Page 50 (unnumbered in text)

THE RED MEN OF IOWA.

CHAPTER III.

THE TECUMSEH WAR.

Indian Territory--Various Treaties--Tecumseh--The Prophet--Scheme for Uniting theTribes--British Influence--Gov. Harrison--Council at Vincennes--Exciting Scene--Alarms on the Frontier--Tecumseh's Visit Among the Tribes--Seizure of Salt--Preparations for Defense--Battle of Tippecanoe--Indians Defeated--The Prophet in Disgrace--Tecumseh's Return--His Indignation--War with England--Tecumseh Joins the British--Attack at Brownstown--Major Van Horne--Capt. Brush--Attack at River Raisin--Tecumseh Wounded--Fort Dearborn--Hull's Order to Evacuate--Massacre of the Garrison--Capt. Heald--Capt. Wells--Heroic Women--Hull's Surrender--Expedition against the Illinois Tribes--Col. Russell--Gov. Edwards--Gen. Hopkins--Attack on Fort Wayne--Attack on Fort Harrison--Capt. Zachary Taylor--Harrison's promotion--Campbell's Victory--Winchester's Defeat--Battle of the Thames--Tecumseh Killed--Indians Disheartened--Treaty of Peace.

WITH Wayne's treaty, and peace with the Indians, settlers began to pour into the country north of the Ohio river, towns were projected, and the spirit of speculation extended to the new lands of the Northwest. Among the new towns that came into existence about that time, and which have since become cities of more or less, importance, may be mentioned Zanesville, Chillicothe, Dayton and Cleveland. The settlements extended in 1796 along the lower valleys of the Muskingum, Scioto and Miami rivers and their tributaries. In 1800 the territory was divided, and the new Territory of Indiana, organized, with its seat of government at Vincennes. William Henry Harrison was

Page 51

THE TECUMSEH WAR.

appointed governor. In August, 1803, Governor Harrison concluded treaties with the Wabash tribes, in relation to certain lands claimed about Vincennes by the United States, and also obtained from the confederate Illinois tribes a conveyance to the United States of their right to a large extent of country south of the Illinois River. In 1804 he negotiated with the Sacs and Foxes for their claim to an immense tract, bounded on the west by the Mississippi. Other extensive tracts were ceded in 1805. The Indians generally seemed disposed to remain at peace with the whites, but there existed, even at this time, the germ of a union of the tribes to restrain the advance of white population. The leading spirit in this movement was Tecumseh, whose policy was seconded and supported by his brother, the Prophet. Tecumseh did not hesitate to avow his purposes as being to bring about such a change in the mode of life and habits of the Indians as would fit them for a continued and heroic effort, and to organize a confederacy of such strength as to be dreaded by the United States.

The father of Tecumseh was Puck-e-shin-wa, a Shawanoe chief, who was killed in the battle of Kanawha, in 1774, leaving six sons and one daughter. Tecumseh, or the "Shooting Star," was the fourth child in the family. Some historians have asserted that he was born in the Scioto valley, near where Chillicothe now stands, but there seems to be more reliable testimony that his birth occurred about the year 1768, near the old Shawanoe town known as "Old Chillicothe," which was situated on Massie's Creek, about three miles north of where Xenia now stands. Two of the younger brothers of Tecumseh were twins, and one of them,

Pages 52 - 53

Chapter Four

Introductory Page| Portrait of MA-KA-TAI-ME-SHE-KIA-KIAH (Black Hawk)| Title Page| Page 2|

Preface (pages 3 - 6)| Illustrations (page 7)| Contents (pages 8 - 17)

Chapter One| Chapter Two

w3c validation logo HTML Validation Results

Bobby approval logo Bobby's Home Page

This is a genuine MOM (Mother of Michael) site estone@yawp.com
Michael A. Stone, Owner, janitor, and chief data rancher for YAWP (Yet Another Webservice Provider...)
revised 12 August 1999