Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-05-07
BATTLE OF THE THAMES.

the Christian Waterman, an article which
bore the marks of authenticity; giving an
account of the death of the celebrated In
dian Chief Tecumseh, who, it was stated,
was killed by Kentuckian, lad of 10
years ofage. In order to correct the mis-
Statements which have been at different
times published, respecting the death of
This noted Chief, the Rev. o. b. Brown, OF
Washington, d. c. has furnished, in a letter
IN the editor of the Waterman, the follow
;np interesting and authentic account OF the
sane,I;nary engagement in which Tecum-
sch was slain; which we copy, in order to
correct the erroneous statement before pub
lished:-
The statement which shall make,
was given to me verbally, by two Off
GERS of Colonel Johnson's regiment,
who were in the battle OF the Thames,
in which Tecumseh was slain; and has
been confirmed by several written &C
counts which / have seen, by others
who were also eye-witnesses OF the
transaction. DESTROYS of ascertalnlng
the certainty of these accounts, l IN
CURED of Col. Johnson personally, a
bout year after the battle, and request
ed him to relate the particulars OF the
encounter without any view of its pub
LEGATION, which he did. have frequent
" conversed with him since upon the
subject. These corresponding testi-
monies may certainly be relied on; es-
pecially as they were given by different
eye-witnesses, as well as by the princi-
pal actor himself, who is man of the
strictest veracity and honor, all with
out concert, and yet in perfect agree
ment.
In that memorable battle, it will be
recollected that Col. Johnson, with one
half of his regiment, led the charge a.
gainst the Indians, whose numbers
were about three times as great as his
own, while his brother, Lieut.. Col. Jas.
Johnson, with the other half of the re-
giment, led the charge against the Brl-
tish regulars. General Proctor COM
manded the regulars, and Tecumseh
commanded the Indians. AS Colonel
Johnson advanced against the Indians,
who, according TO their custom, were
concealed by laying in the grass and
bushes, and behind trees, he selected
twenty men, with whom he advanced
few rods in front of the main body, to
bring on the battle without exposing
the whole TO the first fire of the Indians.
While thus advancing, they were fired
upon; and nineteen out Of the twenty
fell, leaving but one man Of that num-
Der, besides the Colonel, to pursue the
charge. This shot brought the In
dams from their ambush. The Colo
mel Immediately ordered his men to
dismount and advance to the combat.
The order was promptly obeyed, the
Colonel only remained mounted. A
dreadful conflict immediately ensued.
In the midst of this scene of slaughter,
the Colonel still moving forward into
the midst Of the Indians, he observed
one who was evidently commander,
and who displayed more than ordina-
ry gallantry. He was rallying point
for the Indians; and while he stood,
they appeared to be impregnable about
him. Col. Johnson did not know whe-
ther it was Tecumseh, or another chief,
but observing the effect which his in
trepidity had upon the other Indians,
he deemed it necessary to dispatch him
in order to secure the victory. The
Colonel had already received four
wounds, and was much weakened by
the loss CT blood. His horse alsohad
been so wounded as to be unahe to
move faster than walk. He vas not
able to approach the chief ina right
line, on account of the trunkof large
tree which was lying beforeihim. lie
therefore rode round the sad OF the
tree, and then turned his ,rsc directly
towards the chief, and advanced upon
him. At the distance Of few yards,
the Colonel's horse STUMBLED, but did
not entirely tall. ThiSgave the Indian
the first notice of his approach; who
instantly levelled hisSifle at the Colonel
and gave him anouer wound, the Sc
verest which he reeived in the battle.
He did not howeer fall, but continued
his movement wards the Indian, till
he came SO mfr that the Indian was
raising his thahawk to strike him
down.. The toIonel had pistol in his
right hand Charged with a ball and
three bucbhot, which he held against
his thigh/o that the Indian had not
discover it. At this moment, the
Coloneyaised his pistol and discharg-
ing its bntents into the breast of this
Indiayehief, laid him dead upon the
SPOT THE Indians near him raised
veil ind instantly fed. The Colonel,
cofed with wounds, twenty-five balls
hslng been shot into him, his cloathes
al his horse, was unable any longer to
#; but was taken from the battle.
5round, faint and almost lifeless.
Thus far the account of the Co.'s |
gallantry on that day is undisputed.-I
The only point to establish was whether
that Indian was Tecumseh. Several
persons who were in the battle told me,
L