The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-19


| shaws residing at Vincennes named Cradle.
| and one day he came to Governor Harrison
| and requested that he might retire across
the Mississippi, for he said he was old and
heard nothing from the Indians but the cry
for war, and wished to have no share in it,
but rather wanted to retire to q place of
safety. The day afterwards he told Gov
ernor Harrison that there was a plan of
attack against VincenneS which the Indians
had considered and agreed upon, and he
informed the Governor of what the plan
consisted.
The Indian troubles became more and
more alarming until on the 18th of June
the Governor assembled a number of the
leading citizens of Vincennes for the pur-
pose of Immediately taking steps to put the
country in condition to stand the impending
storm, Among those who attended the
meeting was the secretary of the territory,
a judge of the Supreme Court, the Knox
county representatives and the register of
the land office. On their suggestion two
companies of militia were ordered in the
field. On June %. 1910, notice was pub
lshed in the Western Sun calling for a
meeting of citizens at the courthouse in
Vincennes on Wednesday. June q, to take
measures in regard to preparing for the
IuEedt6nSQ luQldu AT the appointed
time and place a meeting was held, at
which General John Gibson was selected
chairman and William Prince secretary.
Governor Harrison was waited on by a
committee and invited to attend the meet
ing and advise them of the condition Of
affairs. The Governor did so, and spoke of
the Indian scare assuring them that ac-
tive measures looking towards their protec-
ton would be taken.
DEVELOPING THE PLOT.
A French trader named Brouillette, whom
the Prophet and his Indians thought to be
in the service of the United States, was
insulted, caused to deny himself an Amer
lean, his house ransacked and plundered.
So unfriendly became the Prophet towards
the whites that he sent the following to
Governor Harrison: THAT his people should
not come any nearer to him. that they
should not settle on the Vermillion river
he smelt them too strong already"
One of the chiefs of the Pottawatomies
arrived in Vincennes about this time, bring
ing word to Governor Harrison that he was
the representative of sixteen villages west
of the Wabash river, to inform him that
they had deserted the Prophet who had
instigated them against the Americans.
Another arrival who brought important
news was the French trader Brouillette,
who arrived on the 29th, after having been
at the Prophets town for two months. He
brought information to the Governor that
there were in VincenneS certain persons
who had secretly been carrying on a
correspondence with the Prophet. This
showed that there were enemies within the
town and favorably disposed to the designs
of the Prophet and his Indian warriors.
Governor Harrison sent Dubois to the
Prophet to inquire why he had assembled
such a large number of Indians at his
town and why he entertained hostile inten-
lions against the United States The Proph-
ct informed Mr.. Dubois that he had as
sembled the Indians there in obedience to
the call of the Great Spirit and that he did
not have any hostile intentions against the
United States. From old friends of his
whom Mr.. Dubois met at the Prophets he
obtained information that the Prophet had
long been preparing for war, but with
whom they were unable to say-whether
against the Usage nation or the United
States.
Colonel Vigo, having been sent on mis-
sion to the Miamis, returned about the 18th
of August, 1910, with the news that the Mi
amis would remain true to the United
States. About two weeks later Mr.. Barron,
who had gone on a similar mission to the
Prophet to gather information for the Gov
ernor, returned to Vincennes. He reported
that the speech of Governor Harrison, which
he had taken to the Prophet, was well re-
ceived by the assembled tribes. They were
loud in their praises and denied vehemently
that they entertained any hostility against
the United States. Tecumseh, who was pres
ent made known the fact that the Indians
could never become the friends of the United
States unless the United States recognized
the assent of all the tribes when one wished
to part with any of it's territory to the
United States government. Barron also
brought information that the Indians were
fearing an attack and that it seemed the
Prophets influence was waning. He also In
formed the Governor that Tecumseh was
preparing to make him a visit, accompanied
by one hundred of his warriors
TECUMSEH AND HARRISON.
On Sunday, the 18th OF August, lSlO'
Tecumseh arrived at Vincennes with his
large force Of chiefs and young warriors.
He held two conferences with Harrison
but nothing of Importance was done. Tine
number of men Tecumseh actually brought
was seventy-fve. At these conferences Te-
cumseh endeavored to uphold his COM
WHICH, IlC ldu A&AoAS So~%AAS~ ~-~
United States. For several days he spoke
on this subject. In regard to the lands and
the treaties he said that all tie various
tribes on the continent formed only one ma
ton, that the Great Spirit had given all the
land in common to the whole Indian ma
ton, and that one tribe could not barter
| it away without the consent of the others.
The Governor attempted to show that the
United States had dealt justly with the
various tribes in it's treaties, but this so an
| ragged Tecumseh that he sprang to his feet,
| and, brandishing his tomahawk, as did also
| his warriors, asserted that what Governor
| Harrison had said was false, was lie
! The Governors guard, consisting Of twelve
| men, now came forward, and, surrounded
| thus, the Governor told Tecumseh that he
| would hold no further conference with him,
| and the council broke up in confusion.
| Tecumseh repented during the night, and
! the next day, after apologizing to the Gov
ernor, was granted another interview. The
| Governor, however was on his guard lest
anything unusual might happen, and had
| two companies of militia near; besides. the
| Governor and those who attended him were
| well armed. Captain Joness company was
ordered to parade, night and day, and keep
| themselves ready for any emergency that
might arise. Tecumseh, however, was not
| disnosed IN he as insolent as he had been.