Life of Tecumseh, and of His Brother the Prophet

Life of Tecumseh, and of His
Brother the Prophet

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Title: Life of Tecumseh, and of His Brother the Prophet With a
Historical Sketch of the Shawanoe Indians
Author: Benjamin Drake
Release Date: April 8, 2005 [eBook #15581]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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TECUMSEH, AND OF HIS BROTHER THE PROPHET***
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LIFE OF TECUMSEH, AND OF HIS BROTHER THE PROPHET;
With a Historical Sketch of the Shawanoe Indians
by
BENJAMIN DRAKE
Author of The Life of Black Hawk, Tales from the Queen City, &c. &c.
Cincinnati: Printed and Published by E. Morgan & Co. Stereotyped by
J.A. James, Cincinnati.

1841

PREFACE
Many years have elapsed since the author of this volume determined to
write the life of TECUMSEH and of his brother the PROPHET, and
actually commenced the collection of the materials for its
accomplishment. From various causes, the completion of the task has
been postponed until the present time. This delay, however, has
probably proved beneficial to the work, as many interesting incidents in
the lives of these individuals are now embraced in its pages, which
could not have been included had it been put to press at an earlier
period.
In the preparation of this volume, the author's attention was drawn, to
some extent, to the history of the Shawanoe tribe of Indians: and he has
accordingly prefixed to the main work, a brief historical narrative of
this wandering and warlike nation, with biographical sketches of
several of its most distinguished chiefs.
The author is under lasting obligations to a number of gentlemen
residing in different sections of the country, for the substantial
assistance which they have kindly afforded him in the collection of the
matter embraced in this volume. Other sources of information have not,
however, been neglected. All the histories, magazines and journals
within the reach of the author, containing notices of the subjects of this
memoir, have been carefully consulted. By application at the proper
department at Washington, copies of the numerous letters written by
general Harrison to the Secretary of War in the years 1808, '9, '10, '11,
'12 and '13, were obtained, and have been found of much value in the
preparation of this work. As governor of Indiana territory,
superintendant of Indian affairs, and afterwards commander-in-chief of
the north-western army, the writer of those letters possessed
opportunities of knowing Tecumseh and the Prophet enjoyed by no
other individuals.
In addition to these several sources of information, the author has
personally, at different times, visited the frontiers of Ohio and Indiana,
for the purpose of conversing with the Indians and the pioneers of that
region, who happened to be acquainted with Tecumseh and his brother;
and by these visits, has been enabled to enrich his narrative with some

amusing and valuable anecdotes.
In the general accuracy of his work the author feels considerable
confidence: in its merit, as a literary production, very little. Every line
of it having been written while suffering under the depressing influence
of ill health, he has only aimed at a simple narrative style, without any
reference to the graces of a polished composition. B.D.
Cincinnati, 1841.

CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF THE SHAWANOE INDIANS
CATAHECASSA, or BLACK-HOOF
CORNSTALK
SPEMICA-LAWBA, the HIGH HORN; or, CAPTAIN LOGAN

THE LIFE OF TECUMSEH.

CHAPTER I.
Parentage of Tecumseh--his sister Tecumapease--his brother
Cheeseekan, Sauweeseekau, Nehasseemo, Tenskwautawa or the
Prophet, and Kumakauka

CHAPTER II.
Birth place of Tecumseh--destruction of the Piqua village--early habits
of Tecumseh--his first battle--effort to abolish the burning of
prisoners--visits the Cherokees in the south--engages in several
battles--returns to Ohio in the autumn of 1790

CHAPTER III.
Tecumseh attacked near Big Rock by some whites under Robert

M'Clelland--severe battle with some Kentuckians on the East Fork of
the Little Miami--attack upon Tecumseh in 1793, on the waters of Paint
creek--Tecumseh present at the attack on fort Recovery in
1794--participates in the battle of the Rapids of the Maumee, in 1794

CHAPTER IV.
Tecumseh's skill as a hunter--declines attending the treaty of Greenville
in 1796--in 1796 removed to Great Miami--in 1798 joined a party of
Delawares on White river, Indiana--in 1799 attended a council between
the whites and Indians near Urbana--another at Chillicothe in
1803--makes an able speech--removes with the Prophet to Greenville,
in 1805--the latter commences prophecying--causes the death of
Teteboxti, Patterson, Coltos,