Introduction
One of the Most famous Ohioans revered up until now is Tecumseh, the great Indian Chief. He had lived his life continuously defending “his culture, his land, and his people” (Hubbard-Brown 1995). He had been described by one of his battle opponents, William Henry Harrison, as a Shawnee Indian who can be considered as “one of those uncommon geniuses, which spring up occasionally to produce revolutions and overturn the established order of things” (Malinowski 1995). More importantly, he’s one of the main figures involved in the Indian participation in the war of 1812 against the Americans.
Biography
Tecumseh was born in 1768, in a village called Old Piqua, on the Mad River (which is now western Ohio). Being a member of the Shawnee Indian tribe, he was named according to the first thing seen at the moment of his birth, as was the Indian custom. The name Tecumseh, which might have been pronounced that time a “Tekamtha”, meant “The Panther Crossing Across”, for a shooting star streaked across the sky just as he was born (The Gale Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes 1998). He’s the son of Puckenshiwa, also a great Shawnee chief, and Methoataske.
His fighting skills were honed at a very young age—in the battles he and his eldest brother had participated in. His first experience in battle happened when he was just 14, when he accompanied his eldest brother, Chicksika, in his fight against a troop of invading Kentuckians. After that, it had been a part of his routine to go with Chicksika’s war parties (Malinowski 1995).
He had engaged in several battles against the whites and other tribes, but one of the highlights of his life is the establishment of the Indian Movement. His younger brother, Lalawethika (who was later known as Tenskwatawa: The Prophet), found the movement in 1805, with the proposition that it’s for religious revival. Tecumseh joined forces with The Prophet at Greenville. His influence changed the ideologies of the movement: from being religious, it became more political.
He became a leader of the Indians after he refused to sign the Treaty of Greenville in 1795. He and The Prophet attracted many supporters from various tribes by explaining to them the consequences that will affect their tribes should they allow the settlement of the whites. He was not only determined to express his refusal of abiding by the Treaty of Greenville, but he was also firm when it comes to his stand against the invasion of the whites. According to the Notable Native Americans (Malinowski 1995), he exemplified this determination by “dedicating the rest of his life to forging political and military alliances” to strengthen the Indian forces for the opposition of the white invasion.
Later in his life, Tecumseh allied with the British forces, hoping to achieve more efficiency in preventing the Americans to claim the lands which the Indians have been living in for hundreds of years. He became a trusted British ally and was made a brigadier general to lead the Indian forces in the War of 1812. Being such a skilled warrior and an authoritative and brilliant chief, Tecumseh exhibited power in this period.
However, when Tecumseh, together with his troop of 600 loyal warriors, staged a final battle with the Americans in Canada (along the Thames River), he was defeated. He was killed that day, October 15, 1813, in what was known as the Battle of Moraviantown (The War of 1812 and Tecumseh n.d.).
The Indian Participation in the War of 1812
The Shawnee Indians were known to be the “mysterious wanderers of the Eastern woodlands” who were consistent in their stand against the settlement of the whites beyond the Appalachian Mountains. Their skills and prowess in battle made them a favorite guest in other tribes. They have made political alliances with several tribes such as Huron, Delaware, Erie, and Susquehannock, to who they shared their harvests and traded hunting grounds for protection (The Gale Encyclopedia 1998). This made the tribe a potentially strong Indian ally for either camp—British and American—during the War of 1812.
As the war approached, both parties tried to win the support of the Indians (Malinowski 1995). However, the Shawnee Indians who have experienced bloody fights with the Americans thought that their efforts to prevent the Americans from invading their grounds should not end with the Battle of the Fallen Timbers and the Treaty of Greenville ( The War of 1812 and Tecumseh n.d.). For the Shawnee chief Tecumseh, the decision to be made is obvious.
In 1808, Tecumseh flew to Canada to establish political links with the British. He traveled in different places, particularly among the tribes of the Northwest and the South to search for recruits. And in June 1812, when the war had been officially declared, he headed for Canada and offered his support to the British forces (Malinowski 1995).
He was appointed as a brigadier general in the British army. Tradition has it that he was the first, and only, Indian ally to reach that position. He fought at Frenchtown, risin River, Fort Meigs, and Fort Stephenson. He had a meeting with General Isaac Brock, who was the Commander of the British Forces at Amherstburg at that time. Brock admired the bravery and skills of Tecumseh that he even mentioned in one of his letters to his colleagues that compared to Tecumseh, “A more sagacious or a gallant warrior does not, I believe, exist” ( The War of 1812 and Tecumseh n.d.).
Brock and Tecumseh led a combined force against the American troop of General William Hull at the outbreak of the war. With the help of Indian forces, Brock compelled Hull to surrender on August 16, 1812, by surrounding the city of Detroit with both British soldiers and seasoned Indian warriors (Funk and Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia 2002).
Britain had indeed the advantage of having such powerful support from her Indian allies. The alliance benefited both parties: First, the British strengthened their army without having to risk much of their soldiers’ lives, and second, the Indians finally had their opportunity to attack their ancient-old enemy without having to be defeated by hi-tech ammunitions ( The War of 1812 and Tecumseh n.d.).
However, contrary to the belief that Tecumseh had gained such an influence on the Indian minority, according to the Gale Encyclopedia (1998), he was not supported by a majority of Shawnee during his lifetime. Nearly half of the Shawnee population have chosen to move west (now Missouri) rather than take a stand on either side or fight alongside their chief. Nevertheless, it does not negate the strength of Tecumseh’s troop, for those Shawnee who remained and vowed support for Tecumseh were seasoned fighters who were willing to risk their lives (The Gale Encyclopedia 1998).
Until now, Tecumseh’s portrait still hangs by the walls of Shawnee Indians. Reminding them that once there was a brave man in Ohio, who fought for the lands that were originally inhabited by their ancestors. That man stirred the spirits of those few who understood that fighting for one’s land is not solely a declaration of property, but a way to preserve one’s culture and identity.
Words of Tecumseh
“The way, the only way to stop this evil is for the red man to unite in claiming a common and equal right in the land, as it was first, and should be now, for it was never divided. We gave them forest-clad mountains and valleys full of game, and in return what did they give our warriors and our women? Rum, trinkets, and a grave. Brothers—My People wish for peace; the red men all wish for peace; but where the white people are, there is no peace for them, except it be on the bosom of our mother. Where today are the Pequot? Where today are the Narrangansett, the Mohican, the Pokanoket, and many other once powerful tribes of our people? They have vanished before the avarice and the oppression of the White Man, as snow before a summer sun.”
References
Hubbard-Brown, Janet, The Shawnee. New York: Chelsea House, 1995.
Malinowski, Sharon. Notable Native Americans. New York: Gale Research Inc, 1995. pp. 426-430.
The Gale Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes. Detroit: Gale Research Inc, 1998. pp. 285-291.
The War of 1812 and Tecumseh (no date). Web.