Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-11-19
by Masscr s. Eisely

minds by powerful harangues against the
whites he united them all under his command
| They regarded him as Prince over many
| tribes, whose warriors had been concentrated
| by his influence against our coun,rymcn-But
he was more than an IRdian Prince. His
brother was considered n Prophet, and through
! his influence Tecumsch himself, was esteemed
as havinga portion of the power Of the Great
Spirit. When Tccumsci led on 70 battle. the
| warriors followed, believing they were obcying
one who was aided from on high. When he
gave the word of command all were ready to
do the work OF death. Neither age nor sex
was spared-the resisting and the Ron.rcast-
ing-thc old and the young-thc mother and
the child-wcrc swept away in the torrent of
blood and carnage which marked the path of
this terrible warrior The crueltics at the
River Rasln were but specimens of the san
culinary stream which overwhelmed the from
tier. Prisoners who had surrendered. under an
express stipulation that their lives and proper
ty should be protected, the wounded and the
helplcss-the sick and the dying were robbed
even of the clothing on their Observation-Disclosures
ly sho,-tomahawked in cold blood-scnped-
denied the right of fbural-ther bodies left to be
devourcd by wild animals-ther bones to
bleach upon the earth wherever they might
chance To be scattered by the beasts of prey
that came to feed upon the dead and the dying.
Such was the warfare carried on under this
blood stained Indian. When his voice was
heard every mother claspcd her child convul-
| sively in her arms as she fed and shrieked IN
terror, while every father and husband and
brother md son, seized his rifle and rushed to
/ the conflict, in defence Of all that was valued
! in life. The path of TeCumsch WINS path of
! horror-the wGr-whoop and the ralying cry Of
contendirg hosts-the tears and shrieks and
blood OF ,nangled men and women and children
marked his course OF desoation And who
| was there to stay ;hc crucltcs of the tomahawk
and the scaiplng knife! Fired by Indignation
at British aggrcssions, yon were among those
who voted for the declaration of war Inilam.
/ cd by patriotism you were also among the
brave and noble spirits who pcrllled their lives
to carry on that war. At the head Of 1000
! Kentucky hunters you pursued the British and
| Indians, aaG overlook them on the banks ofthe
| Thames, on the 9th OF October, lSl3-Thc
| British under Gen. Proctor we're 200 strong
situated on narrow pass between the river
and deep marsh which extended in front and
to the right of the Indians under Tecumseh,
400 strong. One halfof your mounted men
were despatched to charge upon the British.
These 800 men led on by Lieutenant Col.
James Johnson, came upon the British like a
whirlwind-iashcd through their ranks
whceled-charged them in the Tearand tooh
them prisoners without the loss Of single
kentuckian. The prisoners were conducted
To Gen. Harrison, who was at the head Of the
Infantry, at a distance in the rear of the noun
ted men, Let no one understand nc as cen
surlng Gen. Harrison. On this occasion h,
proved himself brave man, and was where
But let no one attempt to rob the Hero of thc
Thames and his gallant Kentucky hunters O
the laureis which are Justly their due. Th
Battle OF the Thames was fought by Rchar
? NJ. johnson and 1000 mounted men under hi
command. They received no aid from an
4 quarter until the victory was won.-Whll
Lieut.. Col. James Johnson, with 500 mcr
v were engaged in capturing the British, Co
!, Richard NJ. Johnson, with the remaining M
5 were engaged in bloody battle with 400 In
# dlnns. The ground chosen by the British an
e Indians was most ludiciously selected. Th
pass of ThermopylR, with MS water, marsh an
mountains, were scarcely better chosen 70
defence than the pass Of the Thames, protec
cd by its water and marsh and dense forest
trees and undcrbush I'm the one case ga
liant little handful of Greeks defended then
selves for days against the overwhelming thou
sands Of the Persian army. In the other, Wit
's every advantage of position, and under one
i the most wiley and courageous leaders Il
III world ever saw, 400 Indians were unaDle
y resist your cool and determined bravery,
y the head of only 500 Kentucky hunters. lC
IT crossed the marsh on horseback with yo
'e gallant band. You found it was necessary
= draw the fire ofthe Indians by Offering a saci
T. fee. You called for twenty men to vounte
as torlorh hope, to make a charge upon Il
W Indians, in order TO draw their fire, and wi
the expectation of being shot to pieces. lo
call was not made in vain! Twenty of yo
:" best men came forth, Curlms like, tocast ihcr
IL.