Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-07-10
Life of TeCunlscI,.

~ DuUllSucu I'D tlIlClulldli. VI Is hilchSll
of as a work of uncommon interest cx>
ecutcd with great ability. The biogra-
pher has bestowed infinite pains in the
investigation of the character of this ia
nous Indian warrior, and the pages of
the volume TEEN with anecdotes Illus
trative of his bravery, generosity and
heroism. We extract few OF them
for the amusement of our readers.
TECUEsEH's EFFORTS TO ABOLISH THE
BURNING or PRIsoNERs.-Thc next act
in which Tecumseh participated, and
in which he manifested signal prowess,
was an attack made by the Indians ups
un some fat boats descending the Ohio,
above Limestone, now Maysville. The
year in which it occurred is not stated,
but Tecumseh was not probably more
than sixteen or seventeen years of age.
The boats were captured, and all the
persons belonging to them killed, except
one, who was taken prisoner, and after
wards burnt. Tecumseh was silent
spectator of the scene, having never
witnessed the burning of prisoner be-
fore. After it was over, he expressed,
in strong terms, his adherence of the
act. and it was finally concluded by the
party that they would never burn any
more prisoners and to this resolution
he himself and the party also, it is be-
lievcd, ever afterwards scrupulously
adhered.
1t is not less creditable to the human
ity than genius of Tecumseh that he
should have taken this noble stand,
and by the force and eloquence of his
appeal have brought his companions to
the same resolution. He was then but
a boy, yet he had the independence to
attack cherished custom Of his tribe,
and the power of argument to convince
them, against all the preconceived no.
tions of right and rules of warfare, that
the custom should be abolished. That
his effort to put a stop to this cruel and
revolving rite, was not prompted by a
ny temporary expediency, but was the
result of humane disposition, and a
right sense of justice, is abundantly
shown by his conduct towards prisoners
in after life.
SINGULAR rULFILMEYr OF A THREAT.
1t was Tecumseh's darling project to
unite all the tribes Of the South and
West in the defence of their lands. To
accomplish this he visited, personally
every tribe, engaging each in his plans,
and fixing a day when blow was to
be struck, simultaneously, along the
whole OF the contederacy which he
sought TO establish.
On his return from Florida, he went
among the Greeks in Alabama, urging
them to unite with the Seminoles. Ar
irving at Tuckhabatchec, a Creek town
on the Tallapoosa river, he made his
way to the lodge of the chief called the
Big Warrior. He explained his object,
delivered his war-talk, presented bun
die Of sticks, gave a piece of wampum
and a hatchet, all of which the Big
warrior took. When Tecumseh, rea-
ding the intentions and spirit of the Big
warrior, looked him in the eye, and
pointing his finger towards his face,
said;
"Your blood is white you have ia
| ken my talk and the sticks, and the
wampum, and tha Ratchet, but you do
not mean TO fight; | know the reason :
YOU do not believe the Great Spirit has
sent me: you shall know: | leave
Tuckhabatchee directly, and shall go
straight to Detroit: when arrive there
| shall stamp on the ground With my
foot, and shake down every house in
Tuckhabatchee." So saying he turned
and left the Big warrior in utter amaze
ment, at both his manner and his threat,
and pursued his Journey. The Indians
were struck no less with his conduct
than was the Big warrior, and began
to dread the arrival of the day when
the threatened calamity would betal
them. They met often and talked o.
yer this matter, and counted the days
carefully TO know the time when Te-
cumseh would reach Detroit. The
morning they had fixed upon, as the pc
riod of his arrival at last came. a
mighty rumbling was heard-they all
ran out of their houseS-the earth be-
Gan TO shake; at last, sure enough,
every house in Tuckhabatchee was
shaken down. The exclamation was
in every mouth: "Tecumseh has got
TO Detroit !" The effect was elec>
trical. The message he had delivered
to Big warrior was believed, and many
of the Indians took their rifles and pre-
pared for the war,
The reader Will not be surprised TO