Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-25
An Indian Sketeh--AnOthGr Medal.
L. A. TnInan RInan /

Noportion of the great Northwest affords
so much material-and that, too, of the
most exciting character-for the historian,
as the Maumee Valley. There is scarcely a
foot of ground between the head Of Lake
Erie and the Ohio River that has not been
the scene Of deadly strife between the
whites and the nchildren of the forest"
And that section Of country south and
southwest of this city, extending from the
mouth of the river to Wyandott, Hardin,
Allen and Van Vert counties, is especially
rich in warlike "reminiscences. Within
this territory there were fought several
sa%nguinary engagements, and one which
resulted most dissstrouEly to the Indians,
was fought on the goth of August, 1894,
between Gen. Wayne and the Chief of the
Miamias, Little Turtle-the latter the sub
ject of this sketch.
After the defeat experienced at the date
mentioned, Little Turtle became a firm
friend to the United States, and exercised
a wide influence over n~eighboring tribes.
His original name was M~ichikiniqua, and
he inherited no title, but rose by the force
of his own genius, soundness of mind and
high order of talents, to a commanding
position-one scarcely inferior to that oe-
cupied by Tecumseh, whom he opposed.
In 1871, with his entire tribe and portions
Of the Shawnees, Wyandotts, Iewas and
Pottawatomies, he defeated Generals Har-
mai and st. Clair, at q place lately known
as Fort Recovery, in Mercer county. In
1895 a treaty was made with this Chief,
when he settled on Eel river, about 20
miles from Fort Wayne, and devoted him
self to reforming the savage habits Of his
people, and did much towards abolishing
the rites of human sacrifice. In 1904 he
visited the Legislatures of Kentucky and
Ohio, and in the most glowing oolors, it is
said, depicted the destruction intempsranpe
was bringing upon the Indians, and be-
sought protection for the Indians from the
traders, who, he said, "would strip the poor
Indian of skins, gun, blanket, everything
while his squaw and children, dependent
upon him, lay starving and shivering in
his wigwam."
Little Turtle opposed the designs of Te-
cumseh and his brother, the Prophet, in
their efforts to organize a confederation of
all the Indian tribes of the west and south
against the Americans, but when, early in
1872, the intrigues of Tecumseh and his
brother had been in q measure successful,
Little Turtle took a firm and unyielding
stand in favor of the whites, but he was
not permitted toparticipate In the exciting
scenes which ensued, as he died July IA,
1872. For his noble conduct at an earlier
period, Gen. Harrison, on behalf of the
Government, presented him with a large
silver medal as IN appreciation of his OPP
position to Teeumseh and his active friend
ship for the white pioneers-and at the
same time the General presented other
smaller medals to several chiefs of less
note in Little Turtles tribe. The Little
Turtle medal has come into our possession
through Mr.. Henry Hall, of this city, and
we describe it as follows;
1t is of pure silver, about three inchesin
diameter; IN the diverse side is o bust of
Thomas Jefferson, surrounding which is
the legend-Thos. Jefferson, President of
the U. S. A. 1901. On the reverse: clasped
hands in centre, and over these a toma-
hawk and pipe crossed; underneath the
hands is a small turtle; at thetop, over the
pipe and Ratchet, is the word ''peace," and
on the lower side, Friendship"
The silver, in the estimation Of the In
dian, denoted purity, and the likeness Of
Mr.. Jefferson was to them a guarantee of
the purity and honesty of his purpose;
the clasped hands were a sign of eternal
friendship, and most nobly did Little FUR
tie fulfill his part of the treaty, and we
have no record that the Government was
less true to him. Many e severe rebuke
did he administer to Tecumseh and those
who were inclined to follow the advice of
that willy savage, and predicted calamity
to those who should link their fortunes
with Great Britain. His prophecies proved
correct, and afterwards Little Turtle was
regarded by the Indian tribes as n of
the greatest warriors and most sagaeious
rulers rel known among them. The
medal before US was presented to him, we
believe, in the fall of 1909, at Yincennes,
Indiana.