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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 18, 1928)
PAGE 4 THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN TECUMSEH (Continued from page 1) sell it. No Indian Territory therefore could be sold to the white men without the consent of all tribes and all Indians.” Tecumseh said, “The Seventeen Fires (as the Indians called the United States) united to get our land. Let us follow their example. Let us unite to hold our land. When they offer to buy we will not sell. If they try to force us to part with our lands we will stand together and resist them like men.’’ The brothers were sent for to go to Fort Wayne to hear a letter from the President. Tecumseh refused to go, demand ing that the letter be brought to him. It was a request that they move their village beyond the territories claimed by the government. To the President’s request Tecumseh sent a de cided refusal. He said, “The lands are ours, we were the first owners, no one has the right to move us. The Great Spirit appointed this place for us to light our fires and here we will stay. ’ ’ Indians kept coming from distant places to visit Laulewa- sehaw, the Prophet. Rumors said that the brothers were working under the direction of British agents who were try ing to arouse the Indians against the government. The Indians declared their wish to remain at peace with all, at a council held at Greenville. Tecumseh accompanied the commissioners on their return and held a conference with the Governor of Ohio. He spoke plainly, saying the Indian had little cause for friendliness with either the British or the people of the United States. Another council was held in Springfield. Tecumseh attract ed much attention. He entered the council with dignity and the arms of a warrior. His speech was so finely stated that the interpreter was unable to keep up with him or translate his ideas. The white men were left to guess his meaning by watching his wrathful face and the excitement of his hearers. The Indians, however, understood him perfectly. When the council was over they returned to their homes and all repeat ed what they could remember of that speech. Laulewasehaw's and Tecumseh’s influence became greater then ever among the Indians. In 1808 Tecumseh and the Prophet moved their people to the Wabash Valley and established themselves on the Tippe canoe River. The valley was a good hunting ground. They would not starve if the government denied them aid. Tecumseh and the Prophet visited the Governor. While there Harrison tempted them in many ways, but they showed their faith by being able to resist. Tecumseh traveled north, south, east and west, talking with the Indians and trying to unite the tribes and to persuade them to follow his brother’s teachings. On Sept. 30, 1809, Gov. Harrison called a council of all the tribes that owned lands between the White and Wabash rivers in order to buy more land from them. Only a few of the weaker tribes answered the summons. He purchased three million acres of Indian lands from them. This act of Har rison’s lighted a hundred council fires. Everywhere the In dians denounced this treaty. Tribes which stood apart from Tecumseh and his followers were now ready to join them, and looked up to him as their leader. Realizing how much a defeat would mean he worked tirelessly to make his people ready for war. Word was sent to Gov. Harrison that they had been dealt with unfairly and that friendly relations could be renewed only by the nullification of the treaty of 1809. Late in August a fleet of eighty canoes started down the Wabash for the capitol. Four hundred warriors armed and painted, were on their way to see for the first time the man who was responsible for the treaty of 1809. The conference was held under a grove of trees. When Tecumseh was offered a chair he said,“The sun is my father, the earth my mother, on her bosom I will repose.’’ Tecumseh stated the cause of the Indians. The Governor stated his, and the council ended in a row. Tecumseh regret ted this very much and requested another meeting. They met again and the Indians controlled their anger. Tecumseh said the Indians would never let the whites take possession of the land claimed under the treaty. Tecumseh told the Gov ernor that he was trying to build up a strong nation of red men after the model of the “Seventeen Fires’’ and he was on his way to visit the Southern tribes and invite them to join them. He made assurance that he had given strict orders for the northern tribes to remain at peace during his absence. And as soon as he returned he would go to Washington and settle the land question with the President. He visited the southern tribes and worked effectively among the Creeks and Seminoles. While Tecumseh was in the south Governor Harrison took troops and went against the Indians at Tippecanoe. He had a force of about 1,000 men and 30 mounted men under a Kentuckian, J. H. .Davis, who wanted to share in the glory of an attack against the Indians. Later two companies of mounted riflemen were added to this force. Governor Harrison built a fort on the river, expecting the Indians to object, but they did not. One day while they were busy building the fort the guard was shot and killed. This was the excuse Harrison and his men wanted. The In dians gave them a chance to start war. They began their march to Tippecanoe. They were on the outskirts of the town when the Indians said if they would wait until morning peace would be maintained. It was getting close to daybreak when a shot was fired by the guard, followed by a warwhoop of the Indians. The attack lasted two hours. Harrison lost one hundred and fifty men, the Indians thirty-eight. The In dians went back to Tippecanoe and abandoned their homes. Harrison took the food supplies they left because theirs were nearly gone. Harrison was the hero of the hour. The reputation of the brothers was greatly affected because the village was regarded as a holy city, under the protection of the Great Spirit. Tecumseh on hearing of the battle was very angry. When war broke out in 1812 between Great Britain and the United States Tecumseh joined the British. In making this alliance he simply did what seemed to him for the best interests of the Indians. Tecumseh became an important figure in the war. His bravery, his knowledge of the country, and his large follow ing made it possible for him to give his allies invaluable aid. In one of the battles Tecumseh was willing to meet the Americans in the open. He sent a message to Gov. Harrison saying, “I have with me eight hundred braves. You have an equal number in your hiding place. Come out with them and give me battle. You talked like a brave when we met at Vin cennes and I respected you, but now you hide behind logs and in the earth like a ground-hog.” They met and a battle was fought. The Americans were taken prisoners when Tecumseh rode upon the scene. He said, “Oh, what will beome of my Indians. ’ ’ He made them very much ashamed of their con duct. General Proctor said he was unable to control them. Tecumseh said, “Say rather you are unable to command, go put on petticoats.” Gen. Proctor started to retreat, but tried to conceal it from Tecumseh. Tecumseh’s suspicions were soon aroused and he called a council in which he made his last formal speech. He spoke boldly and bitterly against Gen. Proctor’s course. He repeatedly urged Proctor to keep his promise and face the enemy. On Oct. 5 Proctor learned that the enemy forces were at his heels. Choosing a ridge between the Thames River and a swamp he arranged his forces. The Indians waited un der protection of thick bushes until the horsemen were within range. Then, in response to Tecumseh’s war cry, all fired. Colonel Johnson, who was in charge of the American force, ordered his men to dismount and a terrible struggle followed. Soon Tecumseh was shot. And the Indians, missing him, gave up the battle and fled. One of them afterward said. “Tecumseh fell and we all ran.” The war was now ended in the northwest. The Americans had regained the posts taken by the British. They had subdued the Indians and gained possession of the Wabash valley. The power of the Prophet was destroyed; Tecumseh was dead. The “Long Knives” had crushed forever the confederacy of Tecumseh.
