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This famous Indian chief was born about the
year 1768, not far from the site of the present city of Springfield, Ohio.
His father, Puckeshinwa, was a member of the Kisopok
tribe of the Swanoese nation, and his mother, Methontaske,
was a member of the Turtle tribe of the same people. They removed from
Florida about the middle of the last century to the birthplace of Tecumseh.
In 1774, his father, who had risen to be chief, was slain at the battle
of Point Pleasant, and not long after Tecumseh, by his
bravery, became the leader of his tribe. In 1795 he was declared chief,
and then lived at Deer Creek, near the site of the present City of Urbana.
He remained here about one year, when he returned to Piqua, and in 1798,
he went to White River, Indiana. In 1805, he and his brother, Laulewasikan
(Open Door), who had announced himself as a prophet, went to a tract of
land on the Wabash River, given them by the Pottawatomies and Kickapoos.
From this date the chief comes into prominence. He was now about thirty-seven
years of age, was five feet and ten inches in height, was stoutly built,
and possessed of enormous powers of endurance. His countenance was naturally
pleasing, and he was, in general, devoid of those savage attributes possessed
by most Indians. It is stated he could read and write, and had a confidential
secretary and adviser, named Billy Caldwell, a half-breed,
who afterward became chief of the Pottawatomies. He occupied the first
house built on the site of Chicago. At this time, Tecumseh
entered upon the great work of his life. He had long objected to the grants
of land made by the Indians to the whites, and determined to unite all
the Indian tribes into a league, in order that no treaties or grants of
land could be made save by the consent of this confederation.
He traveled constantly, going from north to south; from the south to
the north, everywhere urging the Indians to this step. He was a matchless
orator, and his burning words had their effect.
Gen. Harrison, then Governor of Indiana, by watching
the movements of the Indians, became convinced that a grand conspiracy
was forming, and made preparations to defend the settlements. Tecumseh's
plan was similar to Pontiac's, elsewhere described, and
to the cunning artifice of that chieftain was added his own sagacity.
During the year 1809, Tecumseh and the prophet were
actively preparing for the work. In that year, Gen. Harrison
entered into a treaty with the Delawares, Kickapoos, Pottawatomies, Miamis,
Eel River Indians and Weas, in which these tribes ceded to the whites
certain lands upon the Wabash, to all of which Tecumseh
entered a bitter protest, averring
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as one principal reason that he did not want the Indians
to give up any lands north and west of the Ohio River.
Tecumseh, in August, 1810, visited the General at Vincennes
and held a council relating to the grievances of the Indians. Becoming
unduly angry at this conference he was dismissed from the village, and
soon after departed to incite the southern Indian tribes to the conflict.
Gen. Harrison determined to move upon the chief's headquarters
at Tippecanoe, and for this purpose went about sixty-five miles up the
Wabash, where he built Fort Harrison. From this place he went to the prophet's
town, where he informed the Indians he had no hostile intentions, provided
they were true to the existing treaties. He encamped near the village
early in October, and on the morning of November 7, he was attacked by
a large force of the Indians, and the famous battle of Tippecanoe occurred.
The Indians were routed and their town broken up. Tecumseh returning not
long after, was greatly exasperated at his brother, the prophet,
even threatening to kill him for rashly precipitating the war, and foiling
his (Tecumseh's) plans.
Tecumseh sent word to Gen. Harrison
that he was now returned from the South, and was ready to visit the President
as had at one time previously been proposed. Gen. Harrison
informed him he could not go as a chief, which method Tecumseh
desired, and the visit was never made.
In June of the following year, he visited the Indian agent at Fort Wayne.
Here he disavowed any intention to make a war against the United States,
and reproached Gen. Harrison for marching against his
people. The agent replied to this; Tecumseh listened
with a cold indifference, and after making a few general remarks, with
a haughty air drew his blanket about him, left the council house, and
departed for Fort Maiden, in Upper Canada, where he joined the British
standard.
He remained under this Government, doing effective work for the Crown
while engaged in the war of 1812 which now opened. He was, however, always
humane in his treatment of the prisoners, never allowing his warriors
to ruthlessly mutilate the bodies of those slain, or wantonly murder the
captive.
In the Summer of 1813, Perry's victory on Lake Erie occurred, and shortly
after active preparations were made to capture Maiden. On the 27th of
September, the American army, under Gen. Harrison, set
sail for the shores of Canada, and in a few hours stood around the ruins
of Maiden, from which the British army, under Proctor, had retreated to
Sandwich, intending to make its way to the heart of Canada by the Valley
of the Thames. On the 29th Gen. Harrison
was at Sandwich, and Gen. McArthur took possession of
Detroit and the territory of Michigan. |
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On the 2d of October, the Americans began their pursuit of
Proctor, whom they overtook on the 5th, and the battle of the Thames followed.
Early in the engagement, Tecumseh who was at the head of
the column of Indians was slain, and they, no longer hearing the voice of
their chieftain, fled. The victory was decisive, and practically closed
the war in the Northwest.
[picture inserted of]
INDIANS ATTACKING A STOCKADE. |
Just who killed the great chief has been a matter of much dispute; but
the weight of opinion awards the act to Col. Richard M. Johnson,
who fired at him with a pistol, the shot proving fatal.
In 1805 occurred Burr's Insurrection. He took possession
of a beautiful island in the Ohio, after the killing of Hamilton,
and is charged by many with attempting to set up an independent government.
His plans were frustrated by the general government, his property confiscated
and he was compelled to flee the country for safety. |
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In January, 1807, Governor Hull, of Michigan
Territory, made a treaty with the Indians, whereby all that peninsula was
ceded to the United States. Before the close of the year, a stockade was
built about Detroit. It was also during this year that Indiana and Illinois
endeavored to obtain the repeal of that section of the compact of 1787,
whereby slavery was excluded from the Northwest Territory. These attempts,
however, all signally failed.
In 1809 it was deemed advisable to divide the Indiana Territory. This
was done, and the Territory of Illinois was formed from the western part,
the seat of government being fixed at Kaskaskia. The next year, the intentions
of Tecumseh manifested themselves in open hostilities,
and then began the events already narrated.
While this war was in progress, emigration to the West went on with surprising
rapidity. In 1811, under Mr. Roosevelt of New York, the
first steamboat trip was made on the Ohio, much to the astonishment of
the natives, many of whom fled in terror at the appearance of the "monster."
It arrived at Louisville on the 10th day of October. At the close of the
first week of January, 1812, it arrived at Natchez, after being nearly
overwhelmed in the great earthquake which occurred while on its downward
trip.
The battle of the Thames was fought on October 6, 1813. It effectually
closed hostilities in the Northwest, although peace was not fully restored
until July 22, 1814, when a treaty was formed at Greenville, under the
direction of General Harrison, between the United States
and the Indian tribes, in which it was stipulated that the Indians should
cease hostilities against the Americans if the war were continued. Such,
happily, was not the case, and on the 24th of December the treaty of Ghent
was signed by the representatives of England and the United States. This
treaty was followed the next year by treaties with various Indian tribes
throughout the West and Northwest, and quiet was again restored in this
part of the new world.
On the 18th of March, 1816, Pittsburgh was incorporated as a city. It
then had a population of 8,000 people, and was already noted for its manufacturing
interests. On April 19, Indiana Territory was allowed to form a state
government. At that time there were thirteen counties organized, containing
about sixty-three thousand inhabitants. The first election of state officers
was held in August, when Jonathan Jennings was chosen
Governor. The officers were sworn in on November 7, and on December 11,
the State was formally admitted into the Union. For some time the seat
of government was at Corydon, but a more central location being desirable,
the present capital, Indianapolis (City of Indiana), was laid out January
1, 1825. |
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On the 28th of December the Bank of Illinois, at Shawneetown,
was chartered, with a capital of $300,000. At this period all banks were
under the control of the States, and were allowed to establish branches
at different convenient points.
Until this time Chillicothe and Cincinnati had in turn enjoyed the privileges
of being the capital of Ohio. But the rapid settlement of the northern
and eastern portions of the State demanded, as in Indiana, a more central
location, and before the close of the year, the site of Columbus was selected
and surveyed as the future capital of the State. Banking had begun in
Ohio as early as 1808, when the first bank was chartered at Marietta,
but here as elsewhere it did not bring to the state the hoped-for assistance.
It and other banks were subsequently unable to redeem their currency,
and were obliged to suspend.
In 1818, Illinois was made a state, and all the territory north of her
northern limits was erected into a separate territory and joined to Michigan
for judicial purposes. By the following year, navigation of the lakes
was increasing with great rapidity and affording an immense source of
revenue to the dwellers in the Northwest, but it was not until 1826 that
the trade was extended to Lake Michigan, or that steamships began to navigate
the bosom of that inland sea.
Until the year 1832, the commencement of the Black Hawk War, but"
few hostilities were experienced with the Indians. Roads were opened,
canals were dug, cities were built, common schools were established, universities
were founded, many of which, especially the Michigan University, have
achieved a world wide-reputation. The people were becoming wealthy. The
domains of the United States had been extended, and had the sons of the
forest been treated with honesty and justice, the record of many years
would have been that of peace and continuous prosperity. |