Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-04-21
Character Of Iecumseh.

From vieps Of the Campaigns Of the
North EVestern Army, &c. recently pub
Hshed
The celebrated aboriginal warrior, NEcuM-
sEHs was in the 4ith year of his age, when
he fell at the battle of the Thames. lie
was of the Shawanoe tribe, five feet ten in
ches high, we'll formed for activity and en-
durance of fatigue, which he was capable
of sustaining in very extraordinary degree.
His carriage was erect and lotty-his mo
tons quick-his eyes penetratlng-hls Wis
age stern, with an air OF hauteur In his
countenance, which arose from an elevated
pride Of soul lit did not leave him even
in death. His eloquence was nervous, con
else, impressive, fgurative and sarcastic !;
being ola taciturn habit of speech, his words
were few but to the purpose. HIS dress
was plain he was never known to indulge
in the gaudy decoration of his person, which
is the general practice of the Indians.--He
wore on the day of his death dressed deer
skin coat and pantaloons. 1t is said that he
could read and write correctly-of this,
however, | am doubtful, as he was the IT.
reconcileable enemy to civilization, of course
would not be apt to relish our artist
tie was in every respect a savage, the
greatest perhaps since the days of Pontiac,
His ruling maxim in war was to take no
prisoners, and he strictly adhered TO the
| sanguinary purpose of his soul he neither
gave nor accepted quarters. Yet paradox
zeal as it may seem, to the prisoners made
! by other tribes he was attentive and humane.
Nay, in one instance he is said to have
buried his tomahawk in the head ola Chip
peway chief, whom he found actively en-
gagged in massacreing some of Dudley's men,
after they had been made prisoners by the
British and Indians. 1t had long been a
favourite project of this aspiring chief to
unite the northern, western & southern In
dams; for the purpose of regaining their
| country as far as the Ohio.
Whether the grand idea originated in
| his own, or his brothers mind or was sug-
| gested by the British is not known-but
this much is certain-he cherished the plan
with enthusiasm, and actually visited the
Creek Indians to prevail on them to Join
In the undertaking. He was always oppos
ed to the sale of the Indian lands In the
council at Vincennes, in 1910. he was found
equal to the msdious arts of the diplomat
list. In one of his speeches he pronounced
Gen. Harrison liar He has been in al
most every battle with the Americans from
the time of Harmer's defeat to the battle
OF the Thames. lie has been several times
wounded, and has always sought the hot.
| test of the fire. A few minutes before he
received the fatal fire of Col johnson his
efforts to conquer ceased only with life
When youth, and before the treaty of
Grenville, he had so often signalized him.
self, that he was reputed one of the boil
dest of Indian Warriors. In the first set.
Element of Kentucky, he was peculiarly
active in Selling boats going down the O.
hio, killing the passengers, and CARRYING
off their property. He made frequent in,
cursions into Kentucky, where he wonld
invariably murder some of the settlers
and escape with several horses laden with
plumber He always eluded pursuit. and
when closely pursued would retire to
the Wabash His ruling passion seems to
have been glory--he was careless of wealth
and although his subsidies must have a,
mounted to great sum, he preserved little
for himself. After his fall on the 9th Of
Pronounced in Shawanoe, Tecumthee
There are many words in this lanruage
which have the linguadenteI sound Of n
such as Chilicothe, Sciothe, &c
have Just learned that he could ne;-
thor read write nor speak English