Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-09-19
TecumSeh'S EiOguenCe-IEiS Speech
i'm the War Council.


one in the footsteps of the other. The
Creeks in dense masses stood on eacl
side of the path, but the Shawnees no
ticed no one; they marched to the pole
in the center of the square and ther
turnrd to the left. At each angle of the
square Tccumseh took from his pouch
some tobacco and sumach and dropped
on the ground, and his warriors per-
formed the same ceremony. This they
repeated three times as they marched
around the square. They then approach
ed the flag pole in the center, circlcd
around it three times, and facing the
north threw tobacco and sumach on a
small fire, burning, as usual, near the
base of the pole On this they cmptied
their pouches.
They then marched in the same order
to the Council, or kings house as it was
termed in ancient times, and drew up
before it. The Big Warrior and leading
men were sitting there, This Shawnee
chief sounded his war whoop-a most
diabolical yell-and each of his followers
responded. Tecumsch then presented
the Big Warrior Il wampum belt of five
different colored strands, which the Creek
Chief handed to his warriors and it
passed down the line. The Shawnco's
pipe was then produced; it was large,
long, and profusely decorated with shell
beads, paiatcd eagle, and porcupine
auills. it was lighted from the fire in
the center, and slowly passed from the
biz warrior along the line.
AT this time not word had been ut
tered everything was as still as death,
even the wind slept, and there was only
the gentle fall of leaves. At length
Tecumsch spoke; at first slowly and in
sonorous tones, but he soon grew i'm
passioned, and the words fell in ava
auches from his lips, his eyes burnt
with superior lnstrc, and his whole
frame tremblcd with emotion; his voice
rcsoundcd over the multitude, now sink
ing in low and musical whispers, now
rising to his highest key, hurting out
his words like a succession of thunder
bolts. His countcnauce varied with
his sueech its prevalent expression was
a sneer of hatred and defiance, some
times n murderous smile for brief in
terval sentiment of profound sorrow
peryaded it; and at the close look Of
vengeance, such, / suppose,
as dintipeuishes the arch enemy of
| have heard many great orators, but
never saw one with the vocal powers of
TccuEseh, or the same command over
the muscles oil MS race ilau l oeGn
deat' the play OF MS counte"ahGe "Pela
have to'd me what nc sa'a' lts eiect
upon that wiid' sGPerS'i''ous, uh'alotcu
and wariike assemolaSo nay DC coaceiS-
ed; not a WORD was SAD out stern war
riors' the stoics Oh Tue "ood' snoVk
with emotion anu lhousana 'oIiaha"Ns
were orandiShed IN the air. Even 'nc
Big warrior VINO hau oceh true 10 tue
whites during the war; was ior Tue mo-
ment, Vlslbly auected, ana more thah
once L saw his huge hana ciutch spas,
medically the handle OF his Emile All
this was the effect OF his delivery Tor
though the mother OF Iecumseh was u
Creek and he was iamiIlar with inc
language, he spoke Ill the Northern dla'
lect, and was afterwards interpreted by
an Indian hnguist to the assembly
His speech has been reportea' put no
one has Or can do him justice. THINK
can repeat the substance oil what he
said' and indeed' his very wofuS'
TECUMsEH's SPEECH.