Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1840-03-26


twin brothers of the Shawnese tribe. Thelormer
was celebrated warrior, distinguished br his
bravery and skill in the field, and, equally, or his
power of oratory in the Council Hall The
Prophet was not warrior but his oratories abili-
ties were superior even to those of his Eother,
and he was besides, medicine man of thu high
est pretensions. These two Chieftains hid con-
ceived the plan of uniting all the Indian tlbes in
War against the Americans, in pursuance of
which they assembled round them a band If law
less and desperate outcasts from different tribes
and gradually formed settlement ontle Wabash,
at the mouth of the Tippecanoe, knwn as the
Prophets town. They embraced ev,ry opportu-
nifty of preventing the making and Execution of
treaties, of disturbing all councils leld, and of
persuading the Indians to acts of voleice These
attempts on their part had much efet among the
tribes, and had so far succeeded in tie early part
of 1900, that general hostilties we're openly
threatened against the United States. The i'm
mediate occasion of this threat was treaty made
at Fort Wayne by three tribes cedin2 to the Uni
ted States tract of land on the Wabash. Te-
when the treaty was made, but on his reurn he
menaced several of the Chiefs concerned in it,
with death. Governor Harrison learning this,
sent to Tecumseh, informing him that any rights
he might have in the land were not all impaired
by the treaty, and inviting him to come to Nln-
cennes and exhibit his pretensions. He accepted
the invitation and came with four hundred war
riors completely armed, in contravcntion of pro-
visions previously agreed upon, by which he was
to be attended by thirty only. This step caused
Just apprehension among the inhabitants, but they
did not become aware of it until too late to take
any measures to counteract any hostile designs,
should such be entertained There was, howev.
er, guard composed of Sergeant and twelve
men, posted near the governor at the commence.
ment of the conference, but he dismissed them
on account of the sun, to station at some dis
tance.
Tecumseh opened the council by speech in
which he claimed for all the Indians of the coun
try common right to all the lands in it, denied
the right of any tribe to sell without the genera
consent, and asserted that the treaty of For
Wayne was entirely void. Harrison answered
and clearly exposed the futility of TecumsehI
pretensons, showed that the three tribes hat
done no more than they were fully competent tc
do, and that the tribe to which Tecumseh belong
ed had no right to come from a distant country
and undertake to control others in the disposition
of their property. AS soon as Tecumseh heart
these words he exclaimed in loud voice that i
was all false. Upon this, his attendant Indians
sprang to their feet, brandishing their weapons
and were fercely addressed by their leader. See
ing this, the people seized stones and whateye
missiles they could lay their hands on, while thu
guard came running up in readiness to fire. The
Governor ordered them to stop, and turning tt
the Indians told Iccumseh that he was bat
man and he would hold no further communica
ton with him The council was thcreupon bro
ken up and Tccumseh retired TO his camp. The
next day, he sent in message expressing his re-
gret that he had been betrayed into such vioen
conduct, and requested another conference This
was granted, but no satisfactory results were
arrived at, and the Indians returned to then
homes. subsequently, Governor Harrison, nc
componied only by an interpreter, paid a visit tc
iuc liihidHS, Will d we" W dsctItiIl letuHlStn
real intcnsons which he found really TO be tc
commence war in case the treaty not a
bandoned. This the Governor commnnica
ted to the authorities at Washington, and soor
afterwards received orders to move against the
Prophets town with an armed force, but was ex
pressly ordered not to enter into hostllites 60
| any kind, or to any degree, not absolutely neces
| sary' These last instructions of course, Sc
cured to the Indians the opportunity Of Striking
the first blow, and Of choosing the time and place
of battle