The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1860-03-23
Written forthe Tribune.
"Reminiscences Of Seneca
County and the War of
1919.
No. Q.
BY GEO. C. BESHAM.

IL was At Fort Beneca where Gen.
Harrison was stationed, just prior to Per.
rvs victory, that he narrowly escaped be-
ing murdered by sn Indian. Most ofyour
readers are aware of the position of this
Fort. 1t was nine miles north of T fin
on the road to Fremont, only few miles
from Fort Stephenson, and was occupied
by HaTison's troops at the time of Gro
ghan's gallant defense of the latter fort
The accout Of the attempt to murder
Harrison the editor of the "Ohio eolec-
tions" takes from the published memoirs
of the brave General, in these words:
"The friendly Indians of the Delaware
Shawnee, and Seneca tribes had been
invited to join him. A number had ac-
cepted the invitation, and had reached
Seneca before the arrival Of the troops
from Kentucky. All the chiefs, and no
doubt the greater part Of the warriors
were favorable to tho American cause;
but, before their departure from their
towns, wretch had insinuOted himself
among them, with the intention Of as
sossinHting the commanding general. He
belonged to the Shawnee tribe, and bore
the ma me Of Blue Jacket, but was not
the celebrated Blue Jacket. who signed
the treaty of Greenville with Gen.
Wayne. He had formerly resided at the
town of Wapakoneta; he had, however,
been absent for a considerable time, and
had returned but few days before the
warriors of that town set out to Join the
American army. He informed the chiefs
that he had been hunting on the Wabash
and, at his request, he was suffered to
join the party, which were about to march
to Seneca. Upon their arrival at Near
thurs block house, they halted and en-
eamPed, for the purpose Ofreceiving pro-
visions from the deputy Indian agent,
Col. Mcpherson, who resided there
Before their arrival at that place Blue
Jacket had communicated to a friend OF
his, "a Shawnee warrior) his intention to
kill the American General, and request
ed his assistance. This his friend de-
clined, and endeavored to dissuade him
from. attempting il, assuring him that il
could not be done without certain sacri-
fee to his own life, as he had been at the
American camp, aad knew that there was
always a guard around the Generals
quarters, who were on duty day and night.
Blue Jacket replied, that he was deter
mined to execute his intention at any
risk; "that he would kin the General, II
he was sure that his guards would cut him
in pieces, not bigger than his thumb nail. &"
"Ne people on earth are more faithful
in keeping secrets than the Indians, but
each warrior has friend from whom he
will conceal nothing. Luckily for Gen-
eral Harrison, the friend of the confdant
Of Blue Jacket was a young Delaware
chief, named Beaver, who was also bound
to the General by the ties of friendship.
He was the son Of Delaware. chief Of
the same name, who had, with others,
been put to death by his own tribe, on
the charge Of Praeteing sorcey. Cen
eral Harrison had been on terms Of friend
ship with bis father, and bad pstronized
bis orphan boys, at that time ten OF twelve
years Of age. He had now arrived to
manhood, and was considered among tue
most promising warriors Of his tribe. To
this young chief the friend Of Blue Jack
Ct revealed the fatal secret. The Beaver
was placed BY this communication in an
embarrassing situations for, should be dis
close what he hadbeard, be would betray
bis friend, than which nothing would De
more rePrgnant to the friends ofan In
dian warrior. Should he not disclose Il
equally or even more 70 Be 1