USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 34
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For some time the success of the Prophet was doubtful, and his con- verts were few. But he used every circumstance to alarm the fears of the Indians, create prejudices, influence their passions, incite supersti- tion, and flatter their pride. His brother Tecumseh entered fully into his views. At length he gained great influence over the Shawanese, by renewing an old tradition, which made them the wisest, the most intelli- gent, and the first nation in the world. In the council at Fort Wayne, in 1803, when a treaty of cession was ratified, before the Shawanese left the council house, refusing to sign the treaty, a Shawanese Chief venerable with age, and with great native dignity addressed Governor Harrison, as follows :
"The Master of Life, who was himself an Indian, made the Shawa- nese before any other of the human race, and they sprang from his brain. (2) The Master of Life gave them all the knowledge which he himself possessed. He placed them upon the great Island, (3) and all the other red men are descended from the Shawanese. He made the French and English out of his breast. The Dutch he made out of his feet. The Americans he made out of his hands. All these inferior races of men he made white, and placed them beyond the Great Lake. (4)
" The Shawanese were masters of the Continent for many ages, using the knowledge which they had received from the Great Spirit, in such a manner as was pleasing to him, and to secure their own happiness .- In a great length of time, however, they became corrupt, and the Master of Life told them he would take away from them the knowledge they
(1) Dawson's Metnoirs.
(2) A striking analogy to the springing of Minerva from the brain of Jupiter.
(3) The American Continent.
(4) The Atlantic ocean.
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possessed, and give it to the white people; to be restored when, by a return of good principles, they would deserve it.
"Many years after that, they saw something white approach their shores. At first they took it for a great bird, but they soon found it to be a monstrous canoe, filled with the very people who had got the knowl- edge which belonged to the Shawanese; but they usurped their lands also. They pretended, indeed, to have purchased their lands, but the very goods which they gave for them were more the property of the Indians than of the white people, because the knowledge which enabled them to manufacture these goods actually belonged to the Shawanese.
" But these things will now have an end. The Master of Life is about to restore to the Shawanese both their knowledge and their rights, and he will trample the Americans under his feet."
It will be hard to find an excuse for all the proceedings of the Govern- ment of the United States and its agents towards the Indians at any time. That there was covetousness, oppression, over-reaching and wrong practiced upon them from time to time, will not be denied. 'The consciousness of power goes a great way with almost all men, in their dealings with the weak and defenceless.
In the year 1809, about a year after the Prophet had settled his colony upon the Wabash, Governor Harrison, agreeably to the direction of the Government, purchased of the Delawares, the Miamies and the Poto- watomies, a large tract of country on both sides of the Wabash, extend- ing up the river one hundred and sixty miles from its mouth, and reach- ing a point only about thirty miles from the Prophet's town at the mouth of the Tippecanoe. (1) Tecumseh was absent at this time, and his brother the Prophet was not considered as having any claim to the coun- try, being an intruder upon the territory of the Miamies without their consent.
When Tecumseh returned home, he was exceedingly vexed with those chiefs who had made the conveyance, and as neither he nor his brother had been invited to the council, nor consulted in the sale, he determined to resist it to the last extremity. He now redoubled his ex- ertions for the concentration of all the Western tribes, and resolved to make a stand against the alienation of the Indian territory, obtained with- out the common consent of all the tribes. (2)
Tecumseh's dissatisfaction having reached Governor Harrison, he despatched a messenger to him, to say, " that any claims he might have
(1) Marshall's history of Kentucky, Vol. II., p. 480.
(2) Drake's Indian Biography, Book V., Chap. VII., p. 100.
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to the lands which had been ceded to the United States, were not af- fected by the treaty ; that he might come to Vincennes and exhibit his pretensions, and if they were found to be valid, the land would be given up or ample compensation made for it. The high-souled savage spurned the idea of compensation. Compensation for his country ! ! He sought none-he would receive none. However, on the twelfth day of Au- gust, 1810, (1) he repaired to Vincennes and met the Governor in coun- cil. The Governor had sent him word not to bring over thirty warriors with him, but he came with more than three hundred, all completely armed. This large body guard created a great sensation in the town of Vincennes, and many supposed that the Indians were about to commence a general war at once. Being asked why so many warriors attended him, after being requested to come attended by not more than one-tenth of the number, the haughty chief replied, that he came armed to prevent any surprise on the part of the whites. Seats were prepared for the members of the council in a large portico in front of the Governor's resi- dence, but when Tecumseh came from his camp with about forty of his warriors, he refused to enter the portico, and requested that the council might be held under the shade of a cluster of trees in front of the Gov- ernoi's house. When the trouble of removing the seats was mentioned, he replied that it would be only necessary to remove those intended to be used for the whites. "The red men are accustonied to set upon the earth, which is their mother, and they are always happy to recline upon her bosom."
The council was then opened, when Tecumseh delivered the follow- ing speech :
" It is true I am a Shawanese. My forefathers were warriors. Their son is a warrior. From them I only take my existence ; from my tribe I take nothing. I am the maker of my own fortune; and oh ! that I could make that of my red people and of my country, as great as the conceptions of my mind, when I think of the Spirit that rules the uni- verse. I would not then come to Governor Harrison to ask him to tear the treaty, and to obliterate the landmark ; but I would say to him, sir, you have liberty to return to your own country. The being within, communing with past ages, tells me that once, and until lately, there were no white men on this continent. That it then belonged to red men, children of the same parents, placed on it by the Great Spirit that made them, to keep it, to traverse it, to enjoy its productions, and to fill it with
(1) On the twelvth day of August, his great Archetype Philip of Pokonoket fell.
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the same race. Once a happy race. Since made miserable by the white people, who are never contented, but always encroaching. The way, and the only way to stop and check this evil, is for all the red men to unite in claiming a common and equal right in the lands, as it was at first, and should be yet ; for it never was divided, but belongs to all for the use of each. That no part has a right to sell, even to each other, much less to strangers ; those who want all, and will not do with less. The white people have no right to take the lands from the Indians, be- cause they had it first ; it is theirs. They may sell, but all must join. Any sale not made by all is not valid. The late sale is bad. It was made by a part only. Part do not know how to sell. It requires all to make a bargain for all. All red men have equal rights to the unoccu- pied lands. The right of occupancy is as good in one place as in another. There cannot be two occupations in the same place. The first excludes all others. It is not so in hunting or travelling; for there the same ground will serve many, as they may follow each other all day ; but the camp is stationary, and that is occupancy. It belongs to the first who sets down on his blanket or skins which he has thrown upon the ground, and till he leaves it no other has a right. (1)
" The Americans have driven the red men from the sea-coasts, and they will shortly push them into the lakes; they are determined to make a stand where they are." (2)
Tecumseh having thus explained his reasons against the validity of the purchase, took his seat amidst his warriors.
Gov. Harrison replied :- " When the white people arrived on this continent, they found the Miamies in the occupation of all the country on the Wabash. At that time the Shawanese were residents of Georgia, from whence they were driven by the Creeks. The lands now claimed by the Shawanese, had been purchased from the Miamies who were the true and original owners of them. It was absurd to assert, that all the Indians were one nation ; for if it had been the intention of the Great Spirit to make them one people, they would not now speak different languages. He had put six different tongues into the heads of the tribes, and made them six nations. The Miamies are a separate people and own this land. They found it their interest to sell a portion, and re- ceive a further annuity, the benefit of which they had long experienced,
(1) Marshall's Kentucky, Vol. II., pp. 482, 483.
(2) This is similar language to that of the ancient Britons when speaking of their enemies, and asking aid of the Romans. " The barbarians drives us (Britons) to the sea, and the sea beats us back upon them; between these ex- tremes we are exposed, either to be slain with the sword, or drowned in the waves."-Sheller's England.
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having found the United States punctual in their engagements. The Shawanese had no right to come from a distant country and control the Miamies, in the disposal of their property."
The Governor then took his seat and the interpreter proceeded to ex- plain to Tecumseh what the Governor had said, who, when he had finished, suddenly exclaimed, "It is false !" and giving his warriors a signal, they seized their war clubs and sprung upon their feet, from the green grass on which they were sitting. 'The Governor was only attended by a few unarmed citizens and his situation was extremely perilous. He drew his sword, and his attendants seized upon such weapons as they could find, and a guard of twelve men stationed in the rear was ordered up. For a few moments it was expected that blood would be shed. Tecum- seh addressed the Indians in a loud voice, and spoke with great emotion, and with impetuous gestures. On being informed what Tecumseh had said, the Governor told him that he would have no further communica- , tion with him, and that he must return to his camp and take his depar- ture from the settlements immediately.
Tecumseh called off his warriors, and quietly returned to his en- campment. The next morning the haughty chief whose native good sense told him, that nothing is ever obtained by violence and passion, sent an apology to Gov. Harrison, for his course on the preceding day, and desired that the council might be renewed. The Governor con- sented but took the precaution to have two additional companies of armed men, in readiness in case of an assault.
Having met the second time, 'Tecumseh was asked, whether he had any other grounds than those mentioned in his speech upon which to found his claim to the land in question. He replied, " No other." Here then, was an end to argument in council. The white man, never relinquishes territory-but forever grasps for more. The indignant soul of Tecumseh could not, and would not hold an argument about an " equivalent" for a portion of his country. His deportment, was, however, dignified and collected. Being asked whether he would en- deavor to prevent the survey of the ceded territory; he replied with firmness, that he intended to adhere to, and support the old boundary. Then arose a Wyandott, a Kickapoo, a Potawatomee, an Ottowa, and a Winnebago chief, each declaring his determination to stand by Tecum- seh, whom they had chosen for their leader. Gov. Harrison replied, that the speech of Tecumseh should be truly and faithfully reported, and sent to the President of the United States, but at the same time inform- ing him, that he was confident, that the land would never be relinquished,
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but that the title to it would be maintained, if necessary by the sword. The council then closed.
Gov. Harrison, still hoping that Tecumseh would yield his opposition to the treaty visited him in his tent. Tecumseh received him with great attention and kindness. After a long conversation, the Governor asked him, if his determination, relative to the treaty, was unalterably fixed. He replied that it was, and that nothing could change it. But he added, " that it was with great reluctance, he should make war with the United States,-against whom, he had no other complaint, but their continued encroachment upon the lands of the red men-that he was extremely anxious to be their friend-that if they would give up the lands purchased in this treaty and agree never to ask another cession without the consent of all the tribes, he would be their faithful ally and assist them in all their wars with the British. He said his choice was to adhere to the interests of the seventeen fires, but if they would not give up the lands wrongfully purchased of the Indians, he should be compelled to join the English." On being told by Gov. Harrison, that there was no proba- bility that the President, would consent to relinquish the lands, which had been ceded by the Miamies, he replied, " Well, as the Great chief is to determine the matter, I hope the Great Spirit will give him wis- dom to direct you, to give back to the Indians their territory. It is true, he is so far off as not to be personally injured by this war. He can sit in his town, and feast himself in security, whilst you and I, will have to fight it out. It is my determination to resist this treaty, unto blood ; and I will give no rest to my feet, until I have united all the red men in the like resolution." The council then ended, and Tecumseh returned to the Prophet's town on the Wabash.
Thus was exhibited the determined character of Tecumseh, in which no venality or duplicity appears, but an open , manly firmness to sus- tain the rights of his people, against what he imagined to be wrong and oppression.
Most religiously did he prosecute his plan and carry out his determi- nation. Could his extraordinary and wonderful exertions be known, no fiction, it is believed, could scarcely realize the reality. The tribes west of the Mississippi, and those in the vicinity of Lake Huron and Lake Superior, were visited and revisited by him previous to the year 1811. He had raised in those tribes, the high expectation that they would be able to drive the Americans to the east of the Ohio.
Several murders having been committed upon the frontier, and news having been received at Vincennes, that the Prophet had collected one
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thousand warriors at the mouth of the Tippecanoe, and that hostilities were openly declared, Governor Harrison sent a messenger to the Pro- phet's town, warning him against the consequences of a war with the United States. Tecumseh returned an answer that he would meet him in eighteen days, and convince him that no hostilities were meditated. He arrived at Vincennes on the twenty-seventh of July, 1811, at the head of three hundred men. He appeared at the council with two hun- dred warriors, all armed, while the Governor was at the head of a full troop of armed dragoons. After Tecumseh had made a speech, and was about to seat himself, he observed that no chair had been placed for him. One was immediately ordered, and he was told, that his "father re- quested him to be seated." The haughty chief indignantly replied,- " My Father ! The Sun is my Father, and the Earth is my Mother ; and on her bosom I will repose."(1) Then he seated himself on the ground in the Indian manner. Gov. Harrison demanded, that two Poto- watomie murderers should be given up. Tecumseh refused, saying, " It is not right to punish these men. They ought to be forgiven, as well as those who have recently murdered my people on the Illinois. The whites should follow my example of forgiveness : I have forgiven the Ottowas and the Osages." He desired that no hostilities should be commenced, but that all things should remain as they then were, until he should return from a visit which he was about to make to the southern tribes. He then promised to go himself to Washington, and endeavor to adjust all the differences between the Whites and the Indians, with the President. In the mean time, he would dispatch messengers to all the neighboring nations, to prevent them from committing any act of aggression. When he had concluded, he offered Governor Harrison the usual insignia(2) of peace and friendship. The present was refused, with an indignant reply, and the councils between Tecumseh and the Agents of the United States, ended forever. Tecumseh returned to the Prophet's town, and shortly afterwards, attended by a few of his follow- ers, commenced his journey to the south.(3)
In the mean time, the Prophet was acting in concert with Tecumseh, in the grand project of uniting all the Indian tribes into one combination against the United States. He constantly harangued groupes of assem- bled warriors, touched every chord to excite their feelings, appealed to their patriotism, ministered to their superstition, and recounted the
(1) Schoolcraft.
(2) A belt of wampum.
(3) Burr's Life of Harrison.
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wrongs received from the whites, to rouse their dormant energies, and prompt them to revenge. He practised awful incantations, and revived many of their ancient rites. He indulged in the spirit of prophecy to its full extent. The appearance of the comet of 1811, was regarded by the superstitious, even among civilized men, as the harbinger of evil-among the Indians it was the source of terror. The Prophet pointed to it as a sign in the heavens of his divine commission from the Great Spirit, and as a warning to the tribes to flock to his standard.(1) The earthquakes, which in that year almost destroyed the town of New Madrid, on the Mississippi, were felt on the head waters of the Missouri and the Illi- nois.(2) The Prophet told the Indians, that the earth shook in conse- quence of the anger of the Great Spirit, at the reluctance of his red children, to embrace his religion, and to aid him in his hostile attacks upon the whites.
The effect of this was, that the Prophet's town became the rendezvous of a fanatic, and hostile band, and depredations upon the frontier settle- ments commenced. Houses were robbed, horses were stolen, and mur- ders were soon committed. His encampment was daily filling up with the bold and daring of even the most distant tribes, and his force soon amounted to more than one thousand warriors. Parties roved about the country, and the sun scarcely rose, that his rays did not fall upon mangled bodies of helpless women and children, and the smoking ruins of the settler's cabin.(3)
At his own solicitation, and the repeated petitions of the people, Gover- nor Harrison received directions from the President to march against the Prophet's town with a large force. But his orders were peremptory, to avoid hostilities, if possible.
At the head of about nine hundred men, composed of the Fourth United States Regiment, under Colonel Boyd, and a body of Volunteers from Indiana and Kentucky, the Governor commenced his march from Fort Harrison, on the Wabash, about sixty miles above Vincennes, on the twenty-eighth day of October. Application had previously been made, through the Delaware and Miami Indians, to the Prophet, for the surrender of the two Potowatomie murderers, which had before been de- nanded of Tecumseh, but the application was treated with contempt,
1
(1) Halcyon Luminary, published in 1812, in New York, Vol. I., p. 205.
(2) " The earthquake, which in 1811 almost destroyed the town of New Madrid, on the Mississippi, was sensibly felt on the upper portion of the Mis- jouri country, and oocasioned much superstitious dread among the Indians." -Long's Expedition, Vol. I., p. 272.
(3) Burr's Life of Harrison, p. 130.
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and the envoys with insolence. The American troops continued their march, and every night encamped in the order of battle. They moved so as to be able to form for action almost instantly. The Infantry marched in two columns, single file, while the Cavalry and Mounted Riflemen, covered the a lvance, flank and rear. Thus by a single evolution, the army could present two lines to the enemy at any point, or form a square. The Dragoons and Riflemen changed positions as the ground varied, and as circumstances required. Scouts were kept out constantly, and advanced guards were always placed in front to protect the main body from an ambuscade.
Just beyond Fort Harrison, two routes led to the Prophet's town. Causing a road to be made on the south side of the Wabash, the army advanced upon it, a short distance, when by a sudden movement, the whole force crossed the river, and marched over wide plains, where there was but little opportunity for a secret attack. By this manœuvre the plans of the Indians were totally frustrated, and for three days no sign of an enemy was seen. On the fourth of November, the army ar- rived at Pine Creek, and proposed to cross its difficult pass. The course of this stream, for many miles above its confluence with the Wabash, is through a deep channel, among immense rocks, forming frequent and perpendicular precipices. The crossings are few, and through narrow defiles. In 1786 and in 1790, the American troops had been surprised on this very spot. In order to avoid being drawn into an ambuscade, the army left the usual path, and crossed the creek at another place, which had been surveyed the previous night.
On the evening of the fifth of November, the troops encamped within ten miles of the Prophet's town, and the march on the succeeding day was conducted with the greatest caution, to avoid surprize. For six miles, the route lay through prairies, separated by small points of woods.
At half-past two o'clock, on the sixth of November, the army passed a small creek at the distance of a mile and a half from the town, and en- tered an open wood, where the army was halted, and again drawn up in order of battle.
During the whole day, parties of Indians were constantly hovering about, and every effort was made by the interpreters to speak to them, but in vain. Captain Dubois, now offering to go to the town with a flag, was sent with an interpreter to request a conference with the Pro- phet. Not long afterwards, a messenger arrived from Captain Dubois, with the information that in his attempts to advance, the Indians were on both sides, and although he had spokon to them in the most friendly
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manner, yet they refused to answer, but beckoned him to go forward, and constantly endeavored to cut him off from the army. Captain Du- bois was immediately recalled. The Indians in front having manifested nothing but hostility, and having answered every attempt to bring them to a parley, with contempt and insolence, the army commenced its march upon the town. It had not proceeded more than four hundred yards, when three Indians approached the advanced guard, and desired to speak with the Commander-in-chief. One of them, a counsellor of the Prophet, informed Governor Harrison that the chiefs were much surprised at the invasion of their territory with an army, and that an answer had been sent to the Governor's demand, by the Miamies and Delawares, two days before, which probably did not reach him, in consequence of his march upon the other side of the Wabash. Governor Harrison replied that he had no intention of attacking them unless he discovered that they would not comply with his demands,-that he would continue his march, and encamp on the Wabash, and in the morning would have an inter- view with the Prophet and his Chiefs, and explain to them the deter- mination of the President. In the mean time, no hostilities should be commenced. He seemed much pleased with the proposition, and pro- mised that no attack should be made on the part of the Indians.
The army then continued its march, and entering the cultivated lands about five hundred yards below the town, it was found that they exten- ded to the Wabash, and that no place for an encampment could be found there, provided with wood and water. After advancing within one hun- dred and fifty yards of the town, fifty or sixty Indians sallied out, and
with loud exclamations, called to the cavalry and infantry on the right flank, to halt. Governor Harrison advanced to the front, and informed the chief that his object for the present, was to find a good place for an encampment, where there was both wood and water. The chief replied that there was a creek to the north-west, on which he thought a good place could be procured. Major Taylor and Major Clark were then sent to examine the place, returned and reported that the situation was excellent. Governor Harrison, on taking possession, found the ground chosen for an encampment, not altogether such as he desired. It was ad- mirably calculated for an encampment of regular troops that were op- posed by regulars, but it afforded great facility to the approach of sava- ges. It was a dry piece of oak land, rising about ten feet above the level of a marshy prairie in front, towards the Indian town, and r.early twenty feet above a similar prairie in the rear, through which, and near to this bank, ran a small stream, margined with willows and other brush-
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