Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-05-23


many Of the 0itizens Of the TeA, who cssu-
nenced life with him. sad who haye since at
tanned an enviable rsuk.
Early in the year 1911. wlalst party spirit
ragged in this country. to IN almoss uneyAnpled
extent. we were threatened with an Indian War;
and il was supposed. and Justly too. that the
savages were urged on BY the Rraish; fos soon
after the North Western tribes commenced
their depredstions on the fronties ssttlsWepts.
Among the most powerful and aAuential Chiefs
Of the tribes, was " the celebrated Indian Wax
ror,+ Tecumseh. who had been slways remazk-
able for his eomity to the whites, and who. like
Pontiac, had formed the design Of uniting I'll
the different kibos, In order to oPposa aa edect-
ual barrier TO the further extension Of the. set
Elements. Tecumseh was q formidable enem5
he resorted to every artifice to stir up the minda
of the Indians against US. OF an active and
restless character. he visited tho most distan.
nations. and endeavoured to rouse them by his
powerful eloQuence. Ha also assaied the s,-
perstitous minds Of his countrymen, by means
Of his brother. kind Of coniurer. called "the
prophet" He had received assurances from
the British. of such assistance as would enable
him to carry his plans into execution. In the
Harrison. Of Indiana. at vincennes. and at
which Tecumseh attended. to remonsIate
against purchase lately made from the Kica-
poos and some other tribes. In a sirain ofwon-
derful eloquence. the orator inveighed against
the encroachments OF ths Americans. gave a
faithful history Of the progress Of the settle
ments, from the first commencement on the
Delaware, to the moment at which he spoke
When answered by Harrison. ho grasped h's
tomahawk. in q iii Of phrensys and boldly
charged the American Governor with having
uttered what was false; the warriors who at
tended him. twenty OF thirty in number. follow
cd his example; but Harrison had fortunately
posted guard Of soldiers near, who put q stop
to their fury. The council, however. broke up.
and nothing short Of war was expected TO re-
suit.
"Towards the close Of the year. the frontier
settlers had become seriously alarmed; every
thing on the part of the Indians appeared to
indicate approaching hostilhies Governor
Harrison resolved to move towards the proph-
cts town. with body Of Kentucky and India
! ma militia, and the fourth United States reg-
ment, under Colonel Boyd. to demand satisiac-
ton Of the Indians. and to pus stop to their
hostile designs. In tho mouth Of November,
having approached within few miles Of the
prophets town. the principal chiefs came out
with offers Of peace and submission, and re-
| quested the Governor to encamp for the night.
| as it was then too late to enter on business
Il was not long before this was discovered to
| be O treacherous artfice. Al -four O'CLOCK in
the morning. the camp was furiously assa;led.
and after bloody and doubtful contest, the
Indians were finally repuscd. with the loss OF
one hundred and eighty killed and wounded.
on our part, and a still greater number Oh
theirs.t Colonel Daviess, one Of the most dis
tinguished lawyers in the United States; COL
onel White.t Of the Saline, and number Of
other valuable officers, fell on this oocason--
Harrison .af,cr this. destroyed tacpnphet's low n.
and having established forts. returned to Vim
cennes, but peace was Ivy no means restored."
Returning to Colonel Daviess. it is proper to
add. that at the battle Of Tippacanoe, he was
distinguished for his heroisn. aud fought till he
was vanquished by superior numben; and in
his last moments. spoke Of nothing but the hon.
our Of his country. which he feared would hr
tarnished. by his unfortunate defeat.
He was at one time, a member Of the United
States Congress. but us the period i'll which he
flourished in the councils of the nation, wa,n not
4 very important one, he made but Few displays
Of his extraordinary talents: yet enough was
seen Of him, to establish his reputation. aud to
rank him among the great men Of tho times
He was one Of those singularly gifted gcniuses,
who could grasp whole subject. 40 matter
however abstruce it might be, az q single
glance; and without study or preparation, he
entered into debate, depending mainly upon his
original resources for victory. He vas cccen-
trio, without atfectstion, and although \ might
be said Of him, that hrs manners were some
times offensive, and mingled with dcgres.of
rudcness, he was in every sense ofthe word,
finished gentleman. a few years previous to
his demise, he Published book on the subject
ofthe constitution Of the country which was
much admired by the eminent statesmen
Of the day, particularly by Me- s's. Madison ,
and Monroe. who, ii they did not assent 10 his