Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-04-06

Cnr ;nterIer;ng whenever treaties were to be me-
ROTATED by the United States with any portion OF
The Indians. Thus, by insgang the indians 10
acts of violence, and by filling their minds win
Iallacious notions of their power and their rights
Tecumthe, with the Prophet, constantly ihwar'eu
and at last to their own ruin, succeeded IN deIenr
inr, all The efforts of General Harrison, to NAM
tain the peace Of the frontiers.
General hostties first began 10 be openly
threatened on occasion Of Treaty made by the
Deawares, Miams and Potawatamies, in 1909,
at Fort Wayne, cedng to the United States
n tract of land on the Wabash. (6) When this
treaty was made, Tecumthe was absent; but on
his return, he threatened with death some of the
chiefs concerned in TIE treaty. Hereupon, Gov.
Harrison despatched a message TO inquire into the
cause of diSsaflecton with the treaty; and TO
assure him that any claims he might have TO the
lands which had been coded, were not ELECTED by
the treaty; that he might come to Vlncennes ana
exhibit his professions; and il they were found to
be valid the land would be either gwen up or an
ample compensation made for 1t.
Tecumlhe accepted the invitation, but came
with four hundred warriors completely armed, IN
stead Of thirty as directed giving TO the people
of Vincennes, just apprehension that treachery
was Intended. Tecumthe claimed for all the In
dams of the country a common right to oil the
lands in it; denied the right of any tribe to sell
even to one another, much less to strangers; and
therefore claimed that the treaty OF Fort Wayne
was utterly void. Harrison replied that when
the whites came 10 this continent they found the
Miamis in occupation OF all the country Of the
Wabash, at which time the SEawnees dwell in
Georgia, from whence they were driven by the
Creeks that the Mamis had consulted their
own interest, as they had right to do, in selling
their own lands terms satisfactory to them
selves and that the Shawnees had no right tn
come from distant country, and undertake TO
control the Miamis in the disposition of their
own property. Scarcely had the interpreter fin
shed speaking these words, when Tecumthe
fercey exclaimed, II is fasep' and giving
signal to his warriors, they sprang TO their feet
and raised their war-cIubs, while Tecumthe con-
tinued to address the Indians in passionate tones
and with violent gesticuatons. In this energen-
cy, when every thing threatened the most fatal
consequences to the surrounding whites, who
were chiefly unarmed citizens, collision was a
,oided by the intrepdity of The Governor. lie
Immediately and drew his sword; but he
restrained his guards, and calmly, but authora-
lively told Tecumthe that " he was bad man !;
that he would have no further talk with him that
he must return to his camp and take his departure
from the settlements immediatcy;" and with that
the council was broken up, and Tecumthe and his
warriors, awed by the intrepiditv and sclfposses.
sion Of Harrison, Withdrew in silence.
The next morning, TecumIhe, perceiving that
he had to dea with a man as vigilant and as bold
Us hHnself-one moi 10 be dauntcd bv the show
of violence, nor circumVened by specious wiIes,
-apologzed for the ailront he had given, and So
lcited that the council might be renewed, TO which
the Governor consented. At the second council,
Tecumthe no longer attempted to iutrnidate Har-
risOn by his violence, or, al any rate, kept bet.
ter guard over his temper. He told the Governor
that white men British emssares undoubtedly
had advised him to do as he had done, and that
he was determined to maintain the Old boundary:
AL which the Governor said lie would report to
the President, aud here the council ended.
Sill anxious to cOneiliate the dangerous Chief
Harrison went. attended on'v b. an interpreter
10 his camp. Tecumhe received him with cour.
tesy and respect; bu. sgnided the intention not
10 recede from the grounds taken at the council :;
and as neither Iecumihe nor the prophet was
ye, ready for op=n war, the matter rested here for
a while.
BATTLE OF TIPPEcAyoE.
But, as hos,iiles between the United States and
Great Britain became mere and more imminent
and certain, the sudscity and violence of the In
6isns increased. In 1911, Tecumthe had assem-
bed new body If warriors at the Prophets
Town; and nlarauding parties roved towards the
settlements more frequently than ever. In the
public documents, there is a great body of evil
6ence 10 show thst al that time general commn-
ton Perysded al The Indian tribes Messengers
went 10 and fro; the war belt was circulated ;
arms and ammunition were obtained from Upper
Canada, in quantities beyond the usual YEARLY is.
thing indicated the approach OF a rising against
the United States. The commission of number
oil murders on the frontiers OF Illinois and Indiana
the usual lorerunnefs of an Indian war, warned
Decentralization TO axe measures for the defence
OF the Territory, and induced the Government "a
direct him 10 move with an armed force towards
Iippecanoe, the centre and mead quarters of all
The intrgues of the savages and the resort of the
most desperate and daring Of their men, and where
It was known that thousand hostile Indians were
assembled, whom he was directed to dispense.
Governor Harrison had collected force Of
about nine hundred men, composed Of the militia
and volunteers Of Indiana, a small but gallant
band OF volunteers from Kentucky, and detoch-
Tnent Of United States troops. His first effort
like Wayne's, in the similar case before, was Ii
prepare his troops for victory by drilling them
thoroughly in person, and organizing them iol
victory; and TO this, in 10 small part, the subse
quent success was due. Thus prepared, he begar
his march from Fort Harrison, on the Wabash, or
the Goth of October, 1911 His orders were mos
positive to avoid hostilities Of any kind or any
degree not indispensably required These instruc
tons compelled him, though marching into hos
tile country, where numerous force of Indians
awaited him, yet to act on the defensive, to fgh
only when attacked, and thus in fact to leave TIN
Indians to fight or not they chose, and to selec
their own time for battle, He was to advance il
the hope, and with the endeavor, to induce In
Indians to make peace and yet to be ready al
times TO encounter treacherous foe, unknowin
where or when the death struggle might com
mence. TO meet these conditions, it was neces
sary to conduct the expedition at all times as
face OF the enemy; to encamp in order of battle
and to march in such form as to be able to rep,
an assault at a moments warning. OF cours
the utmost diligence was requisite 10 guard again
surprise to avoid falling into ambuscades; an
to secure the army from attack in disadvant;
geous position. All this Harrison accomplished
his own experience, wisdom and crcumspecto
being ably seconded by the zeal and vigilance
his officers and troops.
Proceeding thus, by judicous leint after r,
connoitering and laying out Wagon road on or
bank of the Wabash, which led the Indians to G,
pect he would pass up on that side, he sudden