manded. His persuasive voice was listened to one day by the Wyandots, on the plains of Sandusky; on the next, his commands were issued on the banks of the Wabash. He was anon seen paddling his canoe across the Mississippi, then boldly confronting the Governor of Indiana, in the council-house at Vincennes. Now carrying his banner of union among the Creeks and Cherokees of the south, and from thence to the cold and inhospitable regions of the north, neither intoxicated by success, nor discouraged by failure. (See note 2.)

A combination of Indians, more formidable, and more extended than any which this Continent had ever witnessed, was thus nearly completed, when the battle of Tippecanoe-fought during his absence, and in violation of his orders-terminated at once his career, and compelled him to become a mere accessory to England, in the war that followed. General Harrison was, at that time, Governor of Indiana; and Vincennes, on the Wabash, between Indiana and Illinois, the capital. He was also superintendant of Indian affairs, and in both capacities had a difficult and arduous duty to perform.

Having heard, in 1807, of some extraordinary movements among the Indians, he reproved them in the severest terms. The prophet (Tecumseh's brother) replied, denying any intention to make a disturbance, and desired that General Harrison would "not listen any more to the voice of bad birds." In the spring of 1808, the Indians in the vicinity of Fort Wayne neglected their corn-fields, in order to listen to the prophet; and in the autumn of that year, were almost destitute of food. To prevent depredations upon the settlements, General Harrison ordered the American agent, at Fort Wayne, to furnish them with provisions from the public stores. During the summer of that year, the prophet selected Tippecanoe as his permanent residence, and his numerous disciples followed him thither. From thence he sent word to General Harrison, in July, that he intended to make him a visit. He accordingly, in August, repaired to Vincennes, where he remained two weeks, addressing frequently his disciples in presence of the governor; and, on every occasion, spoke in strong terms of "the evils of war, and spirituous liquors."

On leaving Vincennes, he declared that he did not wish the Indians to take up the hatchet, either for the British or the Long Knives.

In 1809, Tecumseh met Governor Harrison, and claimed the lands which had previously been ceded by the Miamies, "because they belonged to all the tribes, and could not be parted with, except by the consent of all.” This argument being too absurd to elicit Governor Harrison's attention, Tecumseh returned in bad humor to his people, and redoubled his exertions to bring about a combination of the whole western tribes.

In the following year, 1810, he visited General Harrison at Vincennes, accompanied by three hundred warriors, completely armed. This numerous body-guard created an unusual sensation, and many supposed that a war would immediately follow. By the prudence, however, of General Harrison, the storm which had hovered for some time over the

American settlements, descended in a genial shower; although Tecumseh had declared, that all that General Harrison had said "was false, and that he, and the seventeen Fires, had cheated and imposed upon the Indians ;" and General Harrison had told him, "that he was a bad man, and must immediately leave the village."

Tecumseh, on the next day, requested another interview, to explain his conduct. On this occasion, his manner was respectful and dignified. On the following day, General Harrison visited Tecumseh in his camp, attended only by an interpreter, and was politely received. A long conversation ensued, in which Tecumseh declared, "That the policy which the United States had pursued, in purchasing lands from the Indians, he viewed as a mighty water, ready to overflow his people; and that the confederacy he was forming among the tribes, to prevent any individual tribe from selling without the consent of the others, was the dam he was erecting, to resist this mighty water." He stated further, "that he should reluc tantly be drawn into a war with the United States, and if he (the governor) would prevail on the president to give up the land lately purchased, and agree never to make another treaty, without the consent of all the tribes, he would assist them in a war about to take place with the English; that he preferred being an ally of the seventeen Fires, (seventen States,) but if they did not comply with his request, he would be compelled to unite with the British." The governor replied, "that he would make known his views to the president, but that there was no probability of their being agreed to." "Then," said Tecumseh, "the Great Spirit must determine the matter. It is true, the president is so far off that he will not be injured by the war. He may sit still in his town, and drink his wine, while you and I will have to fight it out." This prophecy, it will be seen, was literally fulfilled; and the chieftain who uttered it, attested its fulfilment with his blood. The governor, in conclusion, proposed to Tecumseh that, in the event of a war, he should use his influence to put an end to the cruel mode in which it had hitherto been carried on. To this, Tecumseh cheerfully assented; and it is due to his memory, that he ever afterward kept his word.

The border difficulties continuing, General Harrison requested of the war department, that the fourth regiment of the United States troops, then at Pittsburgh, under the command of Colonel Boyd, should be ordered to Vincennes, and at the same time, asked for authority to act offensively, as soon as he ascertained that the Indians were decidedly hostile. Both requests were immediately granted.

On the 27th of July, 1811, Tecumseh again visited General Harrison, at Vincennes, with about four hundred warriors. Some murders had previously been committed in Illinois; and Governor Edwards had apprised General Harrison of the fact, and that he believed they were committed by the Shawnees. Both territories were in a state of great alarm; and the secretary of war was officially notified, that if the General Government did not take measures to protect the inhabitants, they were deter

mined to protect themselves. In this last conference, Tecumseh stated that, "after much trouble and difficulty, he had induced all the western tribes to unite, and place themselves under his direction. That the United States had set him the example, of forming a strict union among all the Fires that compose their confederacy. That the Indians did not complain of it, nor should his white brothers complain of him for doing the same thing, in regard to the Indian tribes. That as soon as the council was over, he was to set out on a visit to the southern tribes, to prevail on them to unite with those of the north. That the murders spoken of, ought to be forgiven, and that he had set the whites an example of the forgiveness of injuries, which they ought to follow. That a great number of Indians were coming to settle at Tippecanoe, in the autumn, and would need the tract (which the Americans had contemplated surveying,) for a hunting. ground. That he wished everything to remain in its present situation, till his return; when he would visit the president, and settle all difficulties with him."

The governor made a brief reply, saying, "That the moon which they beheld," (it was then night,)" would sooner fall to the earth, than the president suffer his people to be murdered with impunity. And that he would put his warriors in petticoats, sooner than give up the country which he had fairly acquired from the rightful owners." Here the council terminated.

It has frequently been asked whether Tecumseh, in either of the above visits, contemplated actual violence; and several answers have been given. The better opinion, however, is, that he merely wished to impress the whites with an idea of his strength, and at the same time gratify his ambition as a chieftain, at the head of a numerous retinue of warriors. Tecumseh, as soon as the council had broken up, returned to Tippecanoe, and shortly thereafter, accompanied by a few followers, commenced his journey to the south.*

In the meantime, the prophet's town became a grand centre for the restless of every tribe. Here they were daily harangued; the most awful incantations were practiced; the spirit of prophecy was indulged to its fullest extent; and the deluded followers of the impostor were told of a hundred charms "to protect them from the weapons of white men." Houses were occasionally robbed, horses were stolen, and a few murders were committed. The prophet's encampment was daily filling up with the bold, the reckless, and daring of every hostile tribe; and his force in a short time amounted to a thousand warriors.

Called together to attack the whites, they became reckless; their savage habits could bear no restraint; and the prophet made no attempt to control their lawless desires. Parties wandered about the country, and the sun scarcely rose, ere its rays fell on the body of some mangled victim. The cries of women and children, and the smoke of the burning cabin, ascended up on high, and called for vengeance.

* See Drake's life of Tecumseh.

Notwithstanding these hostile indications, the prophet, as late as September, sent assurances to Governor Harrison of pacific intentions.

Some horses, however, about the same time were stolen, and the owners while in pursuit of them, were fired upon by the Indians. Early in September, the governor moved with a body of troops in a direction toward their town, and shortly thereafter, one of his sentinels was fired upon by the Indians, and severely wounded.

On the 5th of September, 1811, Governor Harrison, with about nine hundred effective troops, encamped within ten miles of the prophet's town. This force was composed of two hundred and fifty of the fourth regiment of United States infantry, one hundred and thirty volunteers, and a body of militia. On the next day, the Indians, when the army was about five miles distant from the village, refused to hold any conversation with the interpreter sent forward by the governor, to open a communication with them. When about a mile and a half from the town, a halt was made for the purpose of encamping for the night. Several urged an immediate attack upon the town, and among them, Joseph H. Davis, an eminent lawyer from Kentucky, (from whom the county of Joe Davis, in Illinois, derives its name.) This Governor Harrison declined, as his instructions from the president were positive, not to attack the Indians so long as there was a probability of their complying with the demands of Government. Captain Dubois was thereupon sent forward to ascertain the desired intelligence. The Indians made no reply; whereupon the governor determined to consider them as enemies, and at once to march upon the town. He had proceeded, however, but a short distance, when he was met by three Indians, one of whom was a councillor of the prophet, who stated, that they were sent to know why an army was marching thither; that the prophet wished to avoid hostilities; that he had sent a pacific message to Governor Harrison by the Miami and Pottawatomy chiefs, who had failed to meet him on his march. A suspension of hostilities was therefore agreed upon, and the terms of a peace were to be settled on the morrow. To some, however, the morrow never came.

The army was then marched to an elevated spot, nearly surrounded by an open prairie, with water convenient, and a sufficiency of wood for fuel. The ground was judiciously selected, and was about three-fourths of a mile from the village. No one anticipated an attack during the night, because it was supposed that if the Indians intended to act offensively, it would have been done on their march—where the ground was broken, and the army, therefore, compelled to change its position frequently in the course of a mile.

The Indians had fortified their town with care, and great labor, as though they were intending to act upon the defensive only. It was to many a favorite spot; had long been the scene of those mysterious rites, performed by the prophet; and they were taught to believe, and many unquestionably did believe, that it was wholly impregnable.

We have already remarked, that no one anticipated an attack. Strict

orders, however, were given, in case of such an event, that each corps maintain its position at all hazards, until relieved. The whole army, during the night, lay upon their arms; the regular troops in their tents, with their accoutrements on, and their arms by their sides; the militia, who had no tents, with their clothes and accoutrements on, and their guns under their heads, to keep them dry. The order of encampment was the same as the order of battle; and as every man slept opposite to his post in the line, the troops had nothing to do, in case of an assault, but to rise and form in rear of the fires, around which they had slept. A guard, consisting of one hundred and fifty men, commanded by a field officer, was set; the night was dark and cloudy, and after midnight, there was a drizzling rain. Such was the position of the American army on the evening of the 6th of September, 1811.

Governor Harrison, on the morning of the 7th, according to his usual practice, arose a little before four o'clock; and while drawing on his boots, and conversing with the gentlemen of his family-who were reclining on their blankets, waiting for the signal, which in a few moments would have been given, for the troops to turn out, (the orderly drum having already been roused for the reveille) and the moon, overshadowed by clouds, giving a dim and sickly light-the Indians commenced a furious attack upon the left flank of the camp. They had crept up so near to the sentinels, as to hear them challenge when relieved; and had intended to rush in upon and kill them before they had time to fire. One of them, however, discovered an Indian creeping toward him in the grass, and fired. It was followed by an Indian war-whoop, and a desperate charge. The whole army was instantly on its feet. The camp-fires were extinguished. The governor mounted his horse, and proceeded to the point attacked. Some of the companies took their places in the line, in forty seconds after the report of the first gun; and all the troops were prepared for action in less than two minutes. The battle immediately became general, and was maintained on both sides with desperate valor. The Indians advanced and retreated by the aid of a rattling noise, made with deer's hoofs, and persevered in their attack, with an apparent determination to conquer or die. The battle raged with unabated fury and mutual slaughter, until daylight, when a gallant and successful charge drove the Indians into a swamp, and put an end to the conflict.

Previous to the assault, the prophet had given assurances to his followers that, in the coming contest, the Great Spirit would render the arms of the Americans unavailing; that their bullets would fall harmless at the Indians' feet. That the latter would have light in abundance, while the former would be involved in darkness. Availing himself of the privilege conferred by his peculiar office; and unwilling to test, in his own person, the truth of his prophecy, he prudently took a position on an adjacent eminence; and when the action began, he commenced performing some mystic rites, and singing a war-song. Being informed that his men were falling, he told them to fight on, it would soon be as