The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-09-14
Number 26.
WHO KILLED TECUMsEH.

-nIl
Senate, ON the 9th ultimo on the lndidn
appropriation bill, in advocating the pay
ment of certain amount OF money duo
the Shawnees. tribe with which he had
had much official intercourse. and OF which
the celebrated warrior, Tecumseh. was
the chief. took occasion to yindicate the
''truth Of history" as follows: n
There are two historical points which
have been much debated, but about which
wish to say few words; both are con-
nected with Col. Johnson and the Shaw
nees. The question has been often moot
ed as to who was the author Of the move
ment by which the mounted regiment COM
menced the attack upon the British at tho
battle of the Thames.
Probably | know as much upon that
fact as any other man now living. and the
facts are these: Gen. Harrison had pre-
scrbed the order Of battle, and promulga.
ted il in the usual manner; that order. di-
rected that the army should move. infant.
ry in front. with portion Of the force
placed at right angles to the main body,
to prevent the enemy from turning the
flank. The cavalry were to remaip in
the rear to follow up all the movements Of
the infantry. They were posted with the
Thames on one flank, and an almost i'm.
passable marsh on the other. Just as tho
arrangement was completed the British
forces were almost in sight, | was sitting
on my horse. when Gen. Harrison rode
up and said to me. 81 have great mind
to change my order Of battle. | feel very
strongly inclined to let Colonel Johnson's
regiment attack the British lines first" /
replied. "You have undoubtedly consid-
cred the difficulty attending the charge;
the mounted men are brave, but undiscip-
lined, and their horses unused TO service.
If defeated. they may be upon our line
and do us irreparable injury" His an
swear was. "Col. Johnson says he can
break the British line, and | will let him
try" Well. the movement was made and
was successful, and never, from that day
to this, have had any doubt that Colonel
Johnson proposed the movement to Gen.
Harrison. -
Mr. Butler.-Did Col. Johnson's regi.
ment charge the enemy with swords or rifles.
Mr.. Cass.-The men were all on horse
back, armed with rifles; few of.them had
swords; they rode down the British forces;
broke their lines almost without impedi-
ment. saw the whole operation myself,
being there rather as spectator, for ifwAs
not in command. talked about it after
wards with some of the British captured
officers, and having expressed my sa0r-
prise at the little opposition the movement
met with, asked why they allowed their
ranks TO be broken, and the men rode
down? They replied that "their men had
become alarmed, for they had heard our
bugles in the swamp on the left, where
they supposed we had heavy force of
regular cavalry. The bugzes, Mr.. Prssi-
dent, were some old tin horns, and vie
had no force there at all. ta,6 tg
had some conversation on the subject,
the other day, at Lexington, with very
intelligent gentleman-Cap,ain Johnson
"a younger brother of Colonel Johnson,
who was there, and we compared notes
and agreed in our recollsc,ions. ,ga
Now, as to the other historic but dispu-
ted point; who killed Tecunsehl Laugh
teri ! will tell you what know. Te-
cumseh fell in the battle, as we are all
aware; but in the following year the
Prophet. Tecumseh's brother. and his son,
young Tecumseh, very intelligent young
man, often came to see me-, and wei had
several conversations respecting the series
of events in which bis father was engaged.
The young man was near his fathers side
in the battle, but his uncle, the Prophet.
vas in the Creek country. The young
man described the battle very graphically
the persons, the parties present, and, all
the incidents, without hesitation from the
beginning to the end, and | have no.more
doubt from his narration than have that
| am here that Colonel Johnson was the
person who killed his father There were
three of the Johnsons in the battle, and
they were as brave men as ever followed
The standard Of their country to ,war.apa