Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-05-22
The War of 1912, and the Death
of Tecumseh.

OF IeCuInS0u,
The following paper, coming from what we
believe is now considered an unprejudiced source
is both interesting and valuable, as throwing
some light on the career and death Of the noted
TECUMsEH. 1t was read before the " Y.
Historical Society," at a recent meeting, Ed.
The special order of the evening was then
taken up-bcing paper by Major RICHARD
SON, formerly of the British Army, on Incl
dents of the War of 1912, embracing Particu
lars connected with the Death of Tecumseh."
The paper was sketchy narrative of the
events in the closing sparC Of the War, and
contained an elaborate defence Of the English
against the charge OF instgating their Indian
allies to acts Of cruelty. We give u brief alb
stract of Maj. Richardson's incidents. He
said that in choosing for his theme the career
and character OF Tecumseh, whom he consid-
cred unquestionably the greatest aboriginal
Chief that this continent has produced and to
whose generous deeds, he alone, perhaps, of the
millions of whites who now inhabt the contl-
nemt chanced to be enabled to bear honorable
testimony-he was actuated by two motives
First, desire so to hand down his name to
posterity that future historians, guided by the
impartial statements of one who was person.
ally known to the warrior, and who has more
than once combated with him, may render that
faithfuness of justice to his memory which it
must ever be the aim of the biographer and
the historian to attain: Secondly, that the
American people may be disabused of an i'm
preston, under which they have long and err
roncously abored--that acts of wanton cruelty
were, during his alliance with the troops of
England, sanctioned not only by himself, but
by the British officers. Maj. R. was perfectly
sensible that he was treading upon difficult
ground. and that it was no easy task to remove
an impression that has been suffered to take
such deep root with the masses-an impression
which he could not deny had every cooring of
probability to Justify its existence, yet which
he hoped by plain statement of facts that had
occurred under his observation and knowledge,
wholly to remove from the minds of those who
heard him.
Waving all alluslon to the well known ca
reer of Teculnseh up to the period of his defeat
by Gen. Harrison at rippecanoe, the Major
ing on his character subsequently to the dec
laration of hostties between Great Britain
and the United States in 1872 At the COM
mencement of that war, the hopes and aspi-
ratlons which had experienced so severe check
at Tlppecanoe were revived, and Tecumseh
with renewed ardor entered upon the task of
uniting all the tribes of the West-many of
these being at the time on terms Of friendship
with the United States-into a league with
England, not so much to forward the interests Of
the latter, as with view to advance the great
object which he had at heart-the final union OF
the Indian tribes. His efforts were eminently
successful. Few could resist the energy of his
eloquent appeals; and before the war had been
one month declared, he had collected at Fort
Maiden, and during Gen. Hull's occupation Of
the Canadian shore very formidable body Of
warriors. In the first slight action which occur
red, the combined British and Indian force were
defeated, Tecumseh and his warriors covering
the retreat.
A council of war was then held by General
Brock with the Indian Chiefs, and the attack
on Detroit whittier General Hull had returned
was agreed upon, In relation to this affair and
the obloquy which has been cast upon Gen
eral Hull, Maj Richardson remarked that he
held his own particular opinions, which at some
future time he might make public. He new
er could admit any American officer of the wal
of 1912 to have been wanting in personal reso'
luton.
The next affair that took place on the west
ern frontier, was that of the River Rasin, il
January, 1913. In this, however, Tecumsel
bore no share, so that the amentable event
which there occurred could in no way be charge
able to him. He had, shortly after the caplM