Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-01

be was endowed by nature with the aitri-
butes Of mind necessary for great political
combinations. His acute understanding
very early in life informed him, that his
countrymen had lost their importance. that
they were gradually yielding to the whites,
who were acquiring an imposing influence
over them. lnstigated by these considera-
lions, and, perhaps, by his natural ierocily
and attachment to war, he became deci-
ded'enemy 10 the whites, and imbibed an
invincible determination Che surrendered it
bat with his life to regain for his country
the proud Independence he supposed she
had lost. For number OF years he was
foremost in every act OF hostility commit
ted against those he conceived wer: the op-
posers OF his countymen, and Was equally
remarkable for intrepidity. as skill, in many
combats that took place under his banner:
Aware, at length, of the exlent,number and
power Of the United states, he became fol-
ly convinced of the futiliy of any single
nation Of red men attempting 10 cope with
them. He formed, therefore, the grand
scheme OF uniting all the tribes east OF the
Mississippi into hostility against the United
States. This was field worthy his great
and enterprising genius. He commenced
in the year 1863, aud in the execution Of
his project he displayed unequalled adroit-
ness, eloquencean and courage. He irsinua-
ted himself into every tribe from Michili-
mackinack to Georgia, and was invariably
successful in his attempts TO bring them o.
yerto his views. He played upon all their
feelings, but principally upon their super
stition, and sometimes assumed the charac-
ter Of a prophet, and carried with him red
stick, to which he attached certain mystical
properties, and the acceptance of which
was considered as the joining of his party;
from hence the name Red Sticks applied to
all Indians hostile to the United States
Unfortunately for Tecumseh, bet happily
for the United States was it, that before his
plan had become matured, before his ar
engagements for general hostility were per-
f c;ed, before, in fact. he had properly or.
ganized or brought into the field any of his
forces, his brother made a premature at
tack upon tie forces of the United States,
under the command of Col. Boyd, in the
summer of 1911, at Tippecanoc, in which
he suffered signal defeat.
This disaster marred the prospect of the
gallant Tecumseh; his own soul was I'M
shaken, but il damped the ardor ofhis asso-
cIates and although many continued firm
in their warlike attitude and hostile inten-
lions towards the whites, yet numbers
shrunk from a contest that had commenced
with defeat, and all the efforts of Tecumseb
were unayai,ing 10 supply the links thus
broken in bis chain Of operations. The
war against England declared soon after
this event by the United States, opened
new views 10 the talents Of Tecums"h.
His merits were duly appreciated by the
British government, and they made him a
brigadier general in their service. AT the
head of bis formidable warriors, he more
than once turned the scale ofvictory against
the Americans, and Detroit, River Raisin
and Fort Meigs Were witnesses Of his con-
duct and valour In 1913, when Gen. Har-
rison entered Can,da, Tecumseh advised
Col. Proctor to attack him; the British
colonel preferred retreating an attack was,
however, sustained near the river Thames.
in which Tecunseh displayed bis usual a!
bility, and laid down his lie for the cause
he had espoused.
TO be continued.