred yards of the fortress, where he halted a few moments to survey the works. Accom- panied by his aids, De Butts and Harrison, he then moved slowly on towards the fort. When within sixty yards of one of the bastions, the English gunners were seen leaning over the cannon with lighted torches in their hands. One piece was pointed ready to fire. Harrison drew the attention of the General to the circumstance, remarking that he would be shot immediately. General Wayne coolly replied, that the sentinel dared not fire.
The next moment General Wilkinson came up with his staff at a gallop, and an officer was seen in the bastion endeavoring to prevent the soldiers from firing. General Wayne checked his horse, and slowly retired, followed by his staff and the troop of horse in atten- dance. (1)
On the twenty-eighth of August, General Wayne returned by easy marches to Fort Defiance, destroying all the Uudian villages, and every thing which could afford the savages the least shelter or support, within fifty miles of the Maumee river. The dwelling house and store of Col. M'Kee, a British Indian agent, who was known to be an instigator of the Indians to a war with the United States, were burned with those of the savages. (2)
In this most decisive battle, the Americans had thirty-three killed and one hundred wounded, and the Indians more than double that num- ber. (3) Among the slain were, Captain Campbell, who commanded the cavalry on the right flank, and Lieutenant Tombs, of the first line of infantry, who fell in the first charge. General Wayne, in his letter to the Secretary of War, bestowed great praise upon both officers and `men, for the promptitude with which they obeyed his orders, and for their gallantry and bravery in battle.
No victory could have come in better time. It is true, that General Wayne overthrew the largest Indian army that had ever been marshal- led against the whites. Still it is probable, that if it had been success- ful, a much larger one would have been collected in the ensuing year.
(I) Burr's Life of Harrison, pp. 62-63.
(2) M'Clung's Sketches of Western Adventures, p. 271.
(3) General Wayne's letter to the Sec'y War.
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The various tribes of Indians throughout the whole United States, en. couraged by repeated disasters in our army in the north-west, had became restless, and every thing wore a threatening aspect in their in- tercourse with the whites. The Creeks and Cherokees in the south were already in arms, while the Oneidas, Tuscaroras, and other tribes in the north, were evidently preparing for hostilities. The shock of the victory at the Rapids, under General Wayne, however, was felt in all quarters. The southern tribes instantly sued for peace: the Oneidas, conscious of their evil intentions, and fearful of the consequences, be- came suddenly friendly, even to servility ; and within a few months, all the frontiers enjoyed the most profound peace. (1)
The conduct of the British towards their allies, also had an effect to disgust the Indians, and dispose them to seek peace with the United States. In the engagement with General Wayne, there were two com- panies of Canadians fighting in behalf of the Indians. (2) In their pre- cipitate flight before the victorious troops of General Wayne, they sought and obtained a refuge from the vengeance of the pursuers, and yet the gates of Fort Miami were shut against the retreating Indians .- The great war chief, BUOCKONGAHELAS, observing this, immediately de- termined to abandon the British. He collected the remnant of his tribe, and embarked with them in canoes, and sailed up the river, for the pur- pose of treating with General Wayne. When the chief arrived oppo- site the British fort, he landed at the request of the commandant. When he had approached the sentinel, he demanded of the officer, " What have you to say to me ?" Being told that the commandant desired to speak with him, he replied, " Then he may come HERE." The senti- nel then said that the commandant would not do that, and that he would not be allowed to pass the fort unless he complied with its rules. What shall prevent me ?" said the intrepid chief. " Those guns," replied the sentinel, pointing to the cannon of the fort. The chief indignantly re- plied :- " I fear not your cannon, after promising the Indians protec- tion, and then shutting the gates of the fort against them, and suffer- ing the Americans to pursue the fugitives, (3) without daring to fire upon them, you cannot expect to frighten BUOCKONGAHELAS." He then reimbarked and passed the fort without molestation. (4)
The tribes which furnished warriors to fight the Americans, under General Wayne, were the Wyandotts, the Miamies, the Pottawattomies,
(1) M'Clung's Sketches of Western Adventures, p. 272.
(2) Dawson's History of the War of 1812, p. 82.
(3) " Suffering the Americans to defile your spring," is the Indian expression.
(4) Drake's Indian Biography, Book V. Chap. IV. p. 45.
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the Delawares, the Shawanese, the Chippewas, the Ottowas, and a part of the Senecas. BLUE JACKET, (1) the most distinguished chief of the Shawanese, was the director and leader of this mighty band of war- riors. Their spirit was now subdued, and on the first day of January, 1795, they commenced negotiations for peace. They agreed to surrender all captives-to ratify all former treaties, and to comply with such gene- ral terms as should be imposed by General Wayne. They also gave hostages for the faithful performance of their obligations. During the next summer a council was held with the chiefs of all the twelve tribes, and a treaty of peace was finally concluded with them by commissioners at Greenville, on the third day of August, 1795. As the price of this peace, they gave up an extensive tract of country south of the Lakes, and West of the Ohio, comprehending in all, about four-fifths of the whole territory of the State of Ohio, reserving about one-fifth of the territory in the north-west corner of the State. The Government agreed in consideration of relinquishing all claim to the ceded territory, to give the Indians twenty-thousand dollars in goods, and to pay them nine thousand dollars a year forever, to be divided among those tribes, in pro- portion to their numbers. (2)
But the effects of Wayne's victory did not end here. The news reached England in November, 1794, and enabled Mr. Jay, the Ameri- can Minister to conclude on better terms, the negotiation which had been long pending between him and Lord Greenville. One important stipulation in Jay's treaty was the surrender to the United States of all the forts held or occupied in the northwest, within the jurisdiction of our government, Then and not till then, was the war of the revolution for Independence closed. The last battle was fought by Gen. Wayne, and the country was now for the first time, to enjoy independence and peace.
After all these great, splendid and meritorious services of General Wayne, the Congress of the United States took no notice of him ; not so much as to allow even his name to be mentioned in the journals .- This was because he was the friend of Washington ! The vile spirit of party warfare, then breathed its blighting influence into every depart- ment of civil and domestic life-drying up the pure fountains of patriot- ism, and obliterating every nobler feeling of the human heart. Wash- ington in his message to Congress mentioned the success of the army under Gen. Wayne, with well merited applause, but neither house, in
(1) Called by the Indians, Weyapiersenwaw.
(2) Appendix, pp. 247-253.
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their reply even alluded to them. On his way home to Pennsylvania, he died at Presque Isle, unattended and utterly neglected. Here he was interred without a stone to tell where slept the patriot soldier that led to glorious victory the army of his country. Years afterwards, Isaac Wayne, his son, accompanied by a few of his friends, transferred his bones to the place of his nativity where they now rest in peace.(1)
The fame of Anthony Wayne, will be as lasting as that of his coun- try's. Pennsylvania, his native State, is proud of her distinguished and patriotic son, and the Union cherishes the remembrance of his deeds of noble daring, as part of its glory. No panegyric can increase his fame or render it brighter. That political demagogues, treated him with base ingratitude, took not one wreath of laurel from his brow, nor could they obliterate a single line on the bright page of history, dedicated to his brilliant achievements. His fame will never fade but grow fresher and greener to the end of time. Every citizen of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, and the whole west, will forever cherish in their hearts, the ever dear memory of ANTHONY WAYNE. He lives in the recollections of his countrymen to stimulate future patriot warriors to victory. Death has purified his fame and placed it beyond the reach of calumny. The memory of those short lived demagogues that flitted, for a time, in the sunbeams of party power, has long since been lost in oblivion-the dim twinkling of their transient greatness soon sunk in darkness ; but the sun of Wayne's glory will never set in the western horizon of Missis- sippi's wide valley, until the archangel's trumpet shall call him to life everlasting.
(1) Atwater's History of Ohio, p. 150.
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CHAPTER XVII.
THE UNITED STATES ESTABLISH AGENCIES AMONG THE INDIANS, AFTER THE VICTORY OF GENERAL WAYNE-THE NORTH-WESTERN TERRITORY ESTA- BLISHED, AND W. H. HARRISON APPOINTED GOVERNOR-HE MAKES THIRTEEN TREATIES WITH THE INDIANS, IN ONE OF WHICH HE SECURES TO THE UNITED STATES 51,000,000 OF ACRES OF LAND-THE DELAWARES AND SHAWANESE OB. JECT TO THE TREATY, WHICH IS FINALLY RATIFIED-TECUMSEH AND HIS BRO- THER, THE PROPHET, ESTABLISH A NEW RELIGION AMONG THE INDIANS, AND CONCEIVE A PLAN TO UNITE ALL THE TRIBES AGAINST THE WHITES-GOVER- NOR HARRISON MAKES A TREATY FOR MORE LAND IN 1803-TECUMSEH AND THE PROPHET OPPOSE IT, AND CONCENTRATE A BAND OF WARRIORS ON THE WABASH-GOVERNOR HARRISON INVITES TECUMSEH TO VINCENNES TO HOLD A COUNCIL-HE APPEARS WITH 300 WARRIORS-THE COUNCIL ENDS WITHOUT ANY CONCILIATION-GOVERNOR HARRISON MARCHES TO THE PROPHET'S TOWN-THE BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE.
After the victory of General Wayne at the rapids of the Maumee, in 1794, and the Treaty of Greenville in the succeeding year, the United States annually appropriated large sums of money for the use of the Indian tribes, and employed agents to reside among them, to minister to their wants, and instruct them in such arts of civilized life, as suited their condition. A season of peace and security now succeeded the dangers and barbarities of war, throughout the frontiers, and the tide of emigration began its flow westward. But as late as 1803, eight years after the peace, and two after General WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON re- ceived the appointment of Governor of the North-Western Territory, this vast country, now comprising the States of Indiana, Illinois, Michi- gan, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa and Wisconsin, was an almost unbroken waste, and inhabited only by tribes of Indians. The only towns worthy of notice, was one at the Falls of the Ohio, opposite Louisville, Vincen- nes, on the Wabash, five hundred miles distant, and the French settle- ments on the Mississippi, from Kaskaskia to Cabokia, two hundred miles further to the west.
W. H. HARRISON, was not only Governor of this territory, but was appointed by President Jefferson, sole commissioner for treating with the Indians. He concluded with them no less than thirteen treaties,(1) by one of which, FIFTY-ONE MILLIONS of acres of the richest land in the west were ceded to the United States.(2) But the sale of this vast quantity of fertile land to the governmen was not effected by the unani- mous consent of all the Indians. In 1803, a council of chiefs was held at Fort Wayne, for the purpose of ratifying a negotiation for a large ex-
(1) Gen. Harrison's Letter to the editor of the Ohio Confederate, dated October 18, 1839.
(2) Burr's Life of Harrison, p. 80.
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tent of territory, which had been agreed upon, at a former meeting at Vincennes, the seat of the territorial government. The Potawatamies and some of the Miamies, were in favor of the treaty, but the Delawares and the Shawanese opposed it, and when the agreement at Vincennes was alluded to, they were filled with indignation and wrath. BUOCHON- GAHELAS, the great chief of the Delawares, who deserted the British interest after the victory of Gen. Wayne, and who was a sincere friend of the United States, violently opposed the ratification of the treaty. He declared with great vehemence, that nothing done at Vincennes was binding upon the Indians. Eloquently pleading for the rights of his nation he declared, that the tribes who sold this land, at Vincennes, had no right to it; and that he had then a chief with him who had been present, at the transfer made by the Piankishaws to the Delawares, of all the country between the Ohio and White rivers, more than thirty years before.(1)
The Shawanese were more violent, and after a stormy debate, per- ceiving that they could not prevent the ratification of the treaty, their chiefs as well as those of the Delawares left the council house in a body. The Shawanese afterwards submitted and the treaty was ratified. But BUOCHONGAHELAS never yielded. He would not consent to sell his country, although he desired peace. At his death, which happened in 1805, he advised his nation never to be allies of the British, but to rely upon the friendship of the United States. The Miami chief, the LIT- TLE TURTLE, who commanded the allied Indian army which defeated Gen. St. Clair, advocated and signed this treaty.
In the year 1804, the celebrated Shawanese chief, TECUMSEH, and his brother the PROPHET, conceived the project of uniting all the Indian tribes in a terrible war with the United States. The two brothers evi- dently agreed upon a plan of operation. 'Tecumseh and the Prophet (2) were twin brothers, and were born about five years before the con- mencement of the American Revolution. Soon after the conception of this project, the Prophet had a vision, and continuing for some time life- less, preparations were made for his interment ; and it was not until his
(1) Dawson's Memoirs, p. 84.
(2). The place of this renowned warrior's birth was upon the banks of the Scioto river, near what is now Chillicothe. His father's name was Pukeeshe- no, which means, I am flying. He was killed in the battle of Point Pleasant, at the mouth of Kenhawa, in 1774. His mother's name was Meethectashe, which signifies, a turtle laying her eggs in the sand. She died among the Cherokees. She had, at one birth three sons.
Ellskwatawa, which signifies a door opened, was called the Prophet ; Te- cumseh, which is a tiger crouching for his prey ; and Kumskaka, a tiger that flies in the air. School craft.
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friends had assembled and were in the act of removing him to the grave, that he revived. His first words were, " Do not be alarmed-I have seen heaven-call the nation together, that I may tell them what has appeared to me." When the tribe came together, he told them that two beautiful young men, had been sent from heaven by the Great Spirit, who thus addressed him :- " The Great Spirit is angry with you and will destroy all the red men ; and you shall never enter that beautiful place which I will now show you, unless you refrain from drunkenness, lying and stealing, and turn yourselves to him." He was then conduct- ed to the gates of heaven, from whence he could behold all its beauties, but was not permitted to enter. After being told that he was commis- sioned to tell the red men what he had seen and to warn them to repent, he was dismissed. Thus like all the imposters, from Mahomet to the Mormon Prophet, did this Indian sorcerer commence his career of de- ception. He commenced his preaching by endeavoring to convince the Indians that he was commissioned by the Great Spirit, and soon had disciples who vouched for the many wonderful miracles he had performed and the benefits he was to confer on his followers. He explained the inconsistency of the Indians in assuming the manners and dress of the whites-censured the introduction of spiritous liquors, and talked of the diseases, contentions and wars, produced by the contiguity of the resi- dences of the white and red men. He showed the Indians, how fast their means of subsistence was diminishing, and how their territory was constantly wasting away by the encroachments of the white men. He then pictured to them, the peaceful, happy, and contented lives of their forefathers. He said that the Great Spirit had commanded all the tribes to unite, and not fight any longer with each other. They were to dress in skins as their fathers had done-to use no ardent spirits, and to steal, lie and quarrel no more. If they adhered permanently to these doc- trines, the Great Spirit would bless them, and they would entirely be separated from the whites, and live in harmony among themselves.
His principal place of rendezvous was near the confluence of the Tip- pecanoe and the Wabash. This tract of country was none of his, but he took possession of it in 1808, with a motley band of about one thousand young warriors from among the Shawanese, Delawares, Wyan- dotts, Potowatamies, Ottowas, Kickapoos, and Chippewas. The Mia- mies were very much opposed to their intrusion into their country, but were not powerful enough to repel it, and many of their chiefs were put to death in the most barbarous manner, for remonstrating against his conduct.
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The Prophet and his brother Tecumseh, went so far at one time as to propose the murder of all the leading chiefs who had ever signed any treaties, ceding lands to the United States. Those who opposed the new doctrines and religion of the Prophet, he accused of witchcraft, and had them murdered by their own people. TETEBOXTI, a Delaware Chief, eighty years of age, was accused of being bewitched by the Evil Spirit, and condemned to the stake, for speaking against the new reli- gion. But when the fire was about to be kindled around him, a young Indian stepped from the crowd, and with his tomahawk put an end to the old man's existence. A noted chief,(1) who had lived many years among the whites, and had been converted to Christianity, was con- demned in an Indian Council, at the instigation of the Prophet, to be burned, and died with a hymn book in his hand, singing and praying, until his voice was hushed by the flames. SHATEYARONRAH, a Wyan- dott Chief, was ordered to be murdered by the impostor. The exe- cutioners found the old warrior, and commenced digging his grave by the side of his wigwam. He expostulated with his murderers, recounted his many services, and appealed to the Good Spirit, as the guide of his youth and the reliance of his old age. But finding every entreaty in vain, he dressed himself in his best war clothes, took a meal of venison, and knelt at the edge of his grave. There he and his fanatic executioners prayed together. The Indians withdrew to a short distance, and seated themselves upon the ground. The old man inclined forward, resting his face upon his hands, and his hands upon his knees. While thus seated, one of the murderers came up and struck him twice with his tomahawk. For some time he lay senseless upon the ground, the only remaining evidence of life being a faint respiration. The Indians all stood around in solemn silence. Finding him to live longer than they expected, they pronounced him bewitched by the Evil Spirit, and then again struck him and terminated his existence.(2) A celebrated Poto- watomie, called the DEAD CHIEF, in consequence of his being deaf, having exposed to the Americans the hypocrisy of Tecumseh, the Shaw- anese sent word to his brother, the Prophet, to have him murdered. The Dead Chief having heard of it, immediately put on his war dress, painted himself, took his arms, and at once paddled his canoe directly to the camp of Tecumseh. The interpreter of General Harrison was in the tent of the Shawanese, when the Dead Chief arrived. The old war. rior then upbraided Tecumseh for having given the order for his assassi-
(1) This Christian Chief was named BILLY PATTERSON.
(2) Thatcher's Indian Biography.
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llation, and told him that it was cowardly and unworthy of a warrior .- He loudly exclaimed, "I am now before you, and if you are not a coward, come and kill me with your own hand, but send no slave behind me with a tomahawk. You and your followers can kill women and children, and murder men in the dark, but dare not face a warrior in daylight." Tecumseh remained unmoved, and continued talking with the interpreter, without taking the least notice of the old warrior who was upbraiding him. At length the Dead Chief, wearied with his use- less efforts to draw out his adversary, called him a dog, and the slave of the British, and giving the war-whoop of defiance, paddled off his canoe. The Dead Chief was no more seen at Vincennes.(1)
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