Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-09-11
Correspondence Of the New York Literary World.
Death of Tecumseh.
Hon. L. BRADIsH, Prest N. Y. Hist. Society:


SIR: Popular opinion-in the United States
has, for many years attributed the killing of
Tecumseh to the late Colonel Richard NJ
Johnson, of Kentucky The brave men
whom that officer led in the attack of the In
dams, fighting under the great Shawnee Cap
tain, took pleasure in permitting pubic ru-
NOR to place the honor of this feat on the
brows of the commander. But the truth of
history requires shat the name of the real
actor should now be told
BY a letter which have recently received
from Hon. Orlando Brown, late Chief of the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, dated Frankfort,
18th April last, it is shown that the veritabe
actor was Jacob H. Holeman, Of Kentucky,
a private in Captain Stuger's company of
mounted volunteers. The event has thus
been detailed to me by Mr.. Holeman.
Stuger had himself been veteran Indian
fighter in the early wars of Kentucky, and
perceiving that the woods they approached
were favorable for an Indian ambuscade,
warned his men on entering it to be on the
lookout. The forest consisted of young beech
trees, which put out their limbs horizontally,
at five or six feet from the ground. Brush
rose up nearly to meet them, so that the view
was intercepted and the action of cavalry i'm
possible
Col. Johnson determined to disraount three
companies of his command, who tied their
horses at the skirts of the wood leaving the
other three mounted companies at the same
point as reserve. His force consisted of
mounted citizen Volunteers term by which
is ment men furnishing their own horses, who
were, from their position, expert in every art
of forest warfare, with man and beast They
were armed with short rifle, of the kind
called yagers. They had no swords.
Captain Stuger's company was one of those
dismounted, and entered the woods on foot
| The Indians were SO completely masked by
/ the foliage that the contest was one essential
| ly of personal combat, both parties seeking
the shelter of trees and coverts, and fighting
according to the Indian mode, in very open
order. Colonel Johnson led his men, and
was soon wounded in two places, and carried
to the rear Holeman and a companion were
standing together, when they saw two In
dians rush forward and in the act Of firing.
| They themselves both fired instantly and
killed their men. His companion was also
mortally wounded and fell. Holeman ran up
to the Indian he had shot and took pistol ofcu-
rious workmanship out of his right hand,
which lay extended as if in the act of firing
when he fell, and, retaining it, carried 1t to
his quarters after the close of the action.
When the battle was terminated, it was
rumored that Tecumseh had been slain.-
General Harrison and some British officers
rode up to identify the body. Harrison re-
cognised the chief by peculiar tooth, which
had turned blue, all the others retaining their
whiteness. Holemen mentioned the circum-
stance of taking the pistol from that Indians
hand. lie went Immediately to his camp and
brought it. The British officer (whose name
he did not know decided that it was one of
pair formerly belonging to general Brock,
which that officer had presented to Tecum-
sch.
Tecumseh was armed with handsomely
made English fowling-piece, and evidently
had his arm extended in the act to fire when
the ball of his antagonist pierced him. His
dress could not be distinguished from the
other Indians except by its comparative clean
ness.
These particulars were narrated to me in
the War Office, few days ago, by MIR. Hole
man himself, in presence of Governor Ramsey,
of Minnesota. Captain Eastman, U. S. A.,
Mr.. Wise, chief clerk of the Indian bureau,
and several other gentlemen. We were i'm
pressed with the entire modesty of the mar
rator. Not word was uttered in the vein
of boasting, or in depreciating the merits of
others, far less of his commander, Colonel
Johnson. He had in that action, three balls
pass through his clothes; namely, one under
his arm and two through the skirts of his
hunting-shirt He also received ball in
his cartridge-box, in front, which was arrest
ed by ball in one of his cartridges. He fired
sixteen balls in that action.
1t affords me pleasure to add that Mr.
Holeman has been appointed Indian Agent
for the Territory of Utah--a mark of respect
due to his intelligence and worth.
Very respectfully,
HENRY r. SCHOOLCRAFT.
RepeIling Mice from Trees We still