Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1885-05-25
WHO KILLED TECUMSEH.
A Fact in History Not Hitherto stated.


a2ine, in The department of open Let.
ters," page 317, is letter by j. c.
Hughes, on the death of the famous
Indian warrior, Tecumseh, in which
this sentence is found: "ColoneI
johnson has generally been supposed
to be the person by whose hand Te-
cumseh fell, although there is some
doubt on this point"
In the year 1916 | became acquaint.
cd with Shabbona, an Indian Chief OF
the Ottawa tribe, who was the abide.
camp of Tecumseb at the battle of the
Thames. Shabbona was living on q
reservation then and since known as
Shabbona's Grove, in DeKalb county
ILL.,, about scventy-tive or eighty miles
west from Chicago. He was nearly
seventy years old, full six feet in
height. straight as an arrow, and with
the step and bearing of prince Nc
man bore higher reputation for truth
and uprightness than he. There are
still many living in that vicinity who
can attest the accuracy of this repre-.
sentation. When ] learned of the po
sition he formerly held under Tecum-
sch | tool .he opportunity to converse
with him on the manner of the great
warriors death in order to satisfy my
own mind; for till then had regarded
the story of his fall by the hand o
Colonel X. M. Johnson as tale de
vised for electioneering purposes
That conversation settled the question
with me forever, and / have no doubt
that Colonel johnson actually killed
him. and write this in order to settle
point of history of Importance.
A year or two before | met Shah
bona he was in the City of Washing
ton, ID. c., walking along the street
with Mr.. w. Gates; he suddenly stop
ped, pointed to a man across the street
and said to Mr.. Gates: That is the
man that killed Tecumseh." He haC
only seen Colonel johnson in the figh
when Tecumseh fell, about thirty year
before, still he recognized his old foe
Mr.. Gates related TO me this incident
Shabbona said that Colonel johnson
rode cream colored horse, ard wa
at the head of his men, leading then
on. The battle had reached the crisis
The Indians of the enemy occupied
strip of timber land. Colonel JOhnso
charged, to drive them out; Tecumse
sprang forward and seized the bridl
of Johnssn's horse, and raised hi
tomahawk to cut him down. The
Johnson shot him with little gun
which he took from leather case be
fore hm-bcfore Tecumseh had tim
to strike. (The little gun, of course
was pistol taken from the holster.
Shabbona said that he had just fired
and his gun was empty; he commence
to load in order to shoot Johnson. Bu
just then the Indians began to lle,
and they shouted to him: ''Shabbona
puck-a-chee! Shabbona, puck-a-chee!
Puck-a-chee means run. SO Shat
bona said that he puck-a-cheed, an
left johnson alive to enjoy the fruit
of his conquest over the mighty Ii
dian.
After the treaty of peace was made
Shabbona changed sides, and becam
fast friend of the United States GO'
ernment. No complaint was eve
heard of his loyalty rs subject or h
integrity as man. When BlaC
Hawk made war and filled the new
settled country of northern lllinO
with terror, Shabbona kept ahead (
his vindictive warriors, and warnt
the defenseless settlers of his cOininI
thus afl'ording them time and help
escape, and undoubtedly saving mar
lives and much property by his fait
fulness. After some years he was ]
duced to part with the beautiful gro
and adjacent prairie, where his nan
yet remains, and, with the small rel
nant of his people who acknowledge
his chieftainship, he made n home I
the Illinois River. few miles south
Morris, in Grundy county, where
died. Ii he. in his YOnnO life. h: