History of Tecumseh and the War of 1812

I won't burden you with the character of Tecumseh. He was an amazing orator who always spoken in his native Shawnee language although he could read and write English. By 1808 Tecumseh was already arguably the most powerful Indian in the country. He was a close friend and ally of Black Hawk. He estimated he could call almost 10,000 warriors to battle, but hoped for 5 times that. The Americans were afraid. His arch-enemy, William Henry Harrison feared his alliance with the British, who were no longer at war with them. But frustrations were high. In June Tecumseh sent a small group of Indians to Vincennes with a "speech" for Harrison. Speaking of Tecumseh a man says

"I have listened to that man for three years and I have never heard him give any but good advice. He tells us that we must pray to the Great Spirit, who made the world and everything in it for our use, ... he tells us that we must not lie, steal nor drink whiskey; not to make war but live in peace with all mankind. He also tells us to work and make corn."

Tecumseh then traveled to many villages recruiting more tribes to his cause. Their cause. At the same time Harrison moved to convince weak chiefs and sub-chiefs to sign another treaty transferring 3 million acres of common land to the U.S. government for $10,550. Many did not even know what they were signing.

By spring 1810 he had recruited close to 2,000 warriors to come live within the Prophet's Town. While the Indians stockpiled ammo and weapons Harrison sent spies and discovered another 4-5,000 troops lived within a few miles of the Prophet's Town. But there was no evidence of war preparations.

August 12, 1810, Tecumseh traveled again to see Harrison with 400 of his warriors armed with tomahawks and war clubs. With his finest 30 warriors, war painted and armed, they advanced on Harrison and his guard soldiers for a council meeting. Declaring that village chiefs have no right to give away land, he proclaimed these affairs will be dealt with by warriors in the future. Civil chiefs will have no authority. He and his followers would kill any who signed the Fort Wayne agreement unless Harrison backed down. He said "If you offer us presents... we will not accept them... How can we trust the white people? When Jesus Christ came on earth, you killed him and nailed him to a cross. you thought he was dead but you were mistaken. Now you have Shakers among you and you laugh and make light of their worship."

"Harrison ridiculed the idea of common land ownership and denied that the Indians were one nation" [Van Hoose]. After a commotion started by Tecumseh standing and yelling in Shawnee his troops all stood and drew weapons. They meant no attack, but perhaps reacted because Tecumseh laid his hand on his tomahawk. The council resumed the next day. And Tecumseh was much more calm and reserved. He claimed He was not an enemy of the 17 Fires, but the land-grabbing must stop. Also that he wished to see no more dead young men, red or white.

By spring of 1811 the Indian confederation had a force larger than the one Harrison could summon. In a letter to the war department Harrison admits "I wish I could say that the Indians were treated with justice and propriety by all our citizens, but it is far otherwise. They are often abused and maltreated; and it is very rare that they obtain any satisfaction for the most unprovoked wrongs." He was calling for more troops.

In a second council Tecumseh "said his union of tribes was much like the confederation of 17 Fires formed by the white Americans. The Indians had not complained about that plan; now why should the whites be alarmed if he did the same thing? It was the only way to safeguard the common interests of the Indians. Many people believed in him and trusted him to form a powerful union. He said he was determined to continue building his alliance and that the red people would recover the land unjustly taken from them by worthless treaties signed by Indians who did not represent their people. This blunt talk infuriated Harrison." [Van Hoose]

Harrison eager to break up the Prophet's Town marched northwest to the Indian confederation while Tecumseh was south recruiting more to his cause. Spies watched the white's movements. A captured black wagon driver was captured and forced to talk. He told them Harrison had no cannons and planned to attack the next day. Despite Tecumseh's order's, the Prophet engaged Harrison's forces attacking that night. They crawled out of the city and struck them unexpectedly. However the Prophet had deceived Tecumseh's men. He told them his magic would protect them. No American bullet would harm the 700 Indians of the five tribes. By daybreak November 7 the Indians were surrounded on their flanks. Retreating, approximately 200 Indians were killed and wounded opposed to 62 dead Americans and 100 wounded.

Tecumseh returned to find much of what he worked for in shambles. Prophets town was smoldering ruins. His confederacy was seriously weakened. The southern tribes surely would not follow him now. Andrew Jackson praised Harrison for defeating "those unrelenting barbarians".

Then came 1812

Tecumseh and his men sided with the British. A supply convoy was ambushed by 70 Indians and 30 British. Crushing them, they obtained supplies and more importantly dispatches from Washington. With his 700 warriors in a nearby fort, Tecumseh discussed plans with British General Brock. The British/Canadian forces totaled about 600 men where the Americans had about 2,000. The British/Indian forces crossed the Detroit river to attack without delay. Their attack on an American fort was easily defeated. Tecumseh admired General Brock. But he was transferred to Niagara, leaving Col. Henry Proctor, a fat cowardly excuse for a commander.

While Proctor sat in the captured fort, Tecumseh took offensive and attacked several white villages for several weeks. He kept Fort Madison pinned down while a band of Shawnee and Wyandots attacked Fort Harrison. They set fire to several barrels of whiskey near the walls and exploding, they created a huge blaze. Tecumseh might have taken Fort Harrison if Proctor hadn't recalled the 200 reinforcements he promised.

"The president's orders reached Harrison on September 13 1812. He was authorized to gather a force of 10,000 men, retake Detroit and march to Canada... Tecumseh's forces now numbered 3,000 and more warriors were coming to Fort Malden. Men of the Miami tribe joined Tecumseh almost en masse. The Winnebagoes came also as did the Delaware, Shawnee, Wyandot and Kickapoo. From Far away came bands of Cherokee, Creek and Sioux. The confederation, so badly damaged at Tippecanoe, was not dead: it was re-forming across Lake Erie. Tecumseh was stronger than ever" [Van Hoose].

In May of 1813 Tecumseh and Proctor laid siege to another fort containing Harrison and 550 of his men. Tecumseh had 1,200. Harrison was waiting for reinforcements from Kentucky. When they arrived, they pursued the British into the forest. The Indians were waiting for them and decimated them killing 80 wounding 300. the other approximate 120 were taken prisoner. They were marched to Proctor's camp.

"There, according to several reports, Proctor allowed the Indians to shoot and scalp several prisoners until one of Tecumseh's aids found him and told him what was going on. Then, a white soldier reported, Tecumseh came riding madly into camp, leaped off his horse, rushed among the Indians who were torturing the Americans, caught one by the throat, called him a dog and threw him on the ground. He then ran between the warriors and the prisoners, and brandishing a tomahawk, threatened to kill any man who touched another prisoner. Then, his anger subsiding, he asked, 'Are there no men here?' He noticed that several of the Americans were wounded and demanded to know where the British doctors were. About that time, Proctor showed up and complained to Tecumseh that 'Your Indians cannot be controlled.' It is said that Tecumseh replied scornfully, 'Begone, you are unfit to command; go and put on petticoats.'" [Van Hoose]

One night shortly after "But before the council could get started, small white girl approached the group, telling them that her mother had sent her to ask their chief to come and chase the bad Indians away. Tecumseh immediately left with the child, walking rapidly in the direction of her house. As he approached the cabin, he met four Indians carrying a trunk. He knocked the first one down and the others dropped the trunk and drew their tomahawks to resist. 'Dogs!' shouted the Chief, 'I am Tecumseh!' The startled thieves ran in three directions. He then turned to a group of British soldiers loitering nearby and berated them, 'You are worse than running dogs to stand there and watch helpless people being robbed.' He ordered them to guard the house, promising unpleasant consequences if the family were molested again." [Van Hoose]

More than once Tecumseh considered abandoning the British, but his men agreed that if they were to succeed, they must use the assistance of the British.

The first weeks of September 1813 were spent on Bois Blanc Isle on the Detroit River. "On the peaceful tree-lined islands, the Indians hunted small game, fished in the river, wrestled and ran races. They played several games, including stickball, which was Tecumseh's favorite sport" [Van Hoose]. Soon, the British planned to abandon them. Proctor claimed they were merely moving, but they indeed planned to leave the Indians. Tecumseh gave another speech. "Father, listen! The Americans have not yet defeated us by land; neither are we sure they have done so by water. We therefore wish to remain here and fight our enemy, should they make their appearance... You have arms and ammunition. If you go away, give them to us... We will stay and fight. Our lives are in the hands of the Master of Life. We are determined to defend our lands, and if it be his will, we will leave our bones upon them." "Proctor replied he intended to fight the Americans, but preferred to do it on a battleground of his own choice. He said that he too was ready to leave his bones on British ground. Tecumseh responded to this statement through the interpreter. 'He has too much regard for his carcass to leave his bones anywhere.'" [Van Hoose]

October 4, 1813 the British and Indians were retreating against Tecumseh's wishes. It was embarrassing. If Proctor wasn't going to take command, Tecumseh would. Harrison was crossing the rivers behind them. Proctor hadn't taken the wisdom to burn the bridges. Tecumseh "spent the night around a small fire, talking and smoking long into the night. He spoke little of conflict and war but mainly about the conditions of his people. Then, changing the topic abruptly, he announced: 'Brothers, we are now about to enter an engagement from which I shall not return -- my body will remain on the field of battle.' He then spoke briefly of his son, then 17 years old and living with his mother in Missouri. No one knew whether Tecumseh had seen him since infancy because he rarely mentioned him. He unbuckled a short sword, a gift from a British officer and handed it to Wasegoborah, remarked: 'When my son becomes a noted warrior, give him this sword.' Then, following his custom, he went off alone for a few hours of sleep." [Van Hoose]

Proctor agreed to remain and fight with his 600 men. But they were too few to hold the area. Tecumseh and his men held the swamp to the right of the British facing west to meet Harrison. Tecumseh was 45. Tecumseh rode a white pony encouraging the men on the line. He told Proctor to "tell your young men to stand easy and be brave." The Americans divided to fight both British and Indians. The real fight was in the swamp the Indians held.

"As smoke rose from the musket fire, the sounds of whooping Indians, the screams of the wounded and neighing of frightened horses battered the ear drums. Above the sounds in the swamp, one voice could be heard distinctly: one man was shouting orders, sometimes in Shawnee, then in Chippewa or Wyandot: he was offering encouragement to his men and screaming defiance to the enemy. The Kentuckians knew who was directing the action. Tecumseh was a legend among them; they admired him, feared him, though none had seen him. Tecumseh moved up and down the front line in the woods, directing the fire. He was wounded several times, his clothes smeared with blood and blood poured from his mouth. But his determination did not desert him. He kept loading and firing, all the while shouting to his warriors to stand firm. Billy Caldwell saw him fall and asked, 'Are you wounded?' Tecumseh replied, 'I am shot.' Caldwell reported that he had a hole in his chest and that he did not rise again. Suddenly, there was a change in the sounds of battle. Fighters on both sides realized they could no longer hear the voice of Tecumseh. The Shawnee chief was dead... No stranger saw him in death and no white man knows the location of his grave. His dreams of an Indian Empire where red men live free are buried with him." [Van Hoose]

Van Hoose, William H. Tecumseh an Indian Moses. Canton, OH: Daring Books, 1984.