“On the 12th [July, 1812,] the Prophet arrived at this place, with nearly one hundred Winnebagoes and Kickapoos, who have ever since been amusing the Indian agents at this place with professions of friendship, and it is now evident that he has completely duped the agent who had suffered him to take the lead in all his councils with the Indians, giving him ammunition, &c. to support his followers until they can receive a supply from Tecumseh.
“On the 19th instant an express arrived in the Prophet's camp from Tecumseh. In order that it should make the better speed, the express stole a horse from some of the inhabitants of the river Raisin, and rode night and day. The horse gave out within twenty miles of this place. This messenger was directed by Tecumseh to tell the Prophet to unite the Indians immediately, and send their women and children towards the Mississippi, while the warriors should strike a heavy blow at the inhabitants of Vincennes; and he, Tecumseh, if he lived, would join him in the country of the Winnebagoes.
“The Prophet found no difficulty in keeping this information to himself and one or two of his confidential followers, and forming a story to suit the palate of the agent here; and, on the 20th instant, he despatched two confidential Kickapoos to effect the objects Tecumseh had in view. In order that these two Indians might make the better speed, they stole my two riding-horses, and have gone to the westward at the rate of one hundred miles in twenty-four hours, at least. To keep the agent blind to his movements, the Prophet went early in the morning yesterday, and told the agent that two of his bad young men were missing, and that he feared they had stole some horses. The agent found no difficulty in swallowing the bait offered him, and applauded the Prophet for his honesty in telling of his bad men, as he called them, stealing my horses.
“To keep up appearances, the Prophet has this morning despatched two men on foot, as he tells the agent, to bring back my horses, &c. He says he and all his party will certainly attend the Commissioner of the United States next month at Piqua.
“This he will do, if he finds he cannot raise the western Indians against the United States; but if he finds the western Indians will join him, you may rely on it, he will strike a heavy blow, as Tecumseh says, against the whites in that quarter. You may rely on the correctness of this statement, as I received information relative to the views of Tecumseh, last night, from a quarter that cannot be doubted. The conduct of the agent towards the Prophet, I have been an eye-witness to.”
NOTE F.—[Page 239.]
As to the individual who had the honor of shooting Tecumseh, public opinion ever has been, and still remains divided, and though a matter of no moment in itself, his death has often been discussed with as much warmth and zeal, as if the ascertaining of who killed him, involved the settlement of some cardinal principle. This discussion owes its origin to party feeling, together with the exertions of the friends of Col. Johnson on the one side to give him the honour, and to the equally zealous efforts of his opponents on the other to wrest it from him, without being able to agree on any other individual upon whom they will bestow it. Could it be proved that Colonel Johnson did kill Tecumseh, it would add nothing to his fame as a hero; could the world be convinced that he did not, it would detract nothing from the glory which he has already won. The settlement of this question, therefore, even were it in our power, could neither add to, nor take from his reputation. It has no sort of connexion with his character as a statesman, and could not affect him otherwise. That he was an able officer is proved by the success of the division under his command at the battle of the Thames:—that he was a brave man, and ever present at the post of danger, is apparent from his having received during that action five wounds, while a small white mare which he rode, died under him of sixteen. These facts establish for him the character of an intrepid and dauntless soldier; while the proving that he killed Tecumseh could do no more, even if it effected so much.
In the work which I have just written, I profess to set forth the principal acts, as well as the most striking features in the character of this celebrated chieftain, and as on that account some information, or at least a detail of those circumstances which are known relative to his death, may be expected, I shall give in a concise manner such particulars of the battle in which he fell as I have often heard stated in connexion with this event. Before doing so, however, I will mention the sources from which they have been drawn, and leave the reader to award to them such a degree of belief as he pleases.
An admiration for the character of Tecumseh, and a desire to obtain as much information as I could relative to him and the Prophet, induced me, long before I entertained the idea of attempting to write a novel, to examine every source which promised to aid me in my wishes. Travelling much throughout most of our western states, I often met with persons who were present in many of the engagements which took place along our north-western line of Posts, during the late war with Great Britain, and also with several who were actors in the battle of the Thames, and the exciting events of that period becoming a subject of conversation, from them I heard many details. From passing conversations, therefore, and from books, the following facts have been gathered.
The battle of the Thames was fought on the evening of the 5th of November, 1813. On the morning of that day the American army, in pursuit of the English, arrived at Arnold's mills, situated on the river Thames, and distant twelve miles from the Moravian Towns. By 12 o'clock, the whole army had crossed the river; the ford being too deep for infantry, each horseman was required to take up a soldier, and the remainder passed over in boats. No sooner was this effected, than Colonel Johnson was ordered to hasten forward with his regiment, for the purpose of ascertaining the number and situation of the enemy, who were now known to be near at hand. His regiment numbered twelve hundred men, and allowing for the sick, it always presented an effective force of at least one thousand. They were all volunteers, well mounted, and well equipped, burning with a desire for glory, and anxious to meet the enemy. This was the only part of the American army which was mounted, and consequently it was the most effective in pursuit. In pursuance of the order received. Colonel Johnson moved forward with his regiment, followed as rapidly as was practicable by the Infantry, and had advanced some ten or twelve miles, when he found his farther progress checked by the appearance of the English army drawn up in order of battle, and apparently waiting an attack. A messenger was despatched with these tidings to General Harrison, and in the mean time Colonel Johnson drew up his regiment, and remained in front of the enemy. The English army was stationed not on a plain or even a partially open space, but entirely in the woods. The left wing, composed altogether of British regulars, rested on the Thames, and extended to a swamp which was almost impassable, and which ran parallel to the river for several miles, and distant from it, only some two or three hundred yards. Across this swamp, and in a line with the regulars or left wing, was posted the right wing of the English army, commanded by Tecumseh, and composed wholly of Indians. The Infantry of the American army had not yet come up, and the afternoon was fast wearing away. Colonel Johnson's regiment still remained where it was first halted, namely, in front of the British regulars, who were now known to number only some six or seven hundred men, and upon General Harrison's arrival, Colonel Johnson was ordered, at the approach of the American Infantry, to file off to the left, take post in front of the Indians, and leave the Infantry alone to contend with the British regulars. An examination for some time, of the swamp, on the other side of which the Indians were posted, proved this to be impracticable, for at first, no place could be found where it was possible to cross it. The mounted volunteers were also sanguine of success, and impatient for immediate action. The plan of battle was therefore changed; and Colonel Johnson was ordered to divide his regiment into two lines of five hundred each, and refusing the right wing, to charge upon the British regulars, while every exertion would be made to bring up the Infantry to his assistance. The regiment was divided. To Lieutenant Colonel James Johnson was assigned the command of the right division, while Colonel Richard M. Johnson retained the command of the left, and they were in the act of leading the charge, when information was brought by some persons who had been despatched for that purpose, that a place had been discovered where it was practicable to cross the swamp. In consequence of this, Colonel Richard M. Johnson determined to file off still farther to the left, cross the swamp, and oppose the Indians, leaving his brother to charge with his single division against the left wing. His reasons for doing this were, that Colonel James Johnson insisted, as did likewise the men who were with him, that they themselves were amply sufficient to beat the left wing or British regulars, and they also judged it impossible to employ effectually, a thousand mounted men in a compact body in the woods, and on so small a strip of land as the one they then occupied. They also feared lest their numbers, by hindering each other, should prove injurious to themselves.