TECUMSEH CHIEF OF THE SHAWNEE
This portrait of Tecumseh is from B. J. Lossing's "Pictorial Field-Book of the War of 1812".
Tecumseh (nila ni thàmthka)
1768 - 1813
Born at Old Piqua, a Shawnee village on the Mad River in Ohio, Tecumseh (which translates as "I Cross the Way" or "A Panther Crouching for His Prey") was the fifth of nine children born to Puckeshinewa, a Shawnee warrior, and Methoataske, a Creek woman. Tecumseh’s early life was full of mixed feelings towards the Americans. Puckeshinewa was usually friendly with the Americans and Tecumseh learned compassion and understanding from him. Puckeshinewa was killed in 1774 at the Battle of Point Pleasant, and in 1779 Methoataske emigrated to Spanish Louisiana. Tecumseh remained in Ohio, living with Tecumapease, an older, married sister, but was influenced by Chiksika, an older brother who opposed white settlement of the Ohio Valley. Chiksika and Tecumseh fought against the Americans in 1782 and 1783, and raided settlements south of the Ohio in the postrevolutionary period. In 1788, after Chiksika was killed in Tennessee, Tecumseh remained in the South and did not oppose Josiah Harmar's campaign into Ohio and Indiana (1790). In 1791 he led a party of Shawnee scouts who monitored Arthur St. Clair's march up the Miami River, but he did not participate in the attack upon St. Clair's encampment. On June 30, 1794, he joined in the attack upon Fort Recovery, and two months later he led a party of Shawnee warriors at Fallen Timbers, but he refused to participate in the Treaty of Greenville (1795).
His mother supposedly instilled in Tecumseh a deep hatred of the Americans and made him vow never to forget that they killed his father. Chiksika reportedly taught Tecumseh to be a warrior and to have dignity. Tecumapese possibly taught him that it was a crime to be deceitful, that one should obey ones elders, and that one should respect the rights of others. Blackfish viewed the Americans as trouble and believed that the only good white man was a dead white man. No matter who raised Tecumseh, he developed into a man who believed in honesty, hard work, and that no one person should control the needs of the many. Tecumseh also did not believe in torture and vowed that no one would torture anyone in his presence.
1768 - 1813
Born at Old Piqua, a Shawnee village on the Mad River in Ohio, Tecumseh (which translates as "I Cross the Way" or "A Panther Crouching for His Prey") was the fifth of nine children born to Puckeshinewa, a Shawnee warrior, and Methoataske, a Creek woman. Tecumseh’s early life was full of mixed feelings towards the Americans. Puckeshinewa was usually friendly with the Americans and Tecumseh learned compassion and understanding from him. Puckeshinewa was killed in 1774 at the Battle of Point Pleasant, and in 1779 Methoataske emigrated to Spanish Louisiana. Tecumseh remained in Ohio, living with Tecumapease, an older, married sister, but was influenced by Chiksika, an older brother who opposed white settlement of the Ohio Valley. Chiksika and Tecumseh fought against the Americans in 1782 and 1783, and raided settlements south of the Ohio in the postrevolutionary period. In 1788, after Chiksika was killed in Tennessee, Tecumseh remained in the South and did not oppose Josiah Harmar's campaign into Ohio and Indiana (1790). In 1791 he led a party of Shawnee scouts who monitored Arthur St. Clair's march up the Miami River, but he did not participate in the attack upon St. Clair's encampment. On June 30, 1794, he joined in the attack upon Fort Recovery, and two months later he led a party of Shawnee warriors at Fallen Timbers, but he refused to participate in the Treaty of Greenville (1795).
His mother supposedly instilled in Tecumseh a deep hatred of the Americans and made him vow never to forget that they killed his father. Chiksika reportedly taught Tecumseh to be a warrior and to have dignity. Tecumapese possibly taught him that it was a crime to be deceitful, that one should obey ones elders, and that one should respect the rights of others. Blackfish viewed the Americans as trouble and believed that the only good white man was a dead white man. No matter who raised Tecumseh, he developed into a man who believed in honesty, hard work, and that no one person should control the needs of the many. Tecumseh also did not believe in torture and vowed that no one would torture anyone in his presence.
Rebecca Galloway, an American, is another individual who may have played a significant role in Tecumseh’s life. Tecumseh had fallen in love with Rebecca and had asked her to marry him. Rebecca gave Tecumseh an ultimatum; in return for her hand, he would have to live like an American and give up his Indian life-style. Tecumseh refused to give up his Indian heritage and he and Rebecca parted ways. However, Rebecca had taught Tecumseh some English. In the future he would use his understanding of the language from time to time, but he usually refused to speak in English, preferring his native Shawnee language.
In the late 1780s and together with his brother (Elskwatawa or Tenskwatawa, called the Prophet) Tecumseh attempted to form an alliance of the Native American inhabitants of the upper Midwest and Ohio River valley and Great Lakes area against the expansion of white settlers. The alliance had a number of membership changes, but at one time or another it included representatives from the Shawnee, Canadian Iroquois, Wyandot, Mingo, Ottawa, Chickamauga, Miami, Kickapoo, Lenni Lenape, Ojibway, Potawatomi, Fox, Sauk, and Mascouten nations. Tecumseh's alliance had its capital at Prophets Town, just a few miles north of Lafayette, Indiana near the present-day town of Battle Ground.
Battle of Tippecanoe
In 1811, Tecumseh left Elskwatawa in charge at Tippecanoe, while he journeyed south to meet with representatives of the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Cherokee nations to enlist them in his alliance of Native American tribes. On November 7, 1811, a US force under the command of future President William Henry Harrison attacked Elskwatawa at the Battle of Tippecanoe, wiping out Elskwatawa's camp and putting an end to Tecumseh's hope of a broad Native American alliance. Tension was mounting between the US and the United Kingdom, and the War of 1812 broke out early the following year. Tecumseh took a force north, where they enlisted as allies of the British.
In the late 1780s and together with his brother (Elskwatawa or Tenskwatawa, called the Prophet) Tecumseh attempted to form an alliance of the Native American inhabitants of the upper Midwest and Ohio River valley and Great Lakes area against the expansion of white settlers. The alliance had a number of membership changes, but at one time or another it included representatives from the Shawnee, Canadian Iroquois, Wyandot, Mingo, Ottawa, Chickamauga, Miami, Kickapoo, Lenni Lenape, Ojibway, Potawatomi, Fox, Sauk, and Mascouten nations. Tecumseh's alliance had its capital at Prophets Town, just a few miles north of Lafayette, Indiana near the present-day town of Battle Ground.
Battle of Tippecanoe
In 1811, Tecumseh left Elskwatawa in charge at Tippecanoe, while he journeyed south to meet with representatives of the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Cherokee nations to enlist them in his alliance of Native American tribes. On November 7, 1811, a US force under the command of future President William Henry Harrison attacked Elskwatawa at the Battle of Tippecanoe, wiping out Elskwatawa's camp and putting an end to Tecumseh's hope of a broad Native American alliance. Tension was mounting between the US and the United Kingdom, and the War of 1812 broke out early the following year. Tecumseh took a force north, where they enlisted as allies of the British.
Detroit surrender
Tecumseh joined British Major-General Sir Isaac Brock to force the surrender of Detroit in August 1812, a major victory for the British. However, Commander Oliver Hazard Perry's victory on Lake Erie, late in the summer of 1813, cut British supply lines and prompted them to withdraw along the Thames Valley. The British burned the public buildings in Detroit and retreated into Upper Canada. Tecumseh followed, fighting rearguard actions to slow the US advance.
Tecumseh joined British Major-General Sir Isaac Brock to force the surrender of Detroit in August 1812, a major victory for the British. However, Commander Oliver Hazard Perry's victory on Lake Erie, late in the summer of 1813, cut British supply lines and prompted them to withdraw along the Thames Valley. The British burned the public buildings in Detroit and retreated into Upper Canada. Tecumseh followed, fighting rearguard actions to slow the US advance.
The next British commander, Major-General Henry Proctor did not have the same working relationship with Tecumseh as the latter had with Brock. Proctor failed to appear at Chatham as expected by the Native Americans. Harrison crossed into Upper Canada in October, 1813 and won a victory over the British and the Native Americans at the Battle of the Thames near Chatham, Ontario. Tecumseh was killed in the battle and, shortly after, the tribes of his confederacy surrendered to Harrison in Detroit.
