TECUMSEH

THIS renowned warrior was born on the Scioto, near the present site of Chillicothe, in Ohio. His father, Pukeesheeno, was a Shawanese chief, and was killed fighting against the Virginians, at the battle of Point Pleasant, in 1774. His mother had three sons at one birth, Tecumseh, Ellskwatawa and Kumskaka. Of the latter we have no further account, but Tecumseh and his brother Ellskwatawa, or the Prophet, became the two most famous Indian chiefs of their day. Tecumseh, in the Shawanese language, signifies a cougar crouching for his prey, and Ellskwatawa an open door. The date of their birth is about the year 1770. Tecumseh engaged in the hostilities which led to the defeat of St. Clair in 1792, and, at this early age, became distinguished for his prowess and his animosity toward the Americans. He continued fighting against them until General Wayne had given the Indians a severe overthrow, and effected a pacification by the treaty of Greenville, in 1795. The hatchet was then laid aside for several years. Tecumseh acquired great influence among his countrymen by his sagacity and penetration, and was particularly noted for the uniform sobriety of his habits.

The government of the tribe in the mean time was administered nominally by his brother, the Prophet, but Tecumseh was in fact the chief director of public affairs. His hostility to the Americans was

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silently cherished during the whole interval of peace. His views being expanded and his judgment. matured by years and experience, he began to entertain thoughts of a scheme which had exercised the talents of Philip and Pontiac,-to unite all the tribes in a confederacy against the whites. The intrigues and impostures of his brother contributed to aid this project in a singular manner. The Prophet, during the early part of his life, abandoned himself to stupid intoxication, but, about the year 1804, a sudden and remarkable change came over him, and he was inspired with a singular project. event is in substance as follows. the act of lighting his pipe in his wigwam, he fell back in a trance upon his bed, and continued a long time motionless and without any signs of life. He was supposed to be dead, and preparations were made for his burial. All the principal men of the tribe were assembled, according to custom, around the body of their chief, and they were in the act of bearing him away to his grave, when he suddenly revived, and uttered these words: "Be not alarmedI have seen heaven. Call the tribe together, that I may reveal to them the whole of my vision." The tribe were accordingly collected together, and he proceeded to inform them that two beautiful young men had been sent from heaven by the Great Spirit, who addressed him in the following language:-"The Great Spirit is angry with you, and will destroy all the red men, unless you abandon drunkenness, lying and stealing. If you will not do this, and turn your. selves to him, you shall never enter the beautiful

place which we will now show you." He was then conducted to the gates of heaven, where he was indulged with a sight of all its glories, but not permitted to enter. After being tantalized in this manner for several hours, he was ordered to return to the earth, inform the Indians of what he had seen, and urge them to repent of their vices, and they would visit him again.

It was in consequence of this vision that Ellskwatawa assumed the name and functions of a prophet, and soon acquired an extraordinary celebrity. He established himself at Greenville, where Wayne's army had been cantoned in 1795, and the treaty with the Indians concluded. Here he proclaimed himself a Prophet and Reformer, and announced that the Great Spirit who had made the red men, was not the same that made the white men; that the misfortunes which had befallen the red men, were owing to their having abandoned the mode of life which he had first taught them, and imitated the manners of the whites; and that he was commanded to tell them that they must return to their former habits, leave off the use of whiskey, discard the coats and blankets of the white men, and clothe themselves in skins. The fame of the Prophet spread through all the surrounding tribes, and he soon found himself at the head of a large number of followers. It is remarkable that although the purpose of his mission was the reformation of the morals of his people, the greater number of his adherents consisted of the most abandoned characters. They were principally young men of the Shawanese, Delawares, Wyandots, Potawotamies,

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Ottawas, Chippeways and Kickapoos,-dissolute, unprincipled and roving adventurers. But we can find a parallel in the history of past times. The first band of crusaders who marched to the rescue of the Holy Sepulchre, were mostly men of the same stamp. Novelty and the love of adventure were the main stimulants in both cases.

Besides his ordinary followers, the Prophet was visited by immense throngs of men, women and chil dren from the tribes on the Upper Mississippi and Lake Superior. The most extravagant tales were told, and believed by the Indians, of his power to perform miracles; and they considered no fatigue or suffering too great to be endured for a sight of him. The inhabitants of Ohio became alarmed at witnessing this great assemblage of the savages upon their frontier, and the governor of the state sent a messenger to the Prophet to insist upon their removal. The agent of the United States at Fort Wayne, also perceiving the design of their crafty leader to fix himself permanently at Greenville, which was within the American limits, seconded these remonstrances so strongly that he was compelled to remove. In 1808 he abandoned Greenville, with all his followers, and selected a new residence on the north bank of the Wabash, near the mouth of the Tippecanoe.

The occupation of this place was also illegal, as the territory belonged to the Miami tribe, who had never given their consent to the intrusion. They made strong remonstrances against it, but the Prophet paid no heed to them. His followers now comprised a strong body of the most daring and unprincipled